With the Agents exposed, the Chronicoms press their advantage. Daisy and Sousa are in big trouble. Simmons must battle against her own failing memory to save Zephyr One. Coulson comes to a realisation.

Last episode left things right in the very exciting middle of all sorts of things going on, and this one jumps straight back in and launches some serious character stuff for all involved. Having launched missiles from Z1 at the Insight Satellite to prevent its launch, the SHIELD gang have basically exposed themselves to their enemies and made themselves a sitting target. The Chronicoms are swift to follow up, turning 70s SHIELD’s defences against them, which has some interesting ripple effects perhaps even these geniuses haven’t thought about.

Apart from that imminent threat, Mack has a few other things to deal with, like May and Coulson being prisoners and Daisy and Sousa missing. Unfortunately he can’t quite concentrate on any of that because his parents are being held prisoner and he’s desperate to save them. As is noted, not exactly the way in which one might have foreseen the SHIELD director introducing his girlfriend to his parents, but then these are hardly normal times.

Coulson and May continue to have a fractious relationship both with one another and Agent Stoner, who refuses to believe what they’re trying to tell him, even as his whole operation deteriorates around him. May is still not having it that Coulson is anything but a robot, and a fairly honest conversation between the two of them reveals exactly why – it’s more complex than it might at first appear. Moreover, that same conversation acts as a bit of a revelatory moment for Coulson himself, as to exactly what his purpose and ‘superpower’ is.

Simmons still has that red glowy thing in her neck, and it seems like it’s not helping her to focus on her job. Is our favourite SHIELD tech wonk a traitor, consciously or otherwise? Has she been compromised? It would certainly explain why, when Z1 is in real danger, she is suddenly unable to recall precisely how to fix any of it.

Sousa and Daisy remain in the grasp of Nathaniel Malick, who has his own designs for both of them, based partly in some misconceptions and entirely on his being an incredibly bad (and slightly unhinged) human being. The chance for Enver Gjokaj to get more out of his role than just gawk at all of the future stuff is one he eagerly seizes on, as he talks to Daisy to keep her going and recounts his own experiences. It’s a lovely set of scenes and one that the character absolutely needed and deserved.

Overall there’s less blowing up stuff and a lot more quiet, impactful interaction between characters, and it all lands with each gut punch. Suddenly, this swansong series is really start to soar.

Verdict: Quieter but no less impactful for it than last episode. This one really delivers. 8/10

Greg D. Smith