Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Review (Ep. 19 - The Only Light in the Darkness)

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Review (Ep. 19 - The Only Light in the Darkness)

This weeks episode introduces us to the one and only cellist! Throw in a genuine super villain along with some inter team turmoil and you've got yourself one heck of an episode. Check out my review of episode 19, The Only Light in the Darkness below!

Review Opinion
By boboMELOSHE - Apr 25, 2014 03:04 PM EST
Filed Under: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Source: OTL News

Amy Acker! Episode 19 of Agents of SHIELD marks the introduction of long time mystery woman, Coulson’s cellist! Originally mentioned in passing in The Avengers and a constant background presence this season when it came to Coulson, we finally get our first look. Played by the always-lovely Amy Acker, the first appearance of the cellist is definitely one to remember. Offering powerful character moments that tear at your heart strings and some phenomenal music not heard on the show before, The Only Light in the Darkness continues AoS’s hot streak and cements my statement from last week. Agents of SHIELD has become must watch TV, especially for those following the MCU.

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Patrick Brennan as Blackout

The episode opens to one Marcus Daniels, or Blackout for those comic enthusiasts, walking along a pier sucking all of the electricity. Played by Patrick Brennan, Blackout appears pretty driven and menacing but falls prey to his lack of material. It was nice to see a genuine super outside of Deathlok but with no return in sight and very little to do aside from walking around and blowing out light bulbs Brennan’s Blackout leaves little to get excited over. He does however provide one of the most intense sequences in the show thus far. Not because of his power set our performance, but because of the amazing score that came along with him (and Amy Acker). With Acker’s cellist playing bait for the baddie we get a dual scene in which she is slowly approached by Daniels and at the same time we get a very powerful moment where Skye realizes Ward’s true allegiance (probably Bennet’s best performance of the season). Combined it made for a thrilling moment that I hope can be recreated down the line. Hats off to Bear McCreary. I didn’t think it possible to love a character I’ve only known for a whole of five minutes but Acker certainly showed me. It absolutely broke my heart seeing her wake up having missed Coulson by mere seconds (why didn’t you just stick around man!).

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Amy Acker as Audrey (the cellist)

Luckily Blackout was the only thing I found issue with in this week’s episode. SHIELD brought on even more drama and further cemented Ward’s fall from grace. The Only Light in the Darknessfeatures a nice interrogation scene in which we get a nice insight into all of the characters mindsets. Patton Oswalt once again plays Agent Koenig and drills the team with a series of questions designed to weed out any spies. With each character getting a shot at “THE Lie Detector” we learn a little more about each of them alongside some welcome jokes and references. Agent Triplett’s ties to the Howling Commandoes were unexpected but a nice touch nonetheless. We also get an awesome Doctor Who reference from Simmons, “the Tardis!” The entire scene led to some great character development.

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Agent Triplett in ‘THE Lie Detector’

One Thing I did have a bit of trouble with was Koenig’s reaction to Ward. If his super amazing uberaccurate lie detector said he was lying why wouldn’t you just shoot him? I guess all those Call of Duty hours have made his interrogation skills a little lax.

By the end of the episode the entire team is quite shaken up. We have never seen Coulson and company so spread thin and it will be very fun to see how they all handle their new situations. We also get to see Melinda May’s mom! On a trip to find “Maria” expect to see one Colbie Smulders return in next weeks sure to be awesome episode.

Ps. Poor Fitz! I just want to reach out and hug him sometimes. I totally agree with him, Trip is an awful, awful person (sarcasm).

Overall I give this episode an 8/10

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MercwithMouth
MercwithMouth - 4/25/2014, 4:09 PM
Great review, but should put it in the review section. Not news.
PeterDarker121
PeterDarker121 - 4/25/2014, 5:45 PM
I actually had more than a few problems with this episode including the random reveal of Tripplett being (apparently) Gabe Jones grandson. You'd think that with the team being so suspect of him and his motives from the get go, he would have mentioned long before now that his grandfather fought alongside Captain America, for Chrisssakes.

As for the cellist storyline (which started two years ago in The Avengers), you mean to tell me this is it? A little soliloquy from her about what a great man Coulson is (was) and Coulson monitoring her through a glass the whole time basically making sure a groupie doesn't get to her? I was more than disappointed at how the writers essentially made this 'Much Ado About Nothing.'
boboMELOSHE
boboMELOSHE - 4/25/2014, 7:28 PM
Yea sorry, I moved it. Completely forgot to change the section when i posted it.
boboMELOSHE
boboMELOSHE - 4/25/2014, 7:30 PM
@peter - There were a few hints saying that she would return at a later time. I think if they decided to go deeper into that storyline it would detract from what they had going with Hydra and everything. The episode the way it was did feel a little off track. Had it not been for the skye ward storyline I would have given it a lower score. I really did love Acker in this tho.
PeterDarker121
PeterDarker121 - 4/25/2014, 7:42 PM
lol SHE was great! I don't have any problem with the PERFORMANCES, I have a problem with the script....and having the cellist be THE most important entitiy in Coulson's life...perhaps THE motivation behind everything he's doing so far...it was hollow.

How about having some flashbacks while he's watching her play her beautiful cello....like:

She explains to Coulson how she lost the baby? They're devastated?

They're walking on the beach (in Tahiti, no less) holding hands while he explains to her how he just got "this dream job" that finally gives him the means to help save the world and how that will come between them?

Coulson consoling her at her father (or mother's) funeral?

See where I'm going with this?

What they should have done is what you're alluding to and that's allow an entire episode for this, because it's so important to Coulson's journey. This had no place for where we're the storyline is NOW, and that's the more PRESSING storyline involving Ward's quiet insurrection. Coulson's backstory should be treated with more respect and it wasn't here.
BoomTubeB
BoomTubeB - 4/26/2014, 7:27 AM
The show is getting better! Thanks to CAWS ! needs villains with alittle more depth! I'd like to see Wrecker or Bullseye have at shield!
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