This is personal.
By Eric Goldman
Warning: Full spoilers for the episode below.
Well, damn…
There’s a part of me that feels like taking out Ros so soon slightly undercut the impact, as we were just really getting to know her. But it was undeniably effective how it was done, with that sweet, innocuous scene between her and Coulson that opened the episode ending up being her last. Normal TV “rules” might have Ros badly hurt or kidnapped in the opening, pre-credit scene, so it was jolting to realize no, she was actually just immediately dead. Killed by Ward.
And wow on Ward. I mean, he has to die now, right? Because he’s gone too far. The reveal that he was Hydra was one of Agents of SHIELD’s first great moments and I’ve enjoyed him as a villain, while also being so grateful they never gave into any urge (or fan desire) to see him redeemed. No, he’s a bad, bad man. And after this, it really feels like it’s time to begin wrapping up his story. Because the team can’t let him still be out there after all he’s done. He killed Koening. He killed Ros. He tried to kill Fitz, Simmons and May. He tortured Bobbi. He tortured Simmons.
I hate him, in a well-earned, commendable manner. But having him simply be captured (again!) feels dramatically weak, so one way or the other, I do hope Season 3 will finally take him out.
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: “Closure” Photos
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: “Closure” Photos
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: “Closure” Photos
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: “Closure” Photos
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: “Closure” Photos
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Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: “Closure” Photos
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: “Closure” Photos
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: “Closure” Photos
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: “Closure” Photos
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: “Closure” Photos
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Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: “Closure” Photos
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: “Closure” Photos
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: “Closure” Photos
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: “Closure” Photos
Once Ros was dead, this episode was elevated into a notably intense and heavy one, as Coulson was now filled with an understandable desire for revenge, while Ward and Malick were feeling more confident than ever. Having Fitz and Simmons than captured, and knowing Simmons was being tortured (first by Giyera, then by Ward himself) – hearing it without seeing it was very effective – raised the stakes even more, while Coulson then going to his own extreme lengths by kidnapping Ward’s brother was a good way of showing just how far this was going.
In the midst of this, there was some silliness – I rolled my eyes at Ward using the uber-cliché line, “We’re not that different, you and I” and there was a bit more nonsense than we needed with Malick talking about collecting five stones collected from the monolith (more stone collecting in the MCU!?), but most of “Closure Was taut and exciting, while also going out of its way to, once and for all, explain who Ward was and the issues that motivated him (including sometimes wanting to be seen as a hero), without letting him off the hook or in any way excusing his actions. It was really interesting to see the original team members recollect on what their encounters with him were like, before they knew the truth.
We want to hear it.
And while I could have done without the monolith stones, I also liked getting a bit more insight into Malick pulling the strings with Hydra through the years, including name drops of Alexander Pierce and John Garrett.
I also really liked Simmons declaring, “Please, just let them kill me” to Fitz, when she realized what Hydra wanted to accomplish going through the portal, even as Fitz, of course, refused.
We want to hear it.
I do wish they hadn’t killed Banks, oddly enough. Yeah, he’d just been a glowering, pain in the ass henchman for most of the season, but then we found out he was intensely loyal to Ros and, ultimately, a good guy. So taking him out right after Ros was – when it seemed we could have gotten to know him better – felt a bit like the entire ATCU was getting the red-shirt treatment, considering we don’t really know anyone else in the group.
“Closure” delivered a gut punch to the show and Coulson, as Ros was murdered by Ward, who then went on to kidnap Fitz and Simmons (and torture the latter) – solidifying the former SHIELD agent as a truly hatable villain. With Fitz, Ward and Coulson now all on that other planet, some very big events are gearing up, including, finally, some semblance of the Secret Warriors assembled, even if they’re just a trio so far. It’s pretty exciting stuff, and the next week looks to be a busy one before SHIELD goes on its midseason break.
