Family. Retrospective: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D - “T.A.H.I.T.I.”

Season 1, Episode 14

Air Date: Tuesday, March 4, 2014, 8/7c on ABC

Rating: ★★★★★

“They scratch my plane, I’m gonna be pissed.” – Coulson

Coulson getting bad news about Skye

Making its return after a month-long break, “T.A.H.I.T.I.” picks up immediately following the events of “T.R.A.C.K.S.” After Skye (Chole Bennet) was shot by Quinn (David Conrad), she is rushed to a S.H.I.E.L.D. medical facility. Coulson (Clark Gregg) realizes the only way to save Skye is to find the same doctors who treated him after the battle of New York. But, the more Coulson, Fitz (Iain De Caestecker), and Simmons (Elizabeth Henstridge) look into his medical records, the more secrets they uncover.

Defying orders to return Quinn to headquarters, Coulson and the team try to discover where Coulson was taken to heal because it sure wasn’t Tahiti. Sorting through the classified files, Fitz-Simmons learn of an old World War II bunker called “Guest House,” and realize that is where Coulson was originally sent. Only one problem, it’s not a S.H.I.E.L.D. facility.

The team gets ready to take the bunker.

When pleading for help doesn’t work and with time running out, Coulson and his team take the compound by force but not before accidentally triggering a self-destruct countdown set to level the bunker. Coulson, with Fitz’s help, is able to find the drug he received and the team is able to get out just in time. As Coulson is leaving, however, he notices something disturbing and suddenly questions if using the unknown medicine on Skye is worth the risk.

In the end, the medicine is administered and Skye appears to be recovering. Quinn is handed over to Headquarters but Coulson is still shaken by the things he saw in the bunker and finds himself questioning everything.

I enjoyed “T.A.H.I.T.I.;” it was a great episode to return to after the long break. Maybe it is because of the time away but something feels different about “T.A.H.I.T.I.” The episode has more energy than usual, and the writing seems fresh. It feels like the show is just about to turn the corner into becoming something great.

I was concerned when I realized once again, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. was once again addressing Coulson’s survival because it seems like the writers are using this as a fall back whenever they get stuck writing the story. But, I found “T.A.H.I.T.I.’s” explanation to be the most realistic yet, and wish the writers would have done this weeks ago instead of the series of misdirects and teases they have used for weeks.

Ward’s former S.O. John Garrett (Bill Paxton)

One of the things missing from the show is the feeling that there are other teams out there like Coulson’s. That all changes with the introduction of Agent Garrett (Bill Paxton), Ward’s (Brett Dalton) old handler, and Agent Triplett (B.J. Britt) who replaced Ward. It is interesting how the two groups interact with each other, especially because it gives Coulson an equal to work with. I hope we see more teams crossing paths in future episodes.

Just when you thought “T.A.H.I.T.I.” was over, there is an extra scene setting up next week’s episode, “Yes Men,” showing an Asgardian seductress named Lorelei (Elena Satine) mysteriously appearing in Death Valley. This leads to an appearance by Lady Sif (Jaimie Alexander) from the two Thor movies; she will work with Coulson to bring Lorelei back to Asgard. I like the idea of using some of the minor movie characters in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. because it helps intertwine the Marvel universe.

When the Captain America 2 trailers came out, it was clear S.H.I.E.L.D. would not only play a big part in the movie but change the way we look at the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division. The big question then became whether the events surrounding Captain America 2 would have an impact on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and vice versa. The answer seems to be yes.

In the trailer for Captain America 2, S.H.I.E.L.D. appears divided as far as the purpose behind the agency and from the looks of it, appears the Marvel team is using Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D to start that rift. It’s almost as if the series is a prequel to Captain America 2. Even the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. commercials are using the term “uprising” to describe the story arc in upcoming episodes, and then flashing the Captain America shield in place of the S.H.I.E.L.D. logo. While some viewers may be turned off by this approach, as a Marvel universe fan, I love it. The key will be finding the right balance to tie things together so you don’t lose too many casual viewers.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has finally figured out how it wants to fit into the Marvel universe, which can’t be said about most of its earlier episodes. You feel an increased confidence from the writers and actors as the show finds its stride. I think the extended break was exactly what the show needed.

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

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: <Grant> Brett Dalton, <Coulson> Clark Gregg, <Simmons> Elizabeth Henstridge, and <Melinda> Ming-Na Wen

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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.