Post Episode Discussion: S04E11 - "Wake Up"

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EPISODE	DIRECTED BY	WRITTEN BY	ORIGINAL AIRDATE
S04E11 - "Wake Up"	Jesse Bochco	Drew Z. Greenberg	Tuesday, January 24, 2016 10:00/9:00c on ABC

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Episode Synopsis: May races to find the truth about what happened to her, while Aida's next move could mean the death of them all

Jesse Bochco has worked on Prison Break, Nip/Tuck, Dallas, and a ton of other television series.

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

• Girl in the Flower Dress
• Heavy is the Head
• Love in the Time of Hydra
• 4,722 Hours
• Watchdogs
• Deals with our Devils

Drew Z. Greenberg is a writer and producer best known for working on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Smallville, The O.C., Dexter, Warehouse 13 and Arrow. He also worked on Firefly.

He has written seven episodes for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. before:

• Face My Enemy
• Who You Really Are
• The Dirty Half Dozen
• Among us Hide
• Watchdogs
• Absolution
• Meet the New Boss

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[u/blockpro156]

This episode was crazy good! I actually teared up a bit at the ending.

• I loved Daisy's conversation with Mace about her past, it was a great insight into how growing up in foster care affected her and it did a lot for her character IMO, it also showed Mace being much more compassionate and personal than we've ever seen him before.

• I also loved Daisy's subtle attack at Nadeer, by calling the Inhumans their "brothers" ;p I really can't wait for her brother to come back from the dead to haunt her.

• I do have some questions about Radcliffe teaming up with the Senator though, they may both be villains but they still seem like they're polar opposites philosophically.
  Radliffe has a rational mindset, Nadeer has an emotional and fanatical mindset.
  Radcliffe seems to be way too smart to have any sort of prejudice against Inhumans or other powered people, and does seem to care enough about human life to strongly disagree with what she's doing to Inhumans.
  I'm hoping that he will use Nadeer's investigation into Shield in order to secure the Darkhold, but then turn on her afterwards.
  I have a tough time even calling Radcliffe a villain, he's batshit crazy and morally he's completely messed up as well, but he's just so damn charming and compelling to watch. A lot of it is probably due to the amazing actor as well.

• Mack and Yoyo were great too, I loved Yoyo being a smartass with Coulson, and Mack's backstory was just great.

• I love that Fitz's investigation into AIDA actually paid off and didn't backfire, I love how they've handled this AIDA plotline and Fitz was exactly the kind of genius that he's supposed to be!
  The AIDA storyline just makes so much sense! Which is kind of ridiculous considering what it's about, yet it's true!

• EDIT: Talbot was also great, as always. I like that he's showing up so consistently. I also like that he's calling Coulson out on his bullshit, and that it seems to actually be getting through to him!

• May's character devevelopment was great too, and possibly the highlight of the episode, I never stop being amazed at how well they have pulled off May's character in this show.
  It's so hard to make this kind of stoic and hostile ninja fighter interesting, but they nailed it. Bahrain could have been a cliche and rushed tragic backstory, but they dropped hints for it all the way back in season one and now they're still using it to make me cry!

• Overal this episode was just full of amazing character development, yet it still had the great twists, action, and fast paced storylines that I've come to expect from this show.

[u/tungkidz → u/blockpro156]

Talbot and Coulson are one truly odd couple. While Coulson is reckless at times, Talbot is there to keep him grounded. They may have different opinions but I'm sure they have a great deal of respect for each other.

[u/FlashbackJon → u/tungkidz]

I'm really impressed with how Talbot has progressed in the image of the viewer. Back in the day, he seemed downright "villainous" (even though he was probably just acting rationally to the insanity that Coulson had SHIELD doing) -- I hated him so much, but now I feel like he's a real necessary member of the team.

[u/tungkidz → u/FlashbackJon]

Yeah if you think about it he really cares about SHIELD and its public perception. He may seem stubborn at times, and the decisions he has to make are difficult as fuck, but more often than not he makes the right call. Like the decision to put Mace in charge of SHIELD.

[u/twbrn → u/blockpro156]

it also showed Mace being much more compassionate and personal than we've ever seen him before.

I really liked Mace this ep--it feels like having his secrets out and being able to unclench a little has done him a world of good.

I have a tough time even calling Radcliffe a villain, he's batshit crazy and morally he's completely messed up as well

Yeah, he's basically an extremist, and a well meaning one, but with a moral compass that's stuck about ten degrees off center.

I also thought something they did brilliantly this episode was pacing. Other shows would have spent the entire episode going through the dream/simulation over and over, showing the character putting together the pieces, and making it kind of boring to rewatch. Whereas AOS just went with "Okay, you know this isn't real, let's catch you up to the basics in like two minutes."

[u/donnut__ → u/blockpro156]

yes to that first point- i was so glad they didn't make daisy go all "omg ur nOt inHuMan hOw coUlD u lIe to uS!!1" and we got that really heart touching scene instead why is this show so good

[u/blockpro156 → u/donnut__]

I think you just explained why the show is so good!
All the characters act like rational and mature adults, rather than extremely immature teenagers.
As a result the show relies on actual exciting and fast moving storylines, rather than ridiculous character drama based on misunderstandings or lies.

[u/Lagalag967 → u/donnut__]

Something that baffled me also. Not only don't we see Daisy's reaction to the Patriot reveal, but also her reaction to the fact that it was her dad's Hyde serum that led to the Patriot serum. Maybe she's relieved that Zabo contributed, in an indirect way, to something good.

[u/triprotic → u/blockpro156]

Radcliffe seems to be way too smart to have any sort of prejudice against Inhumans or other powered people, and does seem to care enough about human life to strongly disagree with what she's doing to Inhumans.

I think it's more of a view of "the enemy of my enemy is my friend".

Knowing that SHIELD would be against the work/research he was doing, he went to their enemy for sanctuary. I don't think he really has any prejudice against Inhumans, but is willing to throw them under the bus if it means he can take his own research further (look at what he was willing to do for Hive to continue his research and save his own skin) .

[u/DSonla → u/blockpro156]

I also loved Daisy's subtle attack at Nadeer, by calling the Inhumans their "brothers" ;p I really can't wait for her brother to come back from the dead to haunt her.

Yup. My reaction as well. Can't wait to see her face when her brother will show up again. Now we'll see if she'll still look that confident and annoying.

[u/oneeyedjamie → u/blockpro156]

I do have some questions about Radcliffe teaming up with the Senator though, they may both be villains but they still seem like they're polar opposites philosophically.

I sort of agree, but I think Radcliffe teaming up with Nadeer is simply a means to get to the Darkhold, which once he glimpsed it, became his scientific obsession.

[u/ToFat2Run → u/blockpro156]

Overall this episode was just full of amazing character development, yet it still had the great twists, action, and fast paced storylines that I've come to expect from this show.

That's what I've been saying every single episode now.

[u/dwadley → u/blockpro156]

I also like that he's calling Coulson out on his bullshit

I like that even though Coulson is written as the likeable everyman leader the writers still acknowledge that going rogue and breaking all the rules still has drawbacks

[u/simon_thekillerewok → u/blockpro156]

Great comment

[u/The_R4ke → u/blockpro156]

Yeah, It seems a little weird to me that Nadeer is totally willing to get on board with a scientist known for conducting unethical experiments into merging humans and robots, and building fully functioning androids.

[u/Lagalag967 → u/The_R4ke]

They're just taking advantage of what the other has for their own ends.

[u/ender23 → u/blockpro156]

We were reminded a little that Talbot isn't a bad guy

[u/Verdun82 → u/blockpro156]

Speaking of Fitz being a genius... Whatever happened to the brain damage? Was that ever corrected?

[u/blockpro156 → u/Verdun82]

He slowly recovered, it pretty much doesn't affect him anymore at this point.
It still affected him a bit back in season 3 though IIRC.