Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - Paradise Lost - Review

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., “Paradise Lost,” was written by the team of George Kitson and Sharla Oliver and was directed by Wendey Stanzler. Kitson and Oliver wrote the 5 part web series Agents of SHIELD: Double Agent that gave fans an inside look at the show. I loved the title of this episode. On the surface, it refers to the book in which the stone is hidden, but of course, it resonate completely with the storyline in the episode. We see Malick (Powers Boothe) overreach for knowledge, only to have that knowledge prove to be his downfall. And just as Milton may have glorified the Devil, Malick does the same with Hive (Brett Dalton).

The episode begins in the past just after Malick’s father has died. It’s his first loss of innocence. Malick (Cameron Palatas) and his brother Nathaniel (Joel Courtney) are summoned to appear before Whitehall (Reed Diamond) – even though Whitehall is being held in prison! There’s a beautiful fade shot of Malick through the car window from past to present for transition.

Whitehall wanted to talk to them before their first stone ceremony. Whitehall wants them to join him – a man of science. He scoffs at their religion. Nathaniel maintains that to be chosen as the Traveler is a great honor. Whitehall reveals how their father was able to survive so many ceremonies – he reveals the parlor trick he used and directs them to the volume of Paradise Lost in the library.

Nathaniel has to know and checks the book. He’s devastated to discover that his father was a coward, liar, and cheater. Malick doesn’t want to believe it at first, and vows that the tradition won’t die with them, they’ll just be better men. The two shake on being together to the end after throwing the notched white rock in the pond.

Malick returns to security of his home only to find that Hive has beaten him there and Stephanie (Bethany Joy Lenz) has fallen under his spell. Stephanie was told to gather the Inner Circle as well. I loved Boothe in this scene – you can see how uncomfortable he is, but he hides it from his daughter even as he scrambles to find a way out of what he’s increasingly believing to be a trap – and let’s not forget he’s likely seen his own death just recently. Once again, Dalton nails the creepy as he tells Malick it’s time for him to reveal his true self.

May (Ming-Na Wen) chastises Coulson (Clark Gregg) for not killing Ward “hard enough.” He tries to deflect her by telling her that he’s sorry about Andrew. She knows what he’s doing and tells him she doesn’t want to talk about that any more than he wants to talk about Ward. They both feel they’ve failed. May recognizes that killing Ward was different for Coulson – he enjoyed it. But she understands too. Coulson is more distressed that he feels like they are simply running around fixing the problems they’ve created. May says the plus side is that maybe she’ll get to kill him too!

I adored Mack’s (Henry Simmons) reaction to the charred remains: “You’ve gotta be kidding me. Ward? What a pain in the ass… Leaving him for dead on another planet isn’t enough to get rid of that guy?” The first line reminded me so much of a line from The Thing – another creepy killing alien. But I also want this gimmick to keep going – how many outrageous ways can they find to try to kill Ward and keep bringing him back?! I also loved the little reunion between Mack and Daisy (Chloe Bennet) – it’s easy to see the close bond between these two now.

Fitz (Iain De Caestecker) and Simmons (Elizabeth Henstridge) are all over analyzing the remains and all the data to figure out what they are dealing with. They all know this isn’t Ward. Fitz points out that on the planet Hive had acquired all of Will’s memories when he took over his body. Daisy wonders why it hasn’t come after them if it has all of Ward’s memories. Fitz says it’s just not interested in them. And as the episode unfolds, it’s clear that Hive’s focus is on what Nathaniel wants in the way of revenge. Can we assume that Will’s desires might be coming soon on the list? Will he come after Simmons? And hurt Fitz again in the process?

Mack asks Tremors what she saw of the future, but before she can answer – and it seems that she is ready to share what she saw, they are all called to Coulson’s office. He points out that Malick has given new meaning to the term hostile takeover – LOL! They are trying to figure out what Hive wants with Transia. They have zeroed in on an Agrochemical subsidiary. Coulson is disturbed that HYDRA is not afraid to take what they want and wonders what S.H.I.E.L.D.’s advantage is. Mack says, “They’re not afraid.” And of course this means they will have their guard down and underestimate S.H.I.E.L.D.

Daisy and Lincoln (Luke Mitchell) split off on their own mission to visit James (Axle Whitehead) in the Badlands. He was a wanna-be Inhuman at Afterlife who was not considered stable enough to be allowed to transition.

Stephanie knows something is up with her father, and Malick tells her that he saw his own death. He was being torn apart from the inside. She urges him to go to their visitor for help, but he’s convinced he was dying at Hive’s hands. However, Malick looks like he might be being squished – much like what zero gravity does to you – is that HIS blood in the spaceship that Daisy saw??

Malick is convinced that Hive is going to kill him at the ceremony. Stephanie tells him to man up and fix it – whatever this is. She thinks all he has to do is remind Hive how important he is, but of course, she doesn’t yet know what Hive is capable of.

Daisy wants to know why she’s never heard of James. Lincoln tells her that he’s a demolitions expert – Australian and a former mercenary – does he know Hunter? James was banished from Afterlife after breaking into the archives and ranting about the second coming of some ancient inhuman who could raise the dead. Lincoln warns her that he was bitter about not getting powers.

Fitz and Simmons brief Coulson on what they’ve found out about the bodies. They were devoured by an organism – that mimics fire. Coulson deduces that Hive uses the organisms to eat flesh and Simmons posits that it might also use the organisms to reanimate dead flesh. Mack reports that Giyera (Mark Dacascos) has been spotted at the facility, so they know they are on the right track.

Hive tells Malick that Stephanie impresses him – she’s a true believer. Malick asks what Hive remembers of the memories of his many hosts over the years. Malick creepily picks up a white stone and asks if there’s something Malick wants to ask one of them. Hive throws the white rock into the same pool that the original rock was supposed to have been thrown in. He then tells Malick that all will be made clear that night…

The team briefs to infiltrate the compound. Simmons points out that Giyera can only move inanimate objects with his mind. Fitz has tweaked the guns to only fire when the designated palm print is in contact with the grip. Coulson points out that Giyera was special ops and was dangerous without powers. May wants to know about a particular room…

Daisy and Lincoln come upon James’ compound. Daisy manages to step on a landmine, but then uses her powers to take care of the entire field of them. James is completely out of touch and doesn’t even realize that Afterlife has been destroyed. James can’t believe that Lincoln got powers because he was such a mess. Lincoln offers James a crystal in return for information.

James has an ancient artifact – it looks like half of the new Star Wars BB robot! Daisy quickly identifies it as Cree. And as belonging to the first of the Inhumans and their leader who banished or killed the Cree. When he became too powerful, the other Inhumans banded together with humans to banish him. Lincoln double crosses James and they take the orb without exchanging the crystal for it. James drops the bomb that Lincoln almost killed his last girlfriend.

Hive tells them that they’ll all get what they deserve. For those having doubts he tells them to see and believe and reveals his true, tentacle-challenged face!

The team finds that the lab equipment and files have been taken away or destroyed. Coulson hopes Simmons can figure out what the lab was working on. When Giyera arrives, Coulson leads him into that room that May was interested in – they lock him into the empty room with May and we get one of the signature great fight scenes of the show. I loved them both using the walls. May might have had to use a bit of a low blow, but she won and that’s all that counts!

Malick and Stephanie share a drink at the end of the night. Malick asks what she’s reading and she tell him that their guest has taken a liking to her and bought her a copy of Paradise Lost. They say good night and exchange I love yous.

Simmons briefs Coulson on the work going on at the compound. She tells him about Starlings. Coulson says they’re just birds, and Simmons indignantly says that birds can be scary! They were studying invasive species – and how to control them. Simmons has a theory. She doesn’t believe that he’s controlling the entities, he IS one. He can maintain the memories of the host.

Coulson leaves the briefing and remembers killing Ward. He’s clearly in anguish and Fitz comes upon him. He asks Coulson if he’s ok, and Coulson says to him, “You were there…” Fitz, however, says “We do what we have to do. Those are your words.” Coulson admits he’s been telling himself that. He tells Fitz that the words are true about Fitz – he only did what was necessary.

As for himself, Couslon feels that he crossed a line. Ward deserved to be punished but no one deserves to have … Fitz interrupts him to say that Ward did deserve to have his chest caved in – “no question.” But Coulson isn’t buying it. “It was payback. That’s not what we do here.” But Fitz wants to know what the alternative was – let Ward live? Win? And Coulson says, don’t you see that by killing him Ward did win. Coulson says, “I knew it would come back to haunt me, I just didn’t think it would actually come back to haunt me!” Only Gregg could infuse such a statement with so much meaning with that little emphasis on actually!

Mack interrogates Giyera from outside the containment cell. Giyera maintains that they don’t have a leader – Mack points out that’s standard talk when you first join a cult. Giyera remains calm and says that they see potential for humans in their new world. May comes to tell Mack they are nearing Dutch airspace – where HYDRA has an oil refinery.

Hive comes to Malick in the library, and Malick is looking at the copy of Paradise Lost that has the space carved out for the stone. Hive has brought Stephanie with him to learn what her father is truly like. It’s quickly clear that it is Nathaniel talking through Hive and we get the last piece of the memory. Nathaniel realizes that Malick never threw the stone into the pond, but used it the same way that their father did to avoid ever being chosen.

Stephanie wants to know what Hive is saying. Nathaniel tells her that her father is not the man she thought he was. I loved the parallel between past and present as Nathaniel of the past says, “I thought we had a deal” and young Malick looks guilty and conflicted in contrast to Nathaniel of the present – and Dalton hits the note perfectly as he says “I thought we had a deal.” And Malick suddenly realizes that he’s talking to his brother.

Malick said he meant every word of their oath to each other. He didn’t have a choice, but he always wanted it to be Nathaniel by his side. Malick insists that he gave up everything so that his brother could return. But Nathaniel isn’t having any of it. He doesn’t believe that Malick made any sacrifice. Stephanie meanwhile is devastated that her father lied to her face. Nathaniel tells her Malick gets his selfishness from their father.

It’s clear that Nathaniel/Hive is going to exact revenge. Malick tells Stephanie that he won’t let her remember him the way he remembers his father – he won’t be a coward. Stephanie tells Nathaniel to do what he has to do! What a loving daughter! NOT. Hive maintains that he still needs a Malick by his side. Hive leans in to kiss her, seemingly making his choice, but it’s not the one we are thinking – he sucks the life out of Stephanie. Malick is finally devastated.

Daisy wants to know about the other girlfriend. Lincoln tells her he didn’t ever intend for her to see that side of him, and that’s why he didn’t tell her. He reminds her of the void they all felt before the transition. He tells her he tried to fill the void with vodka and rage. His girlfriend tried to make him a better person. They were fighting and he got in a car and she got in with him. He wrapped the car around a pole and she was basically dead until Gordon showed up and saved them both – and Gordon took him to Afterlife.

Lincoln apologizes for not telling her sooner. He doesn’t want anymore secrets. And Daisy confesses her final vision. Someone on their team is going to die. Does anyone else think the girlfriend is going to show up with powers at some point?

Giyera manages to escape. He pins Fitz down and knocks out Mack. Coulson manages to land one punch – that really surprises Giyera. He makes it to the cockpit, and violently lands the plane. May manages to send a distress message to Daisy.

Daisy is distraught that every member of their team is on the plane. Lincoln points out that it’s not everyone. She put together the Secret Warriors Initiative for a reason and she can’t be afraid of that vision. And Daisy is ready to call them in!

In the final scene, Hive comes to Malick with the news that Giyera has captured a S.H.I.E.L.D. plane with several prisoners. Malick is sunk in a chair by the fire, drinking and clearly devastated. Hive tells him that sacrifice is never easy, but they balanced the scales today and Malick has nothing else to fear. And then he gently touches Malixck’s shoulder and says “Together to the end” in that creepy Nathaniel voice!

Another great episode, taking us one step closer to Civil War and the end of this season. Next week we’re promised that the Secret Warriors will unite. The scenes seem to indicate that the team doesn’t remain Hive’s captives for long, but one of the Secret Warriors may have been turned. What did you think of this episode? Did you feel any sympathy for Malick? Do you think Malick may now turn against Hive? Should Coulson feel badly about what he did to Ward? Should he feel bad that he killed him or that it allowed Hive to come back to earth? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

About the Author - Lisa Macklem

I do interviews and write articles for the site in addition to reviewing a number of shows, including Supernatural, Arrow, Agents of Shield, Agent Carter, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, The X-Files, Defiance, Bitten, Killjoys, and a few others! I'm active on the Con scene when I have the time. When I'm not writing about television shows, I'm often writing about entertainment and media law in my capacity as a legal scholar. I also work in theatre when the opportunity arises. I'm an avid runner and rider, currently training in dressage.

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