AoS Season 1 Ep/Discussion

[Please note, as of October 8th 2015, Archive Moe is fucking dead, and its believed the threads may be lost. Please look for new archives of our talkback threads on desustorage; hopefully the old archivemoe threads will be restored.]

SEASON 1 /co/ DISCUSSION THREADS: (listed in reverse order)

[Post Season discussion] 						http://archive.moe/co/thread/61792480
[Episode 22: Beginning of the End Part 2] 				http://archive.moe/co/thread/61792126
[Episode 22: Beginning of the End]  					http://archive.moe/co/thread/61785700
[Episode 21: Ragtag] 							http://archive.moe/co/thread/61558328
[Episode 20: Nothing Personal Part 2] 					http://archive.moe/co/thread/61334836
[Episode 20: Nothing Personal] 						http://archive.moe/co/thread/61324045
[Episode 19: The Only Light in the Darkness] 				http://archive.moe/co/thread/61096758
[Episode 18: Providence Part 2] 					http://archive.moe/co/thread/60877637
[Episode 18: Providence] 						http://archive.moe/co/thread/60867250
[Episode 17: Turn, Turn, Turn] 						http://archive.moe/co/thread/60638575
[Episode 16: End of the Beginning]					http://archive.moe/co/thread/60416436
[Episode 15: Yes, Men Part 2] 						http://archive.moe/co/thread/59769960
[Episode 15: Yes, Men] 							http://archive.moe/co/thread/59751955
[Episode 14: T.A.H.I.T.I. Part 2] 					http://archive.moe/co/thread/59536299
[Episode 14: T.A.H.I.T.I.] 						http://archive.moe/co/thread/59527415
[Episode 13: T.R.A.C.K.S.] 						http://archive.moe/co/thread/58618454
[Episode 12: Seeds] 							http://archive.moe/co/thread/57916345
[Episode 11: The Magical Place] 					http://archive.moe/co/thread/57685437
[Episode 10: The Bridge]						http://archive.moe/co/thread/56858154
[Episode 9: Repairs] 							http://archive.moe/co/thread/56410660
[Episode 8: The Well] 							http://archive.moe/co/thread/56199210
[Episode 7: The Hub] 							http://archive.moe/co/thread/55974417
[Episode 6: F.Z.Z.T.] 							http://archive.moe/co/thread/55746024
[Episode 5: Girl in the Flower Dress] 					http://archive.moe/co/thread/55307133
[Episode 4: Eye Spy] 							http://archive.moe/co/thread/55091189
[Episode 3: The Asset] 							http://archive.moe/co/thread/54898231
[Episode 2: 0-8-4]							http://archive.moe/co/thread/54686960
[Episode 1: Pilot] 							http://archive.moe/co/thread/54460339

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SEASON 1 EPISODE GUIDE
Note, the stars aren't representative of a "rating", its simply to make you notice the header for the episode away from the big paragraphs lel

*****Episode 1: "Pilot"- "S.H.I.E.L.D. puts together a special team, lead by Agent Phil Coulson, to track down a mysterious man with special abilities and the young computer hacker that's encouraging him to reveal himself to the world."
	Pilot episode. Pretty decent for what it is, and introduces Mike Peterson. He'll be important later on.

*****Episode 2: "0-8-4"- Coulson and his S.H.I.E.L.D. agents travel to Peru to investigate an object of unknown origin, codenamed 0-8-4. But when he runs into Comandante Camilla Reyes, more than just sparks fly at 30,000 feet."
	The show is still finding its footing, and there's a few bumps along the way. This episode isn't that great but introduces some cool HYDRA tech to the universe.

*****Episode 3: "The Asset"- "When the brilliant scientist Dr. Franklin Hall is kidnapped, Agent Coulson and his S.H.I.E.L.D. agents must race against the clock to locate him. Skye is their only way in — pushing the team to their limits."
	We get our first look in this episode of Dr. Hall, who Marvel fans should be pretty familiar with. This is the first time we've actually gotten a supervillain outside of the main Marvel Movie-verse, so it'll be interesting to see what they do with the character.

*****Episode 4: "Eye Spy"- Agent Coulson and the S.H.I.E.L.D. team try to track down a mysterious woman who has single-handedly committed numerous high-stakes heists. But when the woman’s identity is revealed, a troubling secret comes to light.
	I believe this is our first encounter with what we later know is an influence from a character called "The Clairvoyant." This episode is overall a bit weird so remember that going into it.

*****Episode 5: "Girl in the Flower Dress"- An elusive girl in a flower dress may hold the key to the mystery that brings Coulson and team to Asia to rescue a young man with an unusual and dangerous power. Meanwhile, Skye has a secret that jeopardizes the team.
	Just remember that the Agents of SHIELD giveth and the Agents of SHIELD taketh away.

*****Episode 6: "F.Z.Z.T"- When floating bodies turn up, Coulson and the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D must hunt down an elusive killer. No one is safe — not even the team.
	We've got some more ties to the main universe, this time with the Chitauri. Overall, this is one of my favorite episodes of the season because it gives Fitz and Simmons a chance to shine; arguably, they're more interesting characters than the rest of the team. Also, Simmons is a total qt in this episode.

*****Episode 7: "The Hub"- Dangerous secrets are being kept from Coulson’s team, and he works the system to save Ward and Fitz when they are sent on a Level 8 classified mission that may end in tragedy.
	This episode is actually pretty cool too, if not for introducing motherfucking Maria Hand to the Marvel Universe. Also, if you keep a sharp eye out in the beginning of the episode, you'll see a sign for H.A.M.M.E.R at the Hub. We also see a bit of Fitz and Ward action which is neat.

*****Episode 8: "The Well"- In the aftermath of the recent Asgard invasion, Coulson and the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. pick up the pieces–one of which threatens to destroy a member of the team.
	This episode takes place directly after Thor's little rumble with the 9th Doctor in "Thor: The Dark World". The episode was teased as a direct tie in but they honestly only dick around with stuff related to the movie. Kind of sucks but the episode isn't too bad on its own.

*****Episode 9: "Repairs"- Coulson and his team are haunted by a mysterious force that threatens to destroy them all, and only a secret from May’s past can save them.
	May has a pretty odd past that we piece together from quite a few episodes. We don't really know the whole story but it definitely made Mulan angry so whatever. There's a whole lot of God and Jesus stuff in this episode which always ends up being awkward for everyone, no matter your beliefs.

*****Episode 10: "The Bridge"- In a shocking cliffhanger episode, Coulson takes the war back to Centipede, and this time he brings in Mike Peterson for some super-soldier support. As they get closer to the truth, startling secrets are revealed.
	Pretty cool episode and a decent cliffhanger for what it is. It's also nice to see Mike Peterson in action. Shame they didn't make him Power Man and then give him his own spinoff show because he could play him pretty well. Also, Simmons is after that black D so avert your eyes.

*****Episode 11: "The Magical Place"- Coulson uncovers vital information about the mystery of his death, but, with Centipede out for blood, this knowledge may come at the cost of one of the team.
	This episode gives us (what we think) is a huge look on to what really happened to Coulson after getting shanked by Loki. There's a particularly gory part of the episode that's pretty shocking so be prepared for it.

*****Episode 12: "Seeds"- Coulson and May uncover startling information about Skye’s past, while the team is swept into a storm at S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy.
	We're 2 for 2 on backstory shit, this time with a bit more on Skye. This episode also gives us enough to go on to start speculating a lot more on just what the fuck Skye is going to become. Spoiler, it's Mockingbird, nigga. Overall, the episode is also great because it gives us some more cool FitzSimmons stuff, and introduces Donnie Gill, who most Marvel fans should also be familiar with.

*****Episode 13: "T.R.A.C.K.S."- Hot on the trail of the Clairvoyant, Coulson and his team board a mystery train that seems to be headed for certain death.
	We actually finally get an episode with the Agents doing secret agent-y things. The episode has some very weird pacing as its told in kind of rewind from different points of view. Everything makes sense in the end though.

*****Episode 14: "T.A.H.I.T.I"- Coulson goes on the attack to save Skye–enlisting the aid of Ward’s former S.O. John Garrett (played by Bill Paxton)–and uncovers shocking truths about his own life and S.H.I.E.L.D. Part 1 of an "Uprising" event meant to set in motion things for the new Captain America movie."
	This was a pretty fun episode and shows some neat team-up stuff. We also get a look at something pretty freaky in a tube.

*****Episode 15: "Yes, Men"-The Agents help Lady Sif as she comes from Asgard on a hunt for Lorelei, the sister of the Enchantress, who aims to enslave the men of Earth. Part 2 of an "Uprising" event meant to set in motion things for the new Captain America movie.
	A very cool episode. We get a lot of name drops, a lot of cool action sequences, and Lorelei being really bonerrific.

*****Episode 16: "End of the Beginning"- Agents Garrett (Bill Paxton) and Triplett are back to help Coulson's team track down S.H.I.E.L.D.'S nefarious enemy--the Clairvoyant. But will Deathlok destroy them all to protect his master's identity?
	Pretty awesome episode overall. Early on, it's pretty much how every single episode should have been; Agents doing Agent-y stuff. We also learn a bit of an uprising in SHIELD and are treated to a 2 minute preview of Winter Soldier (the entire "shooting Fury's vehicle" montage)

*****Episode 17: "Turn, Turn, Turn"- Coulson and his team find themselves without anyone they can trust, only to discover that they are trapped with a traitor in their midst.
	This episode takes place during Winter Soldier and is honestly probably one of the best of the season. I'd say that the episodes will just keep ramping up from from here. HAIL HYDRA.

*****Episode 18: "Providence"- With Colonel Glenn Talbot now on their trail, Coulson and his team seek refuge in the last place anyone would look, where they begin to uncover S.H.I.E.L.D.'s most dangerous secrets--secrets that could destroy them all.
	All in all, a really good episode. There's some nice name drops, appearances by more comic characters, and lots of cool happenings. It's painfully obvious that the show was held back early on from not being able to spoil Cap 2, so with that in the open, they have free range for all kinds of shit now.

*****Episode 19: "The Only Light in the Darkness"-  With their world turned upside down, Coulson races to save the life of his one true love as the mystery of "The Cellist," which began in Marvel's The Avengers, is finally revealed.
	If we're being honest, this wasn't that great of an episode. After the massive hype from Winter Solider and the series seeming to pick up in speed, it felt like we've been knocked down a bit in this ep. Maybe this one was planned without Winter Soldier in mind or something, but it felt somewhat dull overall except for a few surprising turns/revelations. Hopefully the series will get back up and finish off strong.

*****Episode 20:"Nothing Personal"- Just when there's no one left to trust, Agent Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders) returns to team up with Coulson as S.H.I.E.L.D. is being destroyed around them.
	Actually, this one pumps up everything from back in Ep 18. It's got references to Man-Thing, zingers, Maria Hill being awesome as hell, and some real development with all of the characters. This episode is probably one of the better ones of the whole season.

*****Episode 21: "Ragtag"- In the last episode before the epic season finale, Ward's betrayal and HYDRA's shocking secrets are revealed as Coulson's team goes undercover on a mission that leaves no one unscathed.
	This episode was rad as hell. There's some big twists and realizations in this episode, and it makes all of us hyped for the finale.

*****Episode 22: "Beginning of the End"- Dark secrets are revealed as Coulson and his team put everything on the line to stop Garrett and the forces of Hydra, on the explosive season finale.
	Episode was fucking amazing. Everything we've always wanted all wrapped up into an hour