Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 'Face My Enemy' Review: Coulson Institutes Plan B

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has been off to a strong start in Season 2, and the fourth episode, entitled "Face My Enemy," continued that trend with an installment that showed just how fragile this new S.H.I.E.L.D. team really is.

The episode began with a mission gone wrong when General Talbot blows Coulson and May's cover, which forces them to bail. We eventually learn that Talbot is not actually himself, but a Hydra agent wearing a high-tech mask. The agent and his partner capture May and, unbeknownst to Coulson, use that same mask technology to sneak into S.H.I.E.L.D.'s plane and try to bring it down.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. established early in Season 2 that the threats would bear down on the spy agency from all sides. Talbot's team in the government, Hydra and Skye's father were all out there and could strike at any time. "Face My Enemy" showed us that one misstep could lead to the death of this very young revival of S.H.I.E.L.D. Something as simple as one Hydra agent in a mask nearly brought down the entire flying base, so imagine what will happen when a more dangerous threat sets its sights on S.H.I.E.L.D. This episode made the stakes feel real and the threats truly dangerous. It really does feel like S.H.I.E.L.D. is outnumbered and maybe even outmatched. If they stop one pocket of Hydra agents, hundreds of others would still be out there. Cut off the head, and two more grow in its place.

On a more personal note, Coulson continually asked May throughout the episode to go over a contingency plan for eliminating him should the new Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. start to act like his old buddy John Garrett from Season 1. The real May told Coulson early in the episode that his symptoms are getting worse and it's clear something is truly wrong with him, but she refused to entertain the idea of killing him. Coulson sees right through the fake May's disguise when she's too willing to talk about a backup plan.

But in the episode's final moments, the real May finally revealed to Coulson that she had already come up with a contingency plan. If Coulson goes crazy as Garrett did, then she has a bag packed and she's ready to ship him to a new life in Australia because she cannot kill her friend for whom she cares so deeply. Coulson thanks her and calls this one of the sweetest gestures anyone has ever done for him. Then he tells her to forget about it and demands they come up with a real plan. May reluctantly agrees. The alien scribbles are clearly taking an effect on Coulson, and it seems like we're headed toward a situation wherein someone on the team (likely May) is going to have to make a hard choice. Or, the show could figure out a way to cure him.

Fitz had a minor subplot in this episode as the Simmons in his head encouraged him to join in with the rest of the crew and have some quality bonding time. But poor Fitz doesn't even feel like part of the team after they took away the lab in which he and Simmons had worked without even telling him. Iain de Caestecker has been doing a great job selling damaged Fitz, and this episode was no different. Of course, he managed to save the plane from exploding, which earned him a beer from Lance Hunter. It was a touching scene but it also had a bit of humor, as Hunter and Mack stared blankly at Fitz's blunt sharing about his relationship, or lack thereof, with Simmons. More bro bonding between Fitz, Mack and the rest, please.

Notes:

-       Triplett hasn't really had much to do yet this season, which is a shame because he was quite entertaining, useful and loyal at the end of Season 1. If any character feels extraneous at this point in Season 2, it's him.

-       May: "Did you punch her in the face?" Coulson: "I did."

-       That fight scene between May and Fake May was awesome. One of the best fight sequences on the show to date.

-       Mack is trying to impress Coulson with his car restoration skills so he can work on Lola.

-       Whitehall found Raina in the post-credits sequence and gave her 48 hours to deliver the obelisk. Hopefully this leads to more information about Skye's father and what he really wants.

What did you think of "Face My Enemy"? Let us know in the comments section.