Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. S.O.S. Parts 1 & 2 Review: It's all Hot Cocoa and Little League for These Agents

It’s no secret that both S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Marvel Universe as a whole are going through some massive changes. With the early introduction of the Inhumans, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is exploring a hidden city outside of the context of Attilan and the Royal Family of Inhumans leading up to a big film. With the world of high S.H.I.E.L.D. espionage and the ancient Kree traditions of the Inhumans starting to collide in the character of Skye, let’s see what surprises that that the show has for the two-part finale.

Here’s a spoiler warning and eulogy for S.O.S. Part One: I’m gonna miss Edward James Olmos on this show as Gonzalez…sigh.

This might be crazy, but call me Inhuman?

So…Jianying faked her gun shot wounds, that’s not so cool. It was a Cal-ish thing to do anyways. She’s playing Skye against herself and battering the relationship she has with her…and she’s doing it like a pro! Melinda May doesn’t have kind words for Skye — on the bright side, Skye actually manages to concentrate her powers enough to disarm a few pistols. The May on Skye fight is pretty cool as well in the very next scene, and I like seeing her have to resort to her powers to win, it’s shocking enough that Skye can hold her own against May. On another note, I’m unsure if Lincoln or Gordon know about what happened...or possibly have any idea as to what actually happened as a whole. Then...Boom! Gordon and Jianying together have a plan attached to keep the city alive. We’re also given the massive reveal that Jianying prey’s off of others to heal herself.

Reyna’s going through some hard times.

Reyna’s weirdness is continually magnified as an evil prophet who’s able to keep stringing Skye along as enough as possible. Reyna’s double truths and bids of confidence is an interesting new way to spell out the end of the series. I get the feeling that she doesn’t have much longer on this show. Also, Reyna is a pretty nasty there in terms of what Jiangying is trying to do. She has to die by all means according to her will. Now, the question is if she has any sort of actual offensive capabilities and the answer…is...no. That’s a pretty unceremonious end for a character that’s been on this show for multiple years now.

Woah there Coulson?

Coulson seems to know right away that something fishy happened with Jiaying and Gonzalez. So…this isn’t going to end well. He also figures out what’s happening with both Ward and Jiaying really fast, too fast in his for his own good. They quickly go for an extraction mission to save Bobbi. They have Morse dosed with some sort of paralytic needle combined with anesthetic.

So what’s up with Cara and Ward.

Kara and Ward have Bobbi locked up. The two of them are seeking vengeance for Kara as it turns out Bobbi is in fact responsible for turning Kara over to Reyna. So..I forgot that Victoria Hand was on this show last episode for like two minutes — which is approximately the length of time Brian Michael Bendis spent developing her in the actual comics. Morse isn’t particularly susceptible to Ward’s brand of pain, and proves that he’s doesn’t need her ex-husband to rescue her. Agent Ward is also a particularly strong character, but still, I wonder who the stronger agent actually is. When your team has both Melinda May and Lance Hunter on your side, I would still make more bets toward that side of the fence. Kara and Ward really underestimating the ability of Bobbi at like every turn during this episode.

Cal’s up to no good…as usual.

Nobody has any idea what to do with Cal, but I don’t think he’s super happy with the position he’s in. Also, Coulson offers Cal some hot cocoa — thanks for to Coulson for the episode title. So…could Cal have sacrificed himself because he’s part of some other part of the plan in relation to Jiaying? I am excited to figure out what’s next now that we know he’s dosed with some weird bill of super strength. It’s an awkward moment for a delightfully weird character. All things considered in this episode now, Cal and Jiaying might be perfect for each other. Cal reveals that he made some sort of special concoction and kill S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents on Jiaying behalf after all, it is his favorite past time. Through using his own family against him, Coulson sends Cal into heart failure. That’s pretty dark, and it’s also part of Cal’s plan. Don’t screw with a power up Kyle MacLachlan! So while Cal’s on this rampage I’m gonna ask you: do Gordon and Jiaying have a thing for each other? You're not sure either?

Mack is back?

Good luck to Mack who’s actively trying to retire — he ends up locked in a battle with multiple Inhumans this episode making things really complicated. I guess it’s up to him in order to save the day? Good luck with that?

Our S.O.S. Part Two recap starts…wait for it…just a little longer…NOW!

Cal's back!

The team has recruited Cal to now fight alongside the rest of the pack. Also, with the ship now infiltrated by the Inhumans, the stakes are already high in this episode.

NO...Bobbi!

A tense moment see’s Lance accidentally shoot Bobbi in a heated moment. Putting her in the Inhuman crystal sounds like a great way to save her right about now. Alas, Simmons surgery is the way the show chooses to nurse the character back to good health.

I got 99 problems, and an Inhuman is all of them!

Of course, Lincoln is now having a hard time coming to grips with what Jiaying did. His loyalty is being tested right now. I’m still not quite sure what Gordon has in mind for the rest of the Inhumans, but the odds are it can’t be good. Lincoln takes up arms directly against Skye...and he seems to be listening to her for the most part. So Skye is now sort of turning into a Jean Grey style character on this show where everyone is gawking over her nonstop. The combined forces of Lincoln, May, and Skye prove a threat to any Inhuman on the show. Jiaying final bid for Skye is sloppy to say the least. She really nastily even attempts to feed off of her -- which I really didn’t see coming. While I’m really unsure of how her life force powers actually work, it seems crazy that Skye would spring back to action so quickly.

Coulson teases that an expanded version of S.H.I.E.L.D. is coming to save the rest of the calvary.

Fitz and Simmons are trying to finally patch up their relationship by directly addressing their problems from last year. The two of them are in a very different and interesting places. Coulson let’s Cal off like a loose cannon after the full tam is worried about the Terrigen Mists. His confrontation with Jiaying isn’t going to be pleasant. Cal tries to work with her, and she immediately throws him in prison -- he didn’t serve as a very good distraction. Coulson reveals his Little League batting average, which is a pretty massive revelation for the scope of the show. Gordon takes some interest in Mack after seeing his ties that lead him closer to the Kree than many others on the show. With his Nightcrawler style teleporting nulled by Fitz, Gordon gets what’s coming to him. Fitz manages to sneak a pipe through Gordon’s chest rendering him dead, It’s a shame to see that character go so soon.

And now we present a montage of the S.H.I.E.L.D. finale's final moments:

-Coulson’s final moment with two complete arms is touching. It’s a greek tragedy to see his second hand fall off -- but he had it coming right? No, I’m just kidding. However, it was his big Marvel S.H.I.E.L.D. hand cut off moment.

-Cal wiping out Jiaying is pretty sad -- and beautiful. It’s great to see McLaughlin's horrific Cal finally redeemed, as is it to see none-other-than Melinda May finally take a day off for once in her life. The most beautiful moment here is the end, where Cal’s memory is wiped, and he’s now able to live a happy life as dentist.

-After giving up allegiances to both S.H.I.E.L.D. and Hydra, I’m not sure what’s left for Ward -- unless he builds it up himself from scratch. This is a pretty good twist with Hydra disintegrated.

-Hello! Skye is opening what seems like a Secret Warriors team via the Inhumans, that’s a pretty cool twist! Hey, Coulson even let’s her drive Lola, and nobody is allowed to f*&k with Lola!

-Hey...Fitz is even asking out Simmons. I wouldn’t have even been okay with that a few episodes ago, but now their relationship has returned to more agreeable terms that I am happier with. Also, in true S.H.I.E.L.D. fashion, this season ends on a truly WTF moment!