Welcome back WormholeRiders dedicated to the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.!
The episode was excellent! Directed by Jesse Bochco, written by Brent Fletcher, wonderful costumes by Ann Foley and with superb cinematography by Jeffrey C. Mygatt, the “Girl in the Flowered Dress” exceeded all of my expectations!
Claimed by a few reviewers to be “slow”, or was lacking action, or that Clark Gregg is not getting enough screen time. Another claims he is the only “super star” in the series and therefore deserves more than simply being the “father figure” as Patricia also noticed last week in her analysis of Eye Spy, and Pam in her review of “The Asset” the previous week. We disagree and will share why in this analysis.
This reviewer would offer this perspective as an alternative. First off, MingNa Wen is a HUGE superstar. Second, Clark Gregg, MingNa Wen, in fact all of the new leading actors (Brett Dalton, Chloe Bennet, Iain De Caestecker, and Elizabeth Henstridge) have, in the opinion of this reviewer, produced fantastic results in the first five episodes.
Each episode was replete with humor, adventure, action, great location shooting, crisp story lines, cool cinematography, and wonderful digital effects by Kevin Lingenfelser, Sabrina Arnold, Mark Kolpack and their VFX team!
Here at WormholeRiders, we do not understand why some people (critics) simply do not enjoy entertainment for its own sake and look for the positive things to rejoice in?
Some seem prefer to nit-pick to gain attention. Instead, let me offer that a great science fiction drama series like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. grow over time, as Pam tweeted to her followers last week.
For goodness sakes people, we are only on the fifth episode and a good deal of character building, back story and interaction has occurred, with more yet to come as in the “Girl in the Flowered Dress” revealed.
Before critics begin making such claims, let us all take time and witness the glory of seventeen more episodes that remain to be accomplished in the first season, shall we? Please be patient. Thank you.
Before beginning my analysis, WormholeRider team express our satisfaction and sends congratulations to , for the full season one twenty-two episode pickup of the series! In these days of tight production budgets and a stalled economy in the United States, a full twenty-two episodes is something of a rarity.
Let’s take a look at ratings which are, without doubt, the “proof in the pudding”. The series is progressing rather nicely with extremely strong start after the premiere of 11.9 million live viewers with a fantastic 4.6 rating in the coveted 18-49 demographic.
The Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. ratings numbers have trended downward to 7.4 million live viewers, seemingly representing a 4.5 million viewer drop since the series premiere to last weeks episode the ‘Girl in the Flowered Dress”.
However, Marvel and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. fans should not be worried by some of the so-called critics exclaiming doom and gloom.
Recall that in a mobile society, and while many today will sit around a television with family or friends to watch a series premiere, afterwards, people often catch the programs the love on the go on their mobile devices or via DVR within the same day.
Therefore, the “DVR PLUS 3” and “DVR PLUS 7” have now become is the most trusted numbers for series after the launch to accurately measure performance. As the trend to mobile viewing further takes hold, viewing on the network web sites via the Internet will become the predominant source of viewing in the very near future.
With a strong 4.7 rating in the coveted 18-49 demographic for L + SD (Live plus Same Day) and a 49% increase over live at 7.4 million for DVR number, Agents totals for this weeks episode were 11.026 million views, or approximately 92.66% of the views for the series premiere.
Based on the strength of these numbers, advertising revenue for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., the lifeblood of any television program that pays for the cost of production, is strong. This editor is confident that Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. fans can expect at least a minimum three year run, if not longer.
Girl in the Flowered Dress:
We find ourselves in Hong Kong, China. A local street artist, and an apparent magician named Chan Ho Yin (Louis Ozawa Changchien) is observed performing a series of magic illusions on the street.
This young man is our Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. superhero whose given nickname we will learn shortly is “Scorch”.
Chan seems overlooked by most passersby for his accomplishments. Chan is obviously disappointed, but he cheers up when he sees a “Girl in the Flower Dress” smiling in his direction. Who, we ask, could resist such a woman?
Chan, cheering up when he sees the beautiful young woman approaching, decides to perform his special “trick” since she is one of the few people actually paying any attention to him.
The special effects in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. are awesome and enjoyable to behold overall, even this simple ball of fire “trick” Chan performs.
Chan materializes a small fireball in his right hand shouting out to the crowd gathered “This is not a trick”. As Chan fireball dissipates into the night air, we learn that the beautiful young woman’s name is Raina portrayed by the gorgeous Ruth Negga.
Raina says she would “love to see the fireball trick again”. Chan informs Raina “a magician never reveals his “tricks” as he escorts Raina, the “Girl in the Flower Dress” back to his “cluttered” apartment.
Chan offers Raina a beer where she notices that he has Houdini posters on the wall. Chan tells Raina that Houdini performed only tricks and that he creates real magic, producing another fireball in his hand to prove his special power to Raina.
Raina advises Chan that he has been given a “gift” and that he “has been chosen”. We will learn later that Raina has used the “gift” line previously to ensnare other victims.
Suddenly, Centipede troops in fire-retardant clothing burst into Chan’s apartment. Soon to be named “Scorch” Chan is taken away by the Centipede henchmen, who, thanks to help from the “Rising Tide” hackers.
In a simple set of sequences, the action for the episode has been set up perfectly. I enjoy the elegance in making the scene come to life. I also enjoy the name of the bad guys organization; Centipede as much as the name Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.!
The choice of such titled “bad guy” labels reminds me of earlier era “bad guy” organization names such as S.P.E.C.T.R.E from MGM Studios famed James Bond 007 series, T.H.R.U.S.H. from the television series The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (1964-1968), and the spoof of all spy movies and shows via CONTROL and KAOS from the famous Mel Brooks 1965-1970 Get Smart series.
Subsequent to the kidnapping of poor Chan by Raina in Hong Kong for some nefarious Centipede purpose, we find our two would be lovers, Agent Ward (Brett Dalton) and Agent Skye (Chloe Bennet) playing a game of electronic Battleship. Poor Agent Ward’s Battleship is sunk and Skye wins the game.
Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg) and Agent Melinda May (MingNa Wen) observe that Agent Ward and Skye seem to be getting along rather well. As senior members of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., the two are proud that Skye is now seemingly fully integrated into the team, but a few surprises lay just up ahead!
As Coulson and Melinda may trade good natured banter about sparring a few rounds “like the old days”, a video alert conference call comes in from Agent Kwan (Tzi Ma). The subject matter is about Chan’s kidnapping in Hong Kong.
Agent Coulson briefs the team on Chan’s pyrokinetic abilities that have became manifest after he was near a nuclear plant meltdown some years earlier.
As Ward and Skye track down who is involved, Coulson informs the team that Chan has been on S.H.I.E.L.D.’s “Index List” for many years. The “Index List” categorizes human beings and and other special objects with different kinds of power (e.g. Thor’s Hammer).
Agent Kwan reveals to the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. team that Chan was displeased he was not allowed to demonstrate his “Scorch” ability.
We also learn that the “Rising Tide”, Skye’s former conglomeration of trouble makers, had hacked into the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. system database to be able to capture Chan. Coulson is not pleased.
Skye protests that she has been with the team the entire time, but becomes an immediate suspect when Coulson says what better place to hack from than inside the team? Skye swears that she had nothing to do with the hacking, but is this the truth? Could Skye be a double agent? To prove her loyalty, Skype locates the real hacker, a malcontent named Miles Lydon (Austin Nichols) from Austin, Texas.
Our Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. jet to Austin Texas to capture Miles. No dice, after an exciting chase scene hacker Miles has hacked into the street light system and traps Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. in a traffic jam.
Here is where we learn a secret. As Miles arrives back to his apartment, Skye is already there. We know from the glances that Skye and Miles had been lovers in the past. While scolding Miles for his foolishness, Skye kisses him passionately. The two then make love.
After the deed is done, Skye warns Miles to stay out of the way of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. as she begins to get dressed. Trouble! Melinda May has her blouse in the adjoining room! Skye, busted by Agent May who scowls at Skye “get dressed!”.
At this juncture, before Melinda May shows up, I was wondering just how Skye had eluded the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. team to be able to engage in her dalliance with Miles in Austin.
It turns out Skye being missing had not escaped Coulson’s attention. He had employed Melinda may to tail her to see what she was up too.
The writers did a great job with scene timing by having “Mama May” catch Skye with her pants, err, skirt down.
After hearing various excuses from the two lovers caught in the act, and ransacking Miles apartment with him asking “are you going to destroy all my stuff?”, Melinda May says “yes” who has him handcuffed for transport back to Hong Kong to affect a rescue of Chan.
Agent Ward is feeling disappointed while Agent Fitz (Iain De Caestecker) is feeling betrayed by Skype. Agent Simmons (Elizabeth Henstridge) sticks up for her, believing that Skye is still their friend and dedicated to Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.! A well done scene with a plot twist that was perfectly executed!
Coulson orders a disenchanted Ward to handcuff Skye for transport. Skye and Miles are monitored by the team arguing about S.H.I.E.L.D. He thinks the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is an evil government apparatus “the belly of the beast”, Skye tells Miles they are “not that beastly”.
The questions we must considers are whether or not Miles be a new agent recruit for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.? Agent Coulson, who recruited Skye, now is concerned about her true intentions, believing Skye is withholding additional information. Also, what would Agent Ward think? Could this be a love triangle?
We have learned that Miles was paid a million dollars for information he gave to the “Girl in the Flower Dress”. Miles finally confesses what he was involved with was a ecological lab that was doing a study for centipede’s.
Obviously, it is the Centipede organization who wants to perfect the EXTREMIS serum we witnessed in the pilot episode to create an army of super soldiers to enslave the Earth!
Debbie (Shannon Lucio), the doctor in the lab at the top of the building that burned up in the first episode, watches as Chan is tested an compliments Raina on her work in capturing Chan. She comments that Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has prevented Chan’s blood from making fire balls at will and that is the reason his fireballs have been small in nature.
Chan is given an injection to help him fully realize his ability. after a successful test, Debbie orders Raina to drain Chan’s blood and give him a blood transfusion to study why his blood platelet’s do not allow his skins cell to burn.
Subsequently, Chan creates a huge fireball in the lab. Chan is quite happy someone is finally allowing him to utilize his ability.
Unfortunately, poor Chan has simply become a laboratory guinea pig for the Centipede organization when he learns his blood has been drained.
Chan aka “Scorch” is strapped to a examining table to be disposed of now that his usefulness in providing an EXTREMIS serum has been fully and completely accomplished!
Coulson briefs the team on the rescue mission as the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. arrive back in Hong Kong to affect a rescue supported by Agent Kwan.
In well choreographed fight sequences, Melinda May kicks butt while Agent Kwan frees Chan.
As they move to escape, Agent Coulson witnesses Chan set Agent Kwan ablaze. Poor Kwan is now nothing but a charcoal briquette, and at least one more is to come!
Melinda May chats with Chan in their native language to try and convince him to cooperate while Skye tells the team that she needs to be on scene to hack into the computer that has trapped Agents’ Coulson and Melinda May in the lab.
Maniacal Chan who is shooting more fireballs at the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. Agent Ward heads inside as Skye hacks the system, unlocking the doors.
As Chan tries to escape, he runs into Doctor Debbie in the hallway. Chan is furious, deciding to have a BBQ with Doctor Debbie as the main course! Sadly, with his newly enhanced ability, the good doctor will need a crematoria urn for her ashes, because that is all that is left of her!
Recently freed, Melinda May stops Chan re-injecting him with the fire suppression medication. With some help from Hacker Miles, the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. escape just in time as the last fireball of Chan shoots through the roof and evaporates.
Centipede has been thwarted, but what of Miles and his aiding Rising Tide? As the episode concludes Agent Coulson places an electronic control bracelet on Miles. Poor Miles will be unable to use computers for quite a while. To keep him out of circulation, Coulson tells Miles to find his own ride back to Austin, Texas!
We segue to Agent Skye as she sees Melinda May and Agent Ward having an after mission drink. Skye gets a dressing down by her boss Coulson, who realizes that she is withholding a secret about something.
Skye confesses, retrieving a computer file that shows how a lifelong search for her parents has led her to a single document that has been redacted by S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Coulson says that he will help, but Skye is on probation and fits her with an electronic bracelet exactly like the one placed on her lover Miles!
Raina also has also escaped the melee. She is chatting with an imprisoned man separated by a glass partition via telephone. Raina says they found a solution to the combustion problem. She believes “they will soon have stable subjects” and suggest moving the project to “Phase 2” by putting her in contact with the “Clairvoyant”.
Raina asks is if she can be provided with “insight regarding Phase 3”. The mysterious man warns that the “Clairvoyant doesn’t like to be touched” but that “they all have to do things that are uncomfortable if they are ever to get their toy soldiers off the shelf”. As Raina leaves the creepy man says “I like your flower dress”. Raina responds to her master, “I know”, meaning we will see her again in the future!
All in all an outstanding Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. episode, another “STRAIGHT A” in my book! The Single Effect clearly sets up the story arc for the next episode “FZZT” and beyond!
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Thank you. 
Best Regards,
Kenn