(Marvel Studios 2015)

Summary: Inhumans have begun popping up all over the globe now that the Terrigen strain has been released into the ozone. Phil Coulson, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., is leading a task force to detain these Inhumans before they unleash unknown catastrophe on the world. However he meets opposition from all sides including the U.S. Military. Things are not the same and this is a tale of a changed people.

“Chaos Theory”

Directed by David Solomon; Written by Lauren LeFranc

[SPOILERS!!]

Review: Damn, they’re REALY blowing through these storylines this season. I like it. Instead of dragging things through the mud, the Lash story hits a pivotal moment only 7 episodes in as not only do our heroes all find out who he is, but they also capture him! In season 1 or 2 finding our Lash’s identity would’ve just resulted in a season long game of cat and mouse, and I was really hoping they weren’t going to do that this time around.

The show really does seem to be growing up. Well, except for that credits scene that I will talk about in a bit but I am personally not a fan of.

For a long time we’ve seen May subdued and keeping herself at arms distance from everyone. She was that way pretty much all that way through season 1, and season 2 began to break down her barrier as everyone’s skeletons were beginning to tumble out of their closets. But this is definitely May’s most emotionally strong arc as the identity of Lash, her ex-husband Andrew Garner, breaks all her barriers and heartstrings.

This is also a strong episode for Lincoln, as he single-handedly figures out Lash’s identity and then proceeds to go all Static Shock on him. In fact, I’m just gonna go ahead and praise literally everyone in this episode for strong emotional performances. I cried right along Fitz as he listens to Simmons’ audio files from when she was on that far off planet, as well as when he watches her video where she basically confesses to him.

I wish these two would go ahead and get together already, but while season 1 saw them act very naïve towards one another, and season 2 had Simmons pushing Fitz away because she was afraid of what he became, this season really gives them an emotional distress that keeps the two at odds with one another.

It is believable, and both of them know that they have to get past this mystery of the planet and of Simmons feelings for Daniels the Astronaut before anything can truly blossom between the two of them. I like the gradual built up between these two, it is far more believable than other, left-field relationships between certain Inhumans… but I digress. However! This season better end with them kissing, or at least they better kiss each other before this season ends. It is definitely the season for that to happen.

I don’t believe Andrew to be  bad person, per se, since the terrigen transformation changed him all the way down to his DNA, he’s turned from the man we know into a creature built to keep the Inhumans civilization in check. He’s running on instinct, so I don’t think he is necessarily bad but more like Galactus-like. Killing Inhumans is what he’s quite literally wired to do for reasons as of yet unknown. Whether we will find out if this is all truth or not, I’m not sure, but based off Andrew’s own assessment of his new status I believe this to be the best theory on the matter. Also, I still think Lash looks really silly, but I very much commend the show for going full throttle with the completely alien look. Much like Raina last year.

This episode had a lot of truly emotional impact for several characters involved. And I was wholly impressed to see the Lash story speed up as much as it did this early in the game. Let’s talk about that end credits scene however. I really, really, really don’t want Price to be working with HYDRA. Not because I was starting to like her a bit, but because Ward really just needs to be the big HYDRA guy this season. Price needs to be working for the President ONLY this season. There is absolutely no reason for her to side with anyone on HYDRA, let the American Government be represented. Let HYDRA be a separate entity. Much like Talbot in the previous seasons, let Price just be working for one person.

Even with these really strong episodes, there’s always one thing about them that turns me off. But in the end, we’ll just have to see where they take these routes I’m currently not a fan of. I want to have faith, but I also know this show at this point is above stereotypical writing tropes.

Final Score: 3.5 Hard Truths out of 5

Derrick is a born and raised otaku with a love for comics, anime, manga and movies. The full list is pretty long, but that’s just the basics. Stories set in space are his bread and butter.

You can find more of his writing at IndieComix.net

@KazekunForever