Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s sixth season is must see television, chock full of sci-fi goodness. Since the first season, I was begging for the number of episodes to be reduced from twenty-two to thirteen, and now that I finally got my wish, I’m sad because this show has come such a long way. The writers are so deft at interweaving past, almost forgettable, inconsequential, seemingly single-episode threads from previous season storylines then unexpectedly teasing them out into entire season arcs that I never want the series or seasons to end. I mentioned after season five that I will definitely rewatch the entire series when it ends, but now that it has surpassed Game of Thrones in terms of writing quality, I may rewatch every episode before the final season begins next year. It is so impressive.
If you’re like me, then Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. isn’t the only sci-fi show that you’re currently watching, and you watched The 100’s sixth season concurrently. These shows are so complementary and impressive, and if you haven’t been watching The 100, treat yourself. Both television shows’ sixth seasons are addressing really textured issues of identity and how to deal with love and loss without losing what you already have in an attempt to recover what you lost. Let’s say our favorite Agents are emotionally behind the maturity of The 100, but in a completely understandable way.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s sixth season has two converging storylines after the death of Coulson in the fifth season: how to recover Fitz who is floating in space with Enoch to reach Simmons in a future that no longer exists and how to deal with Sarge, a new dimensional threat that wears Coulson’s face. Fitz’s storyline takes our heroes deeper into space and tangling with aliens, and Sarge brings aliens to our doorstep. As I predicted after season five, Captain Marvel is more important to this series than the other key Marvel films of the last two years, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. I’m not sure how the latter two will affect the Agents, but it isn’t a factor yet.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. finally earned its “Can we trust Coulson?” storyline. I’m not sure if the writers and cast get enough credit for introducing so many new characters and literally out of this world situation, and in a limited amount of time, they never neglect a single character, and everyone gets enough shine to appear as a complete person whom we know as well as our regulars without feeling as if any members of the staple ensemble cast lost any screen time. For a season about adjusting to lost love, it was a really humorous season, which I know left one fan (not me) cold, but I thought that it was earned, and thank God that it wasn’t a musical episode….though there was definitely singing.
Without Coulson, the heart of the team was….plot twist: May! Without losing an ounce of bad assery, May was probably the only character shaken, but not stirred and came out of everything that she suffered stronger mentally, emotionally and physically. She was the glue that held the scattered, disparate groups together for as long as she could.
Mack’s story arc was reminiscent to Coulson’s past story arcs while still being unique to his character. He has difficulty adjusting to his new position as Director, but unlike Coulson, it makes him more distant from those that he loves. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. seems to be setting up an in house conflict between Daisy, who turned down the position, but who is very comfortable in command while exploring space, and reigniting the existing philosophical division between Yo Yo and Daisy that arose during the fifth season. If Mack is turtle man, cautious, thoughtful and deliberate in all his decisions unless he is putting himself at risk, Daisy is his opposite because she is even willing to ignore her mama’s advice (May) and take some outlandish chances, but is still a schoolmarm in comparison to Simmons.
Simmons and Fitz are brilliant, but they are out of control. If you really think about their actions, especially during this sixth season, they are constantly and thoughtlessly putting humanity at risk for the other. I know that Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is fictional, but I don’t want to die for your love. You’re the problem! In the past, some consequences could not be predicted, but not this season. They don’t really respect others’ autonomy if it is in conflict with what they want, and I’m intrigued how the series is going to wrestle with their fatal flaw next season. Their entitlement is a huge problem.
After literally destroying the planet, I’m amazed that Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is still able to create a credible threat that could pose a serious obstacle to our heroes, but they made not one, but two. The villains were great because while they were obviously evil, and I was definitely rooting against them, the series still made them empathetic enough to understand why they would make certain decisions and have such an odd perspective. Again if I only have one complaint, while one was definitely not dispatched too quickly (it was the right time), I am only sorry that I didn’t get to see these villains clash on screen once they realized that they both were at the point of success, but were in imminent conflict over the same prize. Which villain would work with our heroes against the other or would our heroes have to fight a two front battle? Is that too bananas?
Some supporting characters from last season reemerge during the sixth season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and I loved it. I’m glad that we have characters that explicitly point out that while we love our heroes, because the group is so tight-knit, it can feel like a clique to others. It was a much-needed admonishment, and I’m most pleased that Mack took the critique to heart, and he embraces them fully. A long-standing supporting character dies, and now I’ll never hear the end of that story. I’m so sad, but well done to the series for making a character that would normally be a red shirt on any other series into someone that we cared about. I know that the show is ending next season, but I was hoping that we would get a Tripp like character out of it.
It is Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. second full season without Brett Dalton. Hope you’re well. I didn’t forget you!
I’m really excited for the final season, season seven, and am constantly impressed at the quality of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. It managed to do what Game of Thrones dismally failed at-it gave us a shorter season without losing any character development, dropping any great acting moments or hurting the overall story. It was not just sci-fi and spectacle. The writers and cast respect the fans, the story and the characters enough to imbue every moment and facet of the show with a level of integrity and significance missing in other shows. Well done!