Discussion of SHIELD 1.22 "Beginning of the End" - Aired 05/14/14 (ABC-US)

[Black Eye Guy]

Dark secrets are revealed as Coulson and his team put everything on the line to stop Garrett and the forces of HYDRA.

http://abc.go.com/shows/marvels-agents-of-shield/episode-guide

Great finale!

It was a neat mix of closing off stories while leaving loads open.

Firstly, did someone actually ring Whedon this week and ask for help with the script cuz how Garrett died was either him, or someone watched Fear Itself and got inspired. Very Whedon like.

How fantastic was it to get Sam Jackson, I wasn't super hyped for his appearance, I figured it would be like last time, but he was a full on supporting character! So great, him and Clark just have fantastic chemistry, I really wish we had gotten to see more of them together over the course of the movies before this was all set up.

So is Coulson starting to lose it? And is he actually "losing" it, there was a lot of consistency about what Garrett was going on about, talking about evolution and how man was created and how he ripped the rib out of that guy - who is forever a government official in every tv show - there was a lot of creation themes thorough out. Were they setting it up that the aliens that the blood came from created man?

They gave us the Skye story so early on that I thought we'd see more of that in this episode, but it seems like evolution and all that is gonna be the big issue next year so her story is all in that.
Normally I'd be kinda pissed off in that, but I didn't mind so much. Wonder if it was cuz we're used to slow burning stories and years in advance set ups from Marvel, but it felt natural, like they wanted to take the time to tell their story, not have a big blow out of the finale where they scream "look at us, look at us".

Seeing May kick Ward around was great, been dying for that, every punch (and nail!) felt earned.
I'm so glad they didn't kill Ward, and I'm so glad they didn't have him turn on Garrett when he started "losing" it.
Whatever way they rehabilitate Ward now, will feel right. If they'd have him turn on Garrett, it would have just been roll your eyes material.

Fitz and Simmons, just awesome.
So worried about Fitz now. So strange we didn't see him at all after the rescue, it will be interesting to see how this is gonna change him, I hope he doesn't change too much.

So Koenig is a robot right? Or are we thinking it's a twin? Twin seems too boring and natural, it's gotta be a robot right??

Rebuilding SHIELD is the right direction to take the show in, it was kinda obvious that was were it was gonna go, but it also felt right, Coulson is so deeply invested in SHIELD it just makes sense.

Plus just think what this means for future movie after credit scenes, could we see Skye turning up after the Ant Man credits asking Scott Lang if he wants to hep Marvel make another billion dollars for Avengers 3?
The "backwards" cross overs of the show to the movies will be really exciting for our SHIELD guys as the main SHIELD leaders.

Is Rana gonna be a mutant? or "miracle" whatever they'll be rebranding them as in the marvel-verse? The way she was talking about what she'll becomes was all tied to that evolution story, so either she'll be a "mutant" or similar to Skye one or more of her parents wont be normal.
Anyone any hints who Skyes dad is? Know any marvel characters that are all drippy?

Is it September yet?!?

 

[Kean]

"Know any Marvel characters that are all drippy?" LMFAO!

Great episode, Clarke really fed off having SLJ there. Loved how Garrett was killed, total Whedon move. It reminded me of Dracula more than Gachnar.

I read a theory awhile ago that the Blue Alien is actually Kree and that all of this is eventually leading to Coulson becoming Captain Marvel. I don't know enough of the comic history to comment, but do more informed fans have anything on that?

What I really liked is that Ward's story has actually become the least interesting where as traditionally that betrayal would have been the main focus. I do think it's interesting how they are setting Skye up to "lose her soul" so to speak. I was really getting the feeling that they are setting that sort of situation up with her. I hope it isn't the case because as someone who is fluent in Joss Whedon, there is no emotional punch to that any more. The reason it worked with BTVS is because we never saw it coming. I'd rather see a story where she tries to fight her "blood" or hereditary nature and does everything she can to be true to her "chosen" life and family.

 

[Buffyverse Fan]

http://abc.go.com/shows/marvels-agents-of-shield/episode-guide

Great finale!

It was a neat mix of closing off stories while leaving loads open.

Firstly, did someone actually ring Whedon this week and ask for help with the script cuz how Garrett died was either him, or someone watched Fear Itself and got inspired. Very Whedon like.

How fantastic was it to get Sam Jackson, I wasn't super hyped for his appearance, I figured it would be like last time, but he was a full on supporting character! So great, him and Clark just have fantastic chemistry, I really wish we had gotten to see more of them together over the course of the movies before this was all set up.

Fury definitely was better than I'd hoped!

So is Coulson starting to lose it? And is he actually "losing" it, there was a lot of consistency about what Garrett was going on about, talking about evolution and how man was created and how he ripped the rib out of that guy - who is forever a government official in every tv show - there was a lot of creation themes thorough out. Were they setting it up that the aliens that the blood came from created man?

I hope that they'll play it very Coulson-y. With Coulson just revealing he's seeing things in his head and suspects it's some sort of genetic memory from the aliens--not going crazy, just unnerved that he's seeing these things.

Seeing May kick Ward around was great, been dying for that, every punch (and nail!) felt earned.
I'm so glad they didn't kill Ward, and I'm so glad they didn't have him turn on Garrett when he started "losing" it.
Whatever way they rehabilitate Ward now, will feel right. If they'd have him turn on Garrett, it would have just been roll your eyes material.

This.

That being said, I don't want to see Ward returning as a lead. It wouldn't make sense, I would prefer him as a recurring character who helps SHIELD infiltrate HYDRA.

Fitz and Simmons, just awesome.
So worried about Fitz now. So strange we didn't see him at all after the rescue, it will be interesting to see how this is gonna change him, I hope he doesn't change too much.

I agree. They'll likely go the whole "recovering who I was" for Fitz in S2, which I have mixed feelings about because I like his character as-is.

So Koenig is a robot right? Or are we thinking it's a twin? Twin seems too boring and natural, it's gotta be a robot right??

It certainly seems that way. Who knows, his Artificial Intelligence may indirectly play into Avengers 2, as we know the villain will be an Artificial Intelligence (Ultron -James Spader) as well.

Rebuilding SHIELD is the right direction to take the show in, it was kinda obvious that was were it was gonna go, but it also felt right, Coulson is so deeply invested in SHIELD it just makes sense.

Plus just think what this means for future movie after credit scenes, could we see Skye turning up after the Ant Man credits asking Scott Lang if he wants to hep Marvel make another billion dollars for Avengers 3?
The "backwards" cross overs of the show to the movies will be really exciting for our SHIELD guys as the main SHIELD leaders.

Is Rana gonna be a mutant? or "miracle" whatever they'll be rebranding them as in the marvel-verse? The way she was talking about what she'll becomes was all tied to that evolution story, so either she'll be a "mutant" or similar to Skye one or more of her parents wont be normal.
Anyone any hints who Skyes dad is? Know any marvel characters that are all drippy?

Is it September yet?!?

As cool as that would be, I suspect Coulson, Fury, and Hill will remain the big screen presence of the government considering their popularity. Even cameos from Coulson's team would be cool though, I could totally see May replacing Sitwell as Coulson's partner on Avengers missions.

 

[Black Eye Guy]

I read a theory awhile ago that the Blue Alien is actually Kree and that all of this is eventually leading to Coulson becoming Captain Marvel. I don't know enough of the comic history to comment, but do more informed fans have anything on that?

Interesting, I also dont know a lot, so anyone feel free to correct me, but he is an alien that fought on the human side?
I could see how they would translate into a version from how they are setting him up.
But I can't see him moving back to the movie franchise as a main character like that, and I can't see a superhero "taking over" as the lead role

What I really liked is that Ward's story has actually become the least interesting where as traditionally that betrayal would have been the main focus. I do think it's interesting how they are setting Skye up to "lose her soul" so to speak. I was really getting the feeling that they are setting that sort of situation up with her. I hope it isn't the case because as someone who is fluent in Joss Whedon, there is no emotional punch to that any more. The reason it worked with BTVS is because we never saw it coming. I'd rather see a story where she tries to fight her "blood" or hereditary nature and does everything she can to be true to her "chosen" life and family.

They played it brilliantly! Actually kinda perfectly, the producers gave an interview were they mentioned they liked Jamie Lanister from Game of Thrones and said how he's done terrible things, but we still sympathise with him.
Thats is a brilliant place to go, especially for a broadcast network show, they are normally more defined in their character definitions, and bad guys characters are usually defeated never to be seen again, killed or turn sides.
Making us sympathise with Ward next season will be interesting, as he doesn't regret what he's done, I love they've made his character more complicated!

As cool as that would be, I suspect Coulson, Fury, and Hill will remain the big screen presence of the government considering their popularity. Even cameos from Coulson's team would be cool though, I could totally see May replacing Sitwell as Coulson's partner on Avengers missions.

I think they've become too big now for just the smaller cameos like that, like if Hill has a part I can't see it being just for 2 mins at the end of Ant Man.

Especially as SHIELD is gone, and neither Fury or Hill work for them and SHIELD is currently only made up on Coulsons team and Keoing