Neil Brazier | On 23, Oct 2013

Photo: Walt Disney, All rights reserved.

Opening with over a dozen men all dressed in grey suits and creepy red masks, Episode Four introduces a darker tone to Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. This week, a former protégé of Coulson appears to have gone rogue and it’s up to the team to bring her in. After an attack on a Swedish subway, it looks as though our bad girl may have telepathy but that theory is quickly debunked as impossible – Marvel makes it clear that there are no mutants in this world.

The whole episode is seeping with this murky undercurrent this week, set against the obligatory humorous elements. There are scenes that will make you squirm in your chair – and not just because of the cheesy dialogue we’re now used to. It’s good to see that Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. can do this, potentially keeping the show interesting from week to week, but the series is still lacking an overarching nemesis.

With the first scene this week showcasing those men in red masks, it looked as though we were in for something to do with the Red Skull and Hydra, but alas not. There was no mention of the possible creation of Graviton from last week and even the Rising Tide is becoming a distant memory.

When Agents first arrived, it appeared to be the show that Heroes wanted to be. Heroes suffered having one villain arc over several seasons – how many times did Sylar need defeating? – but the Marvel universe is just that, a universe full of different bad guys to draw upon. Let’s see some big names pulling the strings for the Rising Tide or, indeed, whoever was in control of our spies this week.

One theme that is constant so far? Agent Coulson. Is he alive or a life model decoy? His former protégé noticed something different about him, claiming he is a changed man. What – and when – will we know the secrets of “AC”?

 

Where can I buy or rent Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. online in the UK?

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