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Different Kinds of Scars. Review: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D – “F.Z.Z.T”

Season 1, Episode 6

Air Date: Tuesday, November 6, 2013, 8/7c on ABC.

Rating: ★★★★★

 

“There is no going back. There is only moving forward.” – May

Following the Chitauri alien attack on New York depicted in the movie The Avengers, first responders were sent in to help clean up the aftermath. Two years later, the bodies of some of those involved in the cleanup have been found suspended in mid-air, definitely making this a case for the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

One of the biggest complaints I’ve had about Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D is the need to tether the show to The Avengers rather than forming its own identity and moving its own narrative forward. But, with The Avengers making $1.51 billion worldwide, it’s hard not to blame the writers for constantly drinking from that well. I have wondered who the target audience for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D is. Is the show being used as a vehicle to draw new people into the Marvel Universe with hopes they will go out and buy the DVDs, or perhaps go to the theaters while also entertaining the established fan base? Or are the producers approaching the show saying, “We have a very loyal fan base and are not worried about new viewers.” The answer was made very clear over the past week with the announcement that the upcoming episode, “The Well,” will pick up with the aftermath of the feature film Thor: The Dark World, which comes out November 8, 2013. Can you still enjoy Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D having not seen all the movies? Sure, but it’s like reading a book by starting the middle.

With that being said, “F.Z.Z.T” is one of the more enjoyable Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D episodes. While not perfect, it relies on the audience to not only have seen The Avengers but also the Marvel one shot Item 47, which to newer Marvel audiences is basically a mini Marvel movie on DVD. “F.Z.Z.T” feels more like an hour long deleted scene from The Avengers rather than a standalone episode.

I found “F.Z.Z.T” to be intriguing as Coulson (Clark Gregg) and his team are sent in to figure out who or what is killing first responders and leaving the bodies suspended in the air with some kind of electrical current running through them. I found myself pulled in, for the first time in weeks, as they try to figure out what’s behind this strange occurrence.

Much of the first five episodes have focused on Coulson and Skye (Chloe Bennett), and characters like Fitz-Simmons (Ian De Caestecker and Elizabeth Henstridge), who have become an afterthought. In “F.Z.Z.T,” the roles seem to be reversed as we learn more about the two quirky scientists in a very character driven episode. Fitz-Simmons figures out an alien virus on a helmet worn by the Chitauri is what is causing the deaths of those who have come in contact with the helmet. Even more troubling is that Simmons is now infected.

As callous as it sounds, giving Simmons a deadly virus is one of the best things the writers have done because it literally separates her from Fitz. The idea of the two scientists being so close they are referred to as Fitz-Simmons may have sounded fun but it hasn’t worked. Sure, they can be cute at times but there is no substance. This deadly virus and Simmons’ quarantine has allowed the audience to finally see them for their individuality by forcing them apart and then appreciate how they work as a team in the end.

Having a character infected with a deadly virus and then finding the cure at the last second is nothing new to TV. But, admittedly, this is the first time I started to worry that Simmons was going to die as the moments ticked away until finally realizing what has to be done. Despite having previously criticized Fitz-Simmons in a review I wrote, “In scenes when they happen to be in danger, I find myself simply not caring what happens to them,”  I suddenly found myself caring.

I was very pleased with how everything is wrapped up and resolved but the writers had to add one more scene between Coulson and May (Ming-Na Wen) that some fans might love and others might hate, much like I did. Let me preface this by saying it is a heartfelt and touching scene that is well written and well-acted but it comes too late in “F.Z.Z.T.” So far this season, fans have been teased about something more behind Coulson’s death and resurrection. The writers kept building and building that there was more to it. Coulson even ordered tests to be done on himself causing fans to wonder what the tests would indicate. Turns out other than some emotional and mental trauma, Couslon simply healed over time, leaving a big scar. I would have enjoyed seeing this scene in the “Pilot” but by the time “F.Z.Z.T” came around, things have become so over hyped, it’s a real letdown.

While not great, “F.Z.Z.T” did get me a little more interested in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. I am curious to see how things will tie into the upcoming Thor movie. On a related note, if you do see Thor in theaters, remember there will be not one but two end credit scenes.

Tweet me @staffaroadtrip or leave a comment below to let me know what you think about “F.Z.Z.T.”

 

For more on the show, go to http://www.agentsofshield.com/.

Follow Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D on Twitter, as well as some of the cast: <Ward> Brett Dalton, <Coulson> Clark Gregg, <Simmons> Elizabeth Henstridge, and <May> Ming-Na Wen.

Like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D on Facebook.

Photos: © 2013 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Greg Staffa

I provide testosterone to the site. You won’t be reading about how nice a actress looks in a dress or how much of a hunk Matt Bomer is in my reviews. I describe colors using words like brown, not taupe. My twitter name is @staffaroadtrip because I love road trips and have done two different 48-state road trips since 2008. My favorite show is White Collar.

Greg Staffa

I provide testosterone to the site. You won’t be reading about how nice a actress looks in a dress or how much of a hunk Matt Bomer is in my reviews. I describe colors using words like brown, not taupe. My twitter name is @staffaroadtrip because I love road trips and have done two different 48-state road trips since 2008. My favorite show is White Collar.