Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Review – “The Bridge”

If you’ve lapsed in viewing, it’s time to come back.

Cast and Crew Information

Clark Gregg as Phil Coulson
Ming-Na Wen as Melinda May
Brett Dalton as Grant Ward
Chloe Benet as Skye
Iain De Caestecker as Leo Fitz
Elizabeth Henstridge as Jemma Simmons

J. August Richards as Mike Peterson
Ruth Negga as Raina
Cullen Douglas as Edison Po

Written by Shalisha Francis
Directed by Holly Dale

Premise

Centipede is back and orchestrating a prison break. S.H.I.E.L.D. responds by bringing Mike Peterson back to the forefront.

High Point

The last few minutes.

Low Point

Wait… when did Raina get horny? That seemed incredibly sudden to me.

The Review

This is original in the sense that it feels like a landmark episode. I’ve had that feeling before for different reasons. Previously, it was for a single plot point in the episode that was bound to come up again. This time, it feels like a new direction because I have the impression that a new direction for the series is being defined right here. I anticipate the last half(ish) of the season to be considerably more serialized after these events, in a structure somewhat akin to the second season of Buffy. I give it 5 out of 6.

The effects are well done, including some rather expensive physical effects. I give it 6 out of 6.

The story is packed. We’ve got major character points for Skye, May, Ward and Coulson, great progress for Peterson and a better understanding of the level of threat involved with Centipede. There isn’t a single wasted moment of screen time. I even enjoy the acknowledgement that these are good looking people, and the cast reacts as such. (I’m looking at you, Simmons.) I give it 6 out of 6.

The acting is generally strong. Richards does an excellent turn in his guest starring role. My concern is with Negga. Her flirting came from absolutely nowhere. There should have been buildup, and the dialogue allowed for it. I give it 4 out of 6.

The production was exceptional, as we’ve come to expect from Mutant Enemy. I’m running out of different ways to say that. 6 out of 6.

The emotional response was very strong, pulling together all sorts of various plot threads. I give it 6 out of 6.

Overall, this feels like the episode we’ve been waiting for to define and focus the series. I give it 6 out of 6.

In total, The Bridge receives 39 out of 42.

5 replies on “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Review – “The Bridge””

  1. I also really liked the preview of the second half of the season. It appears there will be quite a bit of action in the back half.

    Also did anyone notice the last flash of the preview showed Mike Peterson?

    • I did not see that! (What you posted in spoiler tags, that is.) I’m going to have to go back and look for that. That was my suspicion and hope, so I’ll be very happy if you are right.

    • Agreed – I think that’s why it seemed to come out of no where – she was improvising. When he said he’d talked her up to the Clairvoyant, I think she was hoping to “impress” him even more.

      Other than the creepy factor, I didn’t have an issue with that scene. ;-)

Comments are closed.