Back with CENTIPEDE/mini-HYDRA, Ward takes a call from Skye letting him know exactly where they are (by Odin, it's astonishing that only one evil terrorist organization infiltrated and took S.H.I.E.L.D. over, when you think about it...) Which is fortunate, because it turns out only Skye can unlock that hard drive for them. Solution? Ward is going back undercover, complete with a "make it look real" beating from Garrett during which we glimpse some kind of metal (cybernetic?) plate on the senior Agent's side. Hm...

As a final stinger, Ian Quinn joins the other baddies to exchange villain banter, and Garrett has a present for him: His cache of Gravitonium.

Parting Thoughts

Broken record time: It really should not have taken blowing up S.H.I.E.L.D. for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. to figure out how to be good, but it worked.

for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. to figure out how to be good, but it worked. You didn't misread: Col. Talbot really did just show up for the video-call cameo. I assume he'll turn up for real soon enough. I wonder if this is the plan for Season 2: The Agents as self-reliant renegades, flying around HYDRA-busting while being hunted by Talbot because S.H.I.E.L.D. is officially considered bad guys now. I'd watch that.

Agent Koenig's entire characterization appears to be simply "Patton Oswalt: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D." It works, and I hope he's a regular because I want to see him and Coulson nerd-out about living in The Marvel Universe together.

It works, and I hope he's a regular because I want to see him and Coulson nerd-out about living in The Marvel Universe together. Koenig shares a name with an important comic character, but that seems to be where it ends as the Koenig of the comics was an ageless turncoat ex-Nazi. Short version: In the comics, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s top guys were mostly age-extended members of Sgt. Fury's Howling Commandos.)

While Garrett and Ward are raiding The Fridge, Garrett mentions a guy named Johnny Horton who "gave himself lion hands." Heh. He's talking about The Griffin.

The Cube gets name-checked. Interesting, since in the comics that's where S.H.I.E.L.D. keeps aliens.

Didn't see Blizzard escaping along with the others at The Fridge. I hope he shows up, though I understand how Graviton will be a more immediately dangerous foe.

So who gets to kill Ward (assuming this isn't a triple-cross, which would be stupid)? Triplett, cementing himself as the new tough guy of the team? May, paying him back for deceiving her on multiple, personal levels? Coulson, because he's the star? Koenig, because he's Nerd God Patton Oswalt? (Aw man, I hope he doesn't kill Koenig instead...) Deathlok, proving he's still a free man? Fitz/Simmons, because why not? My money would be on Skye , taking him out as the first real manifestation of whatever her powers are. Speaking of which...

, taking him out as the first real manifestation of whatever her powers are. Speaking of which... So. Skye being a total Mary Sue (i.e. everyone immediately loves her and thinks she's important with little explanation or logic) is a common fan complaint and a real issue even as the rest of the show has improved so dramatically. However, a theme of Agents' back half has been turning early mistakes into "reveals" (see: "Our team dynamic makes no operative sense because May secretly picked us based on Coulson-handling skills, not compatibility!") With that in mind, I'll just leave this here: Semi-unconsciously secreting super-pheromones that make people like/desire/trust her? That's one of Spider-Woman's powers.

Next week

Full details of The Only Light In The Darkness are not being widely revealed, save that the episode will involve Coulson attempting to protect the one time love of his life, Audrey ("The Cellist" mentioned in The Avengers) from the chaos unleashed by HYDRA. Promotional clips strongly suggest that Skye will figure out Ward is HYDRA pretty soon.