Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. '0-8-4' Review

The second episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. seems to go out of its way to make itself very different from the pilot episode, with the action shifting from the US to South America and a non super powered threat. This helps the episode greatly and means that we get a brand new adventure that’s different and engaging enough from the first episode to not just feel like more of the same.

In the episode ‘0-8-4’ Coulson and the team are sent in to investigate a mysterious artefact that bears a striking similarity to the technology used by Hydra during World War 2.  The device is a great way of bringing even more outside references into the show, connecting to Captain America through the Hydra technology, the Hulk through Gamma Radiation and Thor through the ‘0-8-4’ designation, Coulson mentioning that the last 0-8-4 S.H.I.E.L.D. came across being a ‘hammer’.

Fury comes down hard on Coulson.

With multiple human threats rather than a single super powered bad guy it also means that we get to see every member of the team do something, for them to work together and form a plan that involves all of them actually helping to save the day.

I’m still finding it hard to like the two scientist Fitz and Simmons who just seem to be two halves of the same character, even at one point talking in unison.  Ward still remains somewhat a background player with no significant growth or interest to his character in this episode.

What we do get, however, is much more character development for Coulson and May.  We get to meet a person from Coulsons past and see some insight into his pre-Iron-man days and his continual love of collectibles that was started in Avengers with his Captain America trading cards.  Melinda May continues to intrigue and excite as potentially the most dangerous and bad ass member of the team, displaying combat skills that Black Widow herself would envy.

'When I need a gun I'll take one.'

The highlight of the episode for me though came at the not so surprise cameo of Samuel L Jackson as Nick Fury.  Though a brief scene, and one filled with some great comedic acting between the two it goes a long way to further plant the show within the extended universe and feel like another planned part of the bigger tapestry.  It also sets up a potential doubt in some of the teams minds about the trustworthiness of Skye.

Though not a big in scale as the first episode it has much better character moments from the main cast and is a thoroughly enjoyable adventure story.  7/10.

Amy.
xx

Amy Walker Facebook
Trans Girl Writer Facebook Fan Page
Amy Walker Twitter