Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (HYDRA) season 4 episodes 18-19 review - No Regrets/All the Madame's Men

No Regrets

We’re still in the framework, and given the titles, I’d say at least for the next 2 episodes, going to be interesting to see how things go from here.

So, in the first episode, Coulson’s was converted on side, in the second episode, Mack was converted on side, in this episode, it looks like it’s May’s turn this time around, and yes, this is spoiler territory but you should be used to that from me by now.

Where does the rest of the episode fit in? Well here are some interesting revelations. Fitz’s greatest regret is his lack of relationship with his father, turns out having that relation, especially with no Simmons to counter-balance he’s turned into a full-on psychopath. It’s worth noting he did start to question himself a little about the murder

Daisy has only a minor role in the episode, as she stays in prison for all of it, but it does have some interesting character moments like being offered a chance to live a quiet life with Lincoln and her speaking to Doctor Radcliffe. This also offers a major bit of plot progression as Radcliffe reveals there is a backdoor into the framework AIDA can’t close.

But the main plot this week is about an old friend, you remember Tripp, he died in season 2. But he’s back. I honestly want them to do more with this. How nice would it be to have Hunter and Bobbi back? Although maybe I’m just dreaming on that one. Anyway, it’s up to Coulson and Mace to chase after them but Agent May has a devastating new weapon.

But there are some quieter moments too as Simmons sees Mack for the first time with his daughter and questions how real things get as she has a bonding moment with Grant Ward as she begins to open up about what’s really going on.

But of course, the standout for this episode has to be Mace as we’re given a tragic reminder that there are still stakes to this little battle of wits and computers. Sacrificing himself to save a bunch of children is a powerful way to go and of course he’s dead in the real world, something which will have consequences moving forward since he’s the public face of S.H.I.E.L.D. right now. 

The showrunners deliver another powerful episode, raising the stakes and the ending brings towards closure. Fitz is the biggest loose end right now, and is set to be up till the end. God knows what’s going to happen when they wake up.

Rating 8/10

All the Madame’s Men

Madame Hydra put on a show

So Daisy pushed her out the window

All Madame’s men, those medically inclined

Couldn’t repair Madame’s broken up spine

OK, but seriously, this episode was another strong one as the real world began to factor in and we saw what Project Looking Glass actually is.

So, Fitz has a relationship with his father that he doesn’t have in the real world, as Radcliffe liked to remind said father. And that began to play in quite heavily here. Fitz is a complete sociopath and it’s hard to see this not affecting him as a person when he inevitably leaves the framework. Or something worse happens, but I’ll get to that part. But Fitz clearly cares deeply for “Ophelia” and that’s the driver of his actions today.

So, Daisy has her powers back since May’s defection, they head to re-join S.H.I.E.L.D. after some good fighting whilst Simmons and Tripp go out to check out Project Looking Glass. It’s nice to have Tripp back, his optimism and smiles have truly missed. Meanwhile, if I hear Mack call his daughter Sparkplug again I think I might blow one

Yeah, aside from being a driver and being p*ssed at May, Mack is relatively not important in this episode but they have to address that thorny issue at some point. To be able to stop being hunted by HYDRA everywhere they go, they need to expose them, fortunately May gives them some much needed hope on that front. Bodycam footage from her armour.

You remember Bakshi? He was Whitehall’s right hand man, then he was a S.H.I.E.L.D. pawn, then he was Ward’s puppet, and then he was dead. Now he’s the HYDRA newsreader, funny world, ain’t it? Anyway, they play the footage, hope is restored all is well on that world but who cares?

Project looking glass what the series has been building up to, not just the HYDRA arc, it use the ability to create matter from nothing established in the Ghost Rider arc, it’s capable of creating a new body for ‘Ophelia’ to use in the real world, free of the restrictions that AIDA had. She also promises to do the same to Ivanov, though given that she put him in this situation to begin with, I have my doubts. But it does create some interesting potential developments, could Mack’s daughter go through? Could Tripp or Ward? And what about Evil Fitz?

Many interesting possibilities from a strong episode, though can end Radcliffe’s torture already, I’ve seen enough

Rating 8.5/10