Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. “Repairs” 

Even after (or maybe because of) last week’s smart, worthwhile, ‘The Well,’ I have come to the sad realization that Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has evolved into the television version of ‘That Unfortunate Boyfriend.’ Sure, you fall in love based on potential and what is represented (Marvel Universe!) Melinda May (Ming-Na Wen) will kill all the things! The Twins (Fitz/Simmons) are adorable! But it comes clear you’re just going be let you down, no matter how patient you are and how much you whole-heartedly believe, “If I just wait long enough, things will turn themselves around and be what I need them to be.”

Then, when given enough hope (‘The Well’) that he has been listening and he’ll stop hitting on your friends and be what you want him to be, you’re let down again. And it’s sad. Eventually, you have to decide how long you’re going to sit around in a prom dress, waiting for someone who just doesn’t show up.

I still have hope for SHIELD, and I really want to love it, but, sadly, this week’s ‘Repairs’ fell back into disappointment. I still see the promise of the show; there is so much they could be doing. Unfortunately, promise is one thing. Follow-through is something completely different.

FItz and Simmons (Iain De Caestecker; Elizabeth Henstridge) decide to haze Skye (Chloe Bennet) in the manner of their people (super-smart scientists) since she’s the newest member of the group. I suspect there’s some inherent issues the two are harboring about their treatment as Baby Geniuses at ‘The Academy,’ and our kids have some frustrations that need misdirecting. The trouble is, the two are just so sweet and harmless that none of their pranks have any bite. Too bad, since I’m pretty certain between the two of them they could have Skye levitating on demand and freaking the Hell out of her. Which I for one would be more than tickled to see.

Skye herself demonstrates why she might actually be worth keeping around, aside from her super-awesome hacking skills, in that it seems she has a capacity for human compassion and empathy, which is a far cry from the Skye who tried to exploit Mike Peterson (J. August Richards: ‘Angel’; ‘Conviction‘) and his new powers, way back in the pilot episode.

In dealing with Hannah Hutchins, (Laura Seay: ‘Superbad‘) a safety officer believed to have destructive telekinetic powers, Skye does prove herself to be compassionate and intuitive. Her protective attitude towards the frightened and confused Hannah is a marked improvement to her usual haughty, “I’m so much better than you because I have beliefs,” attitude.

The redeeming feature of this episode, and this is one of those things that keeps me coming back to SHIELD, is the emotional kick to the heart that is the explanation of Agent May’s nickname, ‘The Cavalry,’ which I just said last week I was curious about.

Kicking the crap out of god-knows-how-many hostiles turned a good-natured, prank-playing, team-player into our May, who is filled with rage and pain. If you’re a decent human being, then hurting other people hurts you, too, and that’s what happened with May. Filling Fitz’s hand with shaving cream while he slept was indicative that The Cavalry was starting to feel at home with her crew, and in that was starting to heal from her trauma.

And that, and moments like it, are why I still sit here, in my prom dress, waiting for the SHIELD that I know can be to show up and stay.

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on ABC.