Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Review – “A Hen in the Wolf House”

A new character is introduced, and existing characters get fleshed out in more detail.

Cast and Crew Information

Clark Gregg as Phil Coulson
Ming-Na Wen as Melinda May
Brett Dalton as Grant Ward
Chloe Bennet as Skye
Iain De Caestecker as Leo Fitz
Elizabeth Henstridge as Jemma Simmons
BJ Britt as Agent Triplett
Kyle MacLachlan as The Doctor
Adrianne Palicki as Bobbi Morse
Reed Diamond as Daniel Whitehall
Henry Simmons as Alphonso “Mack” Mackenzie
Ruth Negga as Raina

Written by Brent Fletcher
Directed by Holly Dale

Premise

Everyone is looking for the obelisk, and Hydra has detected the presence of a S.H.I.E.L.D. mole in the organization.

High Point

The Bobbi Morse reveal. It was well advertised, but if you avoid the ads and press, you can be familiar with the comics and still be surprised due to the lack of revealing a name.

Low Point

Wait, Coulson and May knew? Did I miss something?

The Review

This is somewhat original as far as Skye’s plotline is concerned. The rest is enjoyable, to be sure, but the advertising surrounding the introduction of a particular character in a particular role made the rest of the standard plot very predictable. I give it 4 out of 6.

The effects were nicely done. They were primarily choreographed fights and the inciting incident, but the only issue was a colour mismatch between the inciting incident and the photos of the inciting incident. I give it 5 out of 6.

The story is tightly structured again, as it has been since Winter Soldier came out. We get a stand alone plot that fits into a larger picture, and we learn a lot about Kyle MacLachlin’s character. I give it 5 out of 6.

The acting is great, outside the wedding. I give it 5 out of 6.

The production is the normal Mutant Enemy high standard. I give it 6 out of 6.

The emotional response is decent. The Simmons story arc was predictable, but well executed. I give it 4 out of 6.

Overall, it’s an enjoyable and important episode, even if it does have predictable pieces. I give it 4 out of 6.

In total, A Hen in the Wolf House receives 33 out of 42.

2 replies on “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Review – “A Hen in the Wolf House””

  1. This one was fun, if predictable.

    Coulson and May knew something about Skye but we didn’t know what. I seem to recall a few “You’ll have to tell her” and/or “What if she finds out” type moments since the series began.

    Anyone else find it funny that Wonder Woman (well, a failed pilot one anyhow) jumped onto/into an invisible jet?

  2. This is why I turn off the show after the credits roll. I don’t watch the previews for next week. I didn’t know about the new character, and I was surprised when she revealed herself. And my god, she is tall.

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