Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s fifth season retroactively made every previous episode better, and when the series ends, I will probably rewatch the entire series. Unlike other shows, it is clear that the writers and the production team pay even closer attention to the show’s details than the viewers because they tied together so many plotlines from different seasons and characters then made them germane to this season’s unfolding events. I wished that I started watching this show when I was younger, had a better memory and fewer viewing options so I could truly appreciate the tapestry woven by its creators. Considering the number of cast regulars, guest characters and the rest of the Marvel universe, it is quite an accomplishment to be able to bring the mythology into the present day while permitting everyone a moment to shine and not sacrificing the momentum of this specific season. Most shows working with fewer moving parts could handle such challenges, but Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. made it look easy.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s fifth season had twenty-two episodes divided into two overall story arcs, which involved time travel without the annoying narrative inconsistencies. I will warn you that the first ten episodes were bleak, and I live in Presidon’t’s America so don’t look to this show as light entertainment. As I watched this season, I kept thinking that this show could not possibly be renewed. Most shows can’t be The 100. Once a threat becomes too big, how you can possibly raise the stakes in the future to a challenge that can plausibly daunt your heroes. It did get renewed so I have no idea what will possibly follow this amazing season that literally started with the end of the world, alien domination and space, the final frontier. I wonder if this season was a way of segueing to S.W.O.R.D. (Sentient World Observation and Response Department) without actually having to create a new show and new characters. It may end up being an effective tie-in to Captain Marvel. Will we get Orbital Headquarters? I don’t even read the comics, but I know enough to spin a yarn and draw some conclusions.
For those of you who were hesitant to resume watching Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. because you didn’t want spoilers about Avengers: Infinity War, don’t worry about it. Thanos is referenced, but you probably get spoiled more by talking to family or friends, watching commercials or going to Google to look up something completely unrelated. Also, what are you waiting for? How have you NOT seen Avengers: Infinity War yet?!? Get your life straight!
The fifth season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. was about saving humanity from extinction. There was the obligatory struggle for the soul of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., but it felt organic instead of repetitive: whether to be selfless instead of understandably selfish and put your relationships, which makes the team strong, first over your duties. At what point should you quit the team because saving the Earth comes second to saving yourself or someone that you love. Mack came through with the New Testament voice of morality and reminding them of the mission statement. I think that this was Coulson’s best year, and other than a couple of dumb mistakes, I was on his side completely during the debate. Yo Yo and Daisy ended up in an unexpected bump in their relationship, which forced May to temporarily become the voice of reason. They are all such badasses that leveled up. Some threats that would normally span a few episodes get resolved in a moment, and it completely makes sense given what we know about their early experiences.
Simmons’ presence was stronger in the beginning of the season then Fitz gradually began to take center stage. I can’t believe that in the first season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., I called Fitz’s character arc. I have no idea if the writers were teasing it that early. Hunter has a brief cameo, which was surprisingly enjoyable, and I think that Hunter should only be paired up with other men because he works best with them and annoys me when he is with his wife. Please keep them separated. Rod Morrow called it fairly early in the show that Fitz and Simmons’s relationship would constantly jeopardize the team, but this year, I believed it. Do you really think that the life of your significant other or yourself is worth more than the entire world? I know that human beings are trash, but think of the elephants. They’re great and smart. Are you really better than elephant society? Come on! Maybe I’m just speaking for myself, but do not choose me over the world. All the cats versus me—no contest!
I think that Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s fifth season is the first time that we have no Brett Dalton, though his character is referenced. It isn’t a problem, but after years of complaining that he was still around, I’m shocked that I miss him. Other agents get more lines but it was a little odd-as if there was a secret subseries that gave more of their backstory. Is there, and I just don’t know about it? I want to know what happened to Davis. It managed to kill off a main character without truly sacrificing that character in a feasible way without cheating. The show’s main problem is killing off its most interesting bad guy since Gideon Malick instead of letting us see what it would be like to have a bad guy become an integral part of the team. There were so many new and unexpected badass threats, inside and outside of the team, with so many Xena: Warrior Princess shout outs that I have zero complaints about the action or the personality conflicts. One new character has an uncertain fate at the close of this season, and I’m surprised at how much I ended up rooting for him.
I don’t think that I’m the only viewer who was confused regarding why the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. were outlaws this time around. Was it the creation of the LMDs as a violation of the Sokovia Accords (fracking Tony Stark) or the shooting of Talbot? I have a minor quibble about Talbot, whose overall storyline this season was unexpected and perfect. Why are we revising his story as if he was a hero and an unwavering friend to them? The only general worse than him was General Ross. He would befriend them, stab them in the back then go, oops my bad, rinse repeat. I can sympathize with his plight and not pretend that he was a good guy.
Underneath it all, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. felt like a voice of encouragement to the resistance and a love letter to the real heroes that make America great, the first responders. When people look back at the cultural history of this nation, this show will end up on the right side of history for calling out the real enemies in our midst. I hope that it keeps up the momentum because this season would have been a perfect ending. You’ve come a long way since that shaky first season.