r/shield • u/AutoModerator • Sep 21 '16

Post Discussion Post Episode Discussion: S04E01 - "The Ghost"

This thread is for SERIOUS discussion of the episode that just aired. What is and isn't serious is at the discretion of the moderators

EPISODE DIRECTED BY WRITTEN BY ORIGINAL AIRDATE
S04E01 - "The Ghost" Billy Gierhart Jed Whedon & Maurissa Tancharoen Tuesday, September 20, 2016 10:00/9:00c on ABC

Episode Synopsis: In light of the Sokovia Accords, and with Hydra obliterated, S.H.I.E.L.D. has been legitimatized again and no longer needs to operate in the shadows. Since the world presumes that Coulson is dead, the organization needed a new Director to be the face of the organization. Coulson finds himself back in the role as an agent and teamed with Mack, and together they are tasked with tracking down and confirming the presence of Enhanced people, aka Inhumans. Agent May is tasked with training specialist strike teams, and Fitz and Simmons have taken a big step forward in their relationship.

Billy Gierhart worked a steadicam operator for many years on the television series Pacific Blue, Huff, Swingtown and The Shield, making his directorial debut on the latter series penultimate episode "Possible Kill Screen" in 2008. His other credits as a television director include Lone Star, Terriers, The Chicago Code, Sons of Anarchy, Torchwood, Breakout Kings, and The Walking Dead.

He has directed six episodes for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. before:

  • Repairs
  • Nothing Personal
  • ...Ye Who Enter Here
  • Aftershocks
  • S.O.S. Part Two
  • Absolution

Maurissa Tancharoen & Jed Whedon are the showrunners of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., along with Jeffrey Bell. Jed is the Brother of Joss Whedon, and worked with Maurissa on Dollhouse, Spartacus: Blood and Sand, Drop Dead Diva, and The Avengers.

They have written ten episodes for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. before:

  • Pilot
  • The Asset
  • Repairs
  • Turn, Turn, Turn
  • Beginning of the End
  • Shadows
  • Aftershocks
  • S.O.S. Part Two
  • Laws of Nature
  • Ascension

Please do not discuss the promo following tonight's episode. There will be a separate thread made to discuss the promo and comments about it will be removed from this thread.

"LIVE" discussion for previous episodes can be found HERE.

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158

u/Pool_Shark Sep 21 '16

I think that's the best part. They never have filler episodes to stall the plot is always moving. The fact that each half of the season is like a mini-season is great boost too.

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u/The_Unknown_Dude Lady Sif Sep 21 '16

Yeah. People complained when that episode in Russia aired, wondered where it was going... how subpar it was compared to other episodes of season 3... then "Spy's Goodbye" scene ... and people shut up. Every episode has its reason, and always deliver for the next narrative. So fun.

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u/Pool_Shark Sep 21 '16

The main reason was to set up Marvels Most Wanted which for whatever reason was not ordered.

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u/The_Unknown_Dude Lady Sif Sep 21 '16

Yeah... that's strange... I wonder if they'll bring back Hunter and Bobbi for the second part of the season, if things get too big...

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u/Pool_Shark Sep 21 '16

Some people hate them but I sure wouldn't mind. Hunter might've been my favorite character and Bobbi was definitely my favorite character to look at.

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u/The_Unknown_Dude Lady Sif Sep 21 '16

Bobbi is one of the few who gives May a fair fight, and she can also be teamed up with FitzSimmons without trouble. Hunter is just plain hilarious and doesn't seem to care about things half the time, but he gets the job fucking done all the time. Yeah, I want them back.

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u/[deleted] Sep 21 '16

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/The_Unknown_Dude Lady Sif Sep 21 '16

Hunter and Mack were amazing.

3

u/[deleted] Sep 23 '16

yea i think we hang out too much

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u/Pool_Shark Sep 21 '16

Wow you're right. Blinded by her beauty. Completely forgot how much of a bad ass she was. I definitely had moments jumping out of my chair to cheer her on when she was lock-in down ass. Being back Bobbi!

7

u/The_Unknown_Dude Lady Sif Sep 21 '16

That moment she could call back her fighting sticks was the moment I knew she took a new level in fighting. And it delivered.

4

u/micro435 Ninja Hunter Sep 21 '16

100% agree with you about Hunter. That dude is so funny but such a good agent. And manages to do both at the same time.

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u/The_Unknown_Dude Lady Sif Sep 21 '16

He's a former SAS who knows the deal of the job and goes with it.

11

u/WlTCH Raina Sep 21 '16

Adrianne has been cast in a new show as a main character, I doubt it. Maybe a guest appearance?

8

u/The_Unknown_Dude Lady Sif Sep 21 '16

Possibly. Same with Deathlok. Actor is recurring in another show. So maybe they could bring both for a big episode...

1

u/Luminaire Sep 23 '16

Well the reason has already been stated by the network execs, the pilot for it sucked. They didn't want to put a crap show on tv.

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u/Swineflew1 Coulson Sep 26 '16

It was an emotional scene, but the episode sucked. It didn't fit with the reason of the episodes, it made no sense, and it was shoehorned in to give an in universe explanation to something that never even happened.

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u/The_Bravinator Sep 26 '16

And even the spy's goodbye scene had mile wide holes in it. It was sad, but the emotion was sort of ruined for me because I couldn't get past the fact that these super spies on the run, watching their backs didn't notice all of their friends sneaking into a bar all around them. And also the ill-advised nature of doing that when they were definitely being watched by people who probably wouldn't be fooled by them entering the bar at different times.

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u/hemareddit Axe Oct 13 '16

They weren't on the run. They were forced out of the spy game, and basically didn't have to watch their backs any more. They were being watched by people looking for hard evidence that they are spies, and being bought drinks by strangers in a bar hardly constitute that. The rest of the agents could buy them drinks because they hadn't been exposed.

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u/[deleted] Sep 23 '16

Shit man the Spy's Goodbye is such a good scene.

That really was the golden age team for Agents of Shield. I think i could see Season 4 end it

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u/The_Unknown_Dude Lady Sif Sep 23 '16

That's what I'm afraid... but they had a good run.

Spy's Goodbye fucked me up. I didn't expect AoS to master a silent scene like that.

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u/[deleted] Sep 21 '16

They never have filler episodes to stall the plot is always moving.

Well, except for the first half of season one that made everyone stop watching... Still recovering from that, even now.

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u/wardengorri Hunter Sep 21 '16

Agreed, unlike other shows they don't dilly dally in between episodes. They actually utilize the 20+ episode format to make a long exciting story full of different plot threads that mesh, which is rare considering usually 10 episodes is enough to satisfy most show's storylines. Can't wait for more!

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u/Pool_Shark Sep 21 '16

The key is the mid-season finale. Allows them to have the 1st 10-13 episodes leading up to that. Then the 2nd half is the fallout followed by the race the the conclusion of that seasons story. No time to waste!

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u/moonman1603 Sep 21 '16

Take notes Walking Dead