The biggest crossover with cinematic universe characters to date played out this week.
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
Jaimie Alexander as Sif
Elena Satine as Lorelei
Maximiliano Hernandez as Agent Jasper Sitwell
Written by Salisha Francis
Directed by John Terlesky
Premise
Lorelei is on Earth, and that’s a bad thing. The men she encounters make her their number one priority, regardless of consequences.
High Point
The very natural feel to the crossover. It’s a type of tradition in the comic book medium, but often leads to clunky and forced premises. The use of S.H.I.E.L.D. as the centrepiece of the series makes stories like this one a natural fit.
Low Point
I watch via iTunes, without commercials, as people will on DVD/Blu-Ray/etc. down the road. I’d wager that many viewers will never see this with commercials. The “epilogue” plays out very strangely in that case, as we get a repeat of the same lines of dialogue from a different take seconds after we saw the original version. It’s incredibly jarring.
The Review
This is an original episode. We have a new threat, and definitely have a new attitude from the characters by the end. Mind control is often used as an excuse for getting characters to reveal secrets, so that part was expected, but some of those secrets were rather unexpected. I give it 4 out of 6.
The effects were well done, and some were quite subtle. When it’s hard to tell where the actors end and the effects begin, they’re doing their job right. I give it 6 out of 6.
The story was well constructed, bringing together several storylines and boiling them all to a head. I also like the totally different contexts involved, between Lorelei not understanding the idea of cash or currency, and Sif honestly stating that Lorelei has no abnormally high strength or speed. I give it 6 out of 6.
The acting was well done. Alexander gets a lot more opportunity to develop her film character in what I hope is not her last guest spot. The main cast play well, some revealing emotions and others burying them. I give it 5 out of 6.
The production is up to the usual high. I give it 6 out of 6.
The emotional response is great, with some exciting directions coming to the forefront here. I give it 6 out of 6.
Overall, it’s a great episode, and one that will lead us nicely into the next new episode, due April 1. I give it 5 out of 6.
In total, Yes Men receives 38 out of 42.
I’d dock it at least a point for glossing over the fact that Ward was raped.
I also wonder about those guys Sif tosses about, given that she can kick a large vehicle a considerable distance.
The ep was a bit cheesy, but at least we’re seeing something like the Marvel Cinema ‘verse.
He was, wasn’t he…
For as incorrect as it sounds, I’ll admit: It’s hard to notice rape when both people seem so enthusiastic about it.
It’s one of those cases that could only happen in a comic book universe, but here’s the thing: you cannot consent to a contract of any kind when your cognitive capacity is significantly impaired. The laws regarding sexual assault in most western jurisdictions also recognize the potential for assault where impaired capacity is involved.
He literally had his ability to consent removed through enchantments. That’s like diminished/impaired capacity, turned up to eleven.
I suppose we would have to ask Ward.
Even with commercials, that epilogue bit was very jarring.
Insert ‘Ward and the Beaver’ joke here.
My high point: “How was Tahiti?” “It sucked.”