REVIEW: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. "World's End"
And that’s a wrap, at least for 2017. After three different stories, dozens of robots, and a lot of dark shading, what do we have to show for it? That’s ultimately the question we’re left with after this finale, and nothing as exciting, touching, emotional, or gory as things get in that hour that can really answer that question.
The finale does take once last advantage of its late showing by giving us a quick but otherwise satisfying team-up between Quake and Ghost Rider as they quite violently take out realistic robots. Did Robbie really have to twist the guy’s eye out? Apparently so! Like any other finale, the show also puts forth some of its better special effects with the return of the Ghost Rider image and fiery chains. The only real qualm I have with them is how there should have been more.
There is this never-ending feeling that the finale should have been more, now that I think about it. Perhaps it comes from the fact that this is the first single finale since season one, and even season one didn’t have to wrap up as many story arcs. Perhaps it came from the decent concepts we’ve had all season combined with the lackluster execution we got at times. Whatever it is, let’s break down the goods and the bads.
Was that a shout-out to Doctor Strange with Robbie opening a portal? If it was, kudos to them since the effect looks identical. Also, I was looking forward to Simmons shooting Aida all season, and the moment did not disappoint. Poor Simmons always has to die a little inside in these finales though, doesn’t she? Finally, it’s a pretty interesting choice to have the big, inspiring sendoff speech to be given to Daisy instead of Coulson this one time. Though we don’t have her becoming Director this season, I still don’t think that destiny is too far off with that moment.
And for the grayer area. For an episode featuring villain who can’t handle human emotions, this one is chocked full of them ranging from watching Mack and Elena together (kudos to Elena for surviving the whole season) to whatever you feel about watching Simmons technically die. Is the show above using clearly charged moments to manipulate the audience into caring about brief, inconsequential moments? Of course not, but I would be lying if I said they weren’t touching.
Then again, directly contrasting the emotional payoffs is the fact that most of them end up being fake-outs. Simmons does not really die. Mack and Elena make it out alive. The team is taken by aliens after having breakfast (how very Avengers of them). For the first-time viewer, there’s something pretty exciting about watching these things unfold, but I don’t know what that could mean for a second or even third time viewing it.
Overall, despite the multiple fake-outs and palpable tension, this finale was pretty disappointing. Not necessarily a giving-up level, but something leaning towards the level of the Seinfeld finale. I mean, they literally end up in jail, space jail?, jail nonetheless. No amount of emotions good or bad will ever make that anything other than a downer. It might not be the hardest obstacle for them to cross for a next season, but after all their hard work, there’s quite literally nothing to show for it. Last year may have separated the team, but that proved something had happened. Their villain is defeated within seconds of fighting Ghost Coulson. That’s how much of a non-starter it was.
As it stands, however, I will appreciate how the finale did manage to connect the plots together in a somewhat cohesive way. It wasn’t the most climactic by any means, but with a show that has dropped as many things as this one (still haven’t gone back to the senator’s brother I see), I’m relieved they brought back Ghost Rider at all. Don’t pat yourself on the back just yet, SHIELD. You did the bare minimum.
As for the rest of the season, I’m left feeling just as conflicted. While I do think they brought along some of the most interesting concepts since introducing the Inhumans, the execution has been scattershot to the point of me almost not caring. With this as the finale, it only secures that feeling. There were a few good moments and even some episodes that popped up from time to time, but overall, season four fell rather flat.
What does this mean for the next season, since there is one? Looks like there’s a definite space element, but with the way things are happening, I’m not sure if I’m looking forward to it. It’s certainly not lack of interesting plots, and I’m not saying the show is unwatchable, but I’m not sure how long I can go with the same plots over and over again with no guaranteeing they’ll come back. But at least, I’ll be able to see them INNNNN SPAAAACCCEEEE. That will be fun to comment.
