While we knew Samuel L. Jackson would be appearing in the finale, it was a very nice surprise to find out he actually had a notable guest role that took Nick Fury through several scenes, rather than just the cameo I think most of us assumed it would be. His entrance was a great one, when he miraculously showed up to pull Simmons out of the water in her time of need.
SHIELD Producers' Post-Finale Interview
It was hardly a surprise that Fitz and Simmons were still alive when the episode began, but it led to some very good material. Iain De Caestecker and Elizabeth Henstridge were great in the scene where the two of them spoke about how their particles existed before them and will exist after, as they prepared for their deaths as best they could. And yes, we’ve seen the “only one of us can make it out” situation many times, but it was still quite powerful here, and Henstridge (who’s proven to be continually terrific) was extremely heart wrenching, as Simmons realized Fitz was going to die……But then he didn’t. And it couldn’t help but feel like a cheat. This show has often felt like it needed more of an edge, and having Fitz survive seemed like a missed opportunity to add some real weight to the finale. However, we know he was in terrible shape – he pointedly wasn’t seen again after Fury rescued them – and hearing “Fitz may never be the same again” hints that the character may be very different next season. At the moment, it feels like a misstep to have both Fitz and Simmons survive Ward’s attempt to kill them, but we’ll see where it goes in the fall.
SHIELD: Season 1 Finale Photo Gallery:
As mentioned, Fury’s involvement was very cool, especially as he showed up to help Coulson (though I have a feeling Bill Paxton and Samuel L. Jackson weren’t on set together, given the blocking of that scene). In general, the second half of the episode was notably exciting, with a lot of crowd-pleasing moments, including Coulson using a very special gun we saw in The Avengers and May’s big fight with Ward. “You were never on top” indeed.The humor in this episode also was very well used, such as May’s “I wanna kick some ass” response to Coulson’s semi-over the top speech / “Do you want to change the world?” question. Even better was the constant undercutting of Garrett’s way over the top “I can see everything now!” babbling, as one person after another, fiend and foe alike, responded with a lot of “Are you kidding me?” looks and reactions – though damn, the way he took out that General (Glenn Morshower!) was brutal!
Given that this show began with Mike and his son, there was also a nice touch of coming full circle for Season 1 with Deathlok, and how he was just waiting for his son to be okay to turn the tables Garrett. Plus, Garrett’s return from the dead, complete with major robot upgrade, only to be blown up by Coulson was hysterical. (And very, yes, Whedonesque)
I am pretty surprised that we ended the season with all six of the original leads still alive, and presumably returning for Season 2. However, while Ward wasn’t killed, he certainly ended Season 1 as a villain – with May truly effing him up in a very satisfying way, with that nail gun to the foot and a big hit to his throat that left him unable to speak! Clearly though, we’ll be seeing him again, which could be cool and lead to some Hannibal Lecter-like dynamics (I’m guessing more HYDRA-hunting is in the future)… even as I cross my fingers he isn’t redeemed and remains the much more interesting bad guy we’ve learned he’s been since the show began.
Fury naming Coulson as the new director of a new incarnation of SHIELD is a big deal, as it allows this show to really re-build what SHIELD is in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I think this will all be a big help moving forward, as the collapse of the old SHIELD and the understanding that Coulson will be starting small frees the show from the feeling it had early on, where it seemed so small compared to what we knew SHIELD to be in the films. Let’s not forget, Nick Fury is believed to be dead by most everyone, so if Coulson is starting a new SHIELD with Fury’s blessing, it would also presumably be its own agency – with little to no government support and perhaps even operating against the governments wishes. All of which is to say there’s a lot of enticing material in play.
Given how much weight had been given to Coulson’s anguish this season regarding the circumstances of his return, it was somewhat odd to have him and Fury resolve it all so quickly – however, it was done in an appropriately touching manner, with Fury letting Coulson know he considered him an Avenger too. Plus, the final moments let us know that no, Coulson is still not really 100% fine, as he’s now doing the same weird drawings on the wall Garrett did (though why would he only be doing it now, given he was given GH-325 long before Garrett, is a bit odd and, I think, one of those things we’ll just have to accept).
Oh, and Patton Oswalt returned as Billy Koening! Who acted so much like his brother, to a creepy degree, that yes, I will join the chorus of many who believe this is almost certainly the true introduction of the LMD concept into the MCU, after Tony Stark’s quippy mention in Avengers. I’m glad to see Oswalt back, as he’s always fun, and that it wasn’t a “Ward didn’t really kill Eric” cheat, but rather the hint of something else entirely going on.
I also want to mention Raina, who’s turned into a notable aspect of this show. While they can’t mention mutants in the MCU, Raina certainly comes close with her talk about evolution and Skye being part of the future, which was amusing. Regardless, her fascination with the world of superpowers that has begun to blossom is well done and Ruth Negga brings a very cool, offbeat vibe to this woman who seems so coldly fascinated by what’s occurring around her.
There were some reminders in the finale of places SHIELD stumbled earlier this season. Even as some new mysteries were introduced, Gravitonium was there basically just to remind us how it remains a thing that exists, with the hints of Franklin Hall turning into Graviton still not even touched upon. And given we’ve already spent 22 episodes with Skye, it’s frustrating that we still only know she’s somehow, nebulously “different” and her parents are “monsters.” But the revelation that her father is alive hopefully means this issue will be dealt with early on in Season 2. And I can’t fault the finale for not wrapping up all these issues in 44 minutes – I just hope (and am fairly optimistic) that in Season 2, we get a better, more even pacing throughout the season.