The 9th episode of the highly acclaimed Avengers EMH TV Series has aired in Australia a full month before the US. We watched the episode and lived to tell how it fares.
Beware that the review below contains FULL SPOILERS from the episode.
Nightmare in Red focuses and Bruce Banner and the Hulk. Visiting the Shield Hellicarrier, General Thunderbolt Ross (not seen since the season 1 micro episodes) demands Maria Hill access to the Hulk's blood sample, which shield had in possession since the first season. While Ross is trying to convince the Shield director, as well as Doc Samson, a double agent (later confirmed to be the Winter Soldier) steals the blood sample and injects a shadowy figure with a modified version of Hulk's blood, turning him into the Red Hulk.
Summoned by Hill, Captain "Skrull" America and The wasp confronts the Red monster, who Shield believe it is Bruce banner, even stating that the hulk started Grey so he can change colors again (a cool easter egg to Hulk fans) As the Red goliath is taking the hellicarrier apart, the Falcon (making his first appearance in the show as well) attacks the avengers mansion hoping to snatch a sedated Bruce Banner, but fails after Hawkeye intervenes. But before Clint realizes that Falcon is out of the picture, the Red Hulk shows up and abducts Banner.
Couple minutes later Bruce hulks out and an eye candy fight between the red and Green hulk, involving the avengers, takes place. After beating most the avengers except the Hulk, and right before the SHIELD re-enforcement show up, the red monster flees the scene(per request of his mysterious boss). Maria Hill, who still believes that the red Hulk is Banner, ordered her subordinates to arrest Banner. Showing some resistance first, Banner agrees to his arrest, after Captain America convinces him to follow SHIELD's orders for now, to later prove his innocence.
With Banner taken into custody, the Fake Captain america reports to his Skrull Queen, that the Hulk is out of the picture. (you sneaky bastard you!)
The episode ends with Red Hulk, Doc Samson, and the winter soldier being complimented by a man called Dell Rusk, for the services they have done for their country .
All in all a fantastic episode. The Red Hulk, who some fans still don't approve off, came out really well in the show. The mystery surrounding his identity was well portrayed, even to fans who know that in the comics he is none other than General Ross. In fact it was rendered so well, that i have my doubts, to believe that in the show, Red Hulk, might not be Ross after all. The debut of Winter Soldier and Falcon are two, very, welcomed additions, and the hint at things to come really strengthens the show's, already strong, personality.
Definitely a fantastic episode, and one that makes you weep that this show is not coming back for a third season.
Nightmare in Red, will air on June 24th in the US. Make sure to not miss it!
Final Score: 8.5/10