WARNING: YOU ARE ABOUT TO ACCESS SPOILER ALERTS!!
Coulson and his team dispatch to Peru to investigate as strange device found at an archeological dig near one of the Inca temples. While they examine the device, the Nation Police arrive led by an old acquaintance of Coulson’s. When rebels attack, Coulson and his team take the device back to plane with help from Camilla Reyes’ men. However, Reyes and her men seize control of the plane and the device. While Coulson is held captive by Reyes, the rest of the team manages to escape the cargo hold. Fitz uses one of his drones to activate the device and blow a hole in the side of the plane. May and Ward take back the plane while Coulson restrains Reyes. With the device back in their possession, it is taken back to base where it is launched into space. Skye receives a message from the organization Rising Tide. She accepts their invitation.
Ever had to work with that one guy that just isn’t impressed by what you no matter how hard you try. Yeah, I thought so. That’s what Simmons, Fitz and Skye had to deal with in Grant Ward. The three of them bring something special to the team but Ward can’t see it. He under minds them without as much as a second thought. The guy has in for Skye because of her hacking into S.H.I.E.L.D.’s most secure files. This causes a lot of friction between them as he sees her as nothing more than a risk. Ward’s not too keen with Simmons and Fitz mainly because they are not combat trained. His frustration over this is heightened when he and May have to deal with Peru’s Nation Police at the sight where the device—coded 087—is found. Ward shows his lack of respect by treating Fitz and Simmons as soldiers instead of scientists. When they get back to the airplane, he gets into a scrape with Fitz when Fitz tries to warn him about the device. I found this little argument entertaining as it closely resembles the few clashes Tony Stark had with Captain America in the “Avengers.” Ward, like Captain America aka Steve Rogers, has a problem with science stuff and he tells Fitz to “speak English” much like Steve did with Tony. Ward isn’t being a prick. He is just having a difficult time dealing with less than what he is used to. He’s used to being a part of a team with people who are combat trained. He’s not used to playing bodyguard. But Ward isn’t that bad of a guy. He eventually opens up to Skye and tells her a little about himself. Then when Reyes and her men commandeer their plane, he displays his leadership skills by getting the scientists organized and working together to help take the plane back. With this small victory, maybe Ward will appreciate Simmons and Fitz a little more as long as they explain things to him in plain English.
Skye is still unsure of her role on the team. She has spent her time trying to expose S.H.I.E.L.D. now she is working with them and has to write the opposite of what she thinks. This might make her into a wild card player as she is conflicted between her morals and getting in deep with the top secret organization to gather much dirt as possible. This point is furthered along by the fact that Skye receives a message from the Rising Tide Organization inviting her to join which she accepts. If there wasn’t enough friction between her and Ward before, this will certainly spark a stronger conflict with him.
Well, it’s Easter eggs all around as there are more nods to the “Avengers.” As I mentioned before, Grant Ward is emulating Steve Rogers’ mannerisms as he has a bit of a time with science lingo, constantly asking Fitz and Simmons to speak English when explaining things to him. The device found in Peru is found to contain Tesseract energies as well as Gamma radiation. Though the device is dated to be 1500 years old the parts are found to have been made in Germany. I sense a Red Skull nod later on for this one. While catching up on old times with Camilla Reyes, Phillip Coulson explains his apparent death at the hands of Loki, stating that “a demigod stabbed him through the chest with a mystic scepter.” And for those of y’all that didn’t stay until the end, kick yourselves in the butt. There was an added post-credits scene with Nick Fury chewing out Coulson for the damage done to his aircraft. Samuel L. Jackson did state that he was on board for making a guest spot in the series as Nick Fury. This short scene was very entertaining and proved that little sense of humor that was depicted in the movie. I hope to see more from Fury and/or perhaps see him in a full episode.
