Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Review: Chaos Theory (Season 3 Episode 7) | Tell-Tale TV

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Review: Chaos Theory (Season 3 Episode 7)

Samantha Coley Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Reviews

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. improves itself from last week only slightly. Even with stellar performances from Blair Underwood and Ming Na Wen, the episode falls short again leaving fans wanting for better storytelling and more interesting plot lines.

Lash’s identity is revealed to Coulson and the rest of the crew at S.H.I.E.L.D., while Melinda and the audience learn what caused his change and how he’s dealing with it. Aside from the ridiculous dehumanization of Andrew’s character, the hardest part of this storyline to believe is that he’s supposed to be one person, and not two completely separate ones. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the greater Marvel Cinematic Universe have always played with characters that already exist in Marvel canon, creating new versions while keeping them iconic enough to be recognized easily.

The problem with their latest attempt to bring a comic book character to life is that, unlike what they did with Daisy, Andrew is nothing like his comic counterpart. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. brought Andrew to life as Melinda’s kind and loving ex-husband; a gentle therapist turned professor who spends his time trying to help others deal with the changes in their lives. In contrast, the Lash of Marvel comics is a NuHuman, an evil version of the Inhumans who’d already gone through the change before the terrigen crystals were released, changing people in the general population. He’s hellbent on destroying those Inhumans that didn’t go through the process in the traditional way, deeming them unworthy of their gifts.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. turns Andrew into Lash without any of the backstory that drives his motivation to harm and kill other Inhumans. Andrew and his desire to help others make him an inherently good person, so we’re supposed to believe that his desire to harm others comes from his shift, making him just another wild, monstrous villain with no real motivation for why he does the things he does.

It’s not even shocking at this point–it’s completely predictable, because it follows the same story trick that Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has used from the beginning: taking a supposed ally and turning them into an adversary. This worked for the show in Season 1; Ward’s betrayal shocked viewers and made them question everything they’d seen. But using the same plot twist repetitively destroys its purpose.

This episode’s saving grace is in the relationships between Melinda and Andrew, as well as the few FitzSimmons moments sprinkled throughout the episode. Melinda proves that Andrew can control his powers, with her help. She talks him down after an unnecessarily drawn out firefight between Lash and S.H.I.E.L.D./ATCU–Melinda helps him shift back into a person before icing him into the containment unit. The episode is bookended by two flashbacks to their time in Maui between Seasons 2 and 3. In these bright moments, we get to see Melinda and Andrew happy and in love; these are the most emotionally compelling scenes of the episode, and they give us hope that not all is lost for these two.

Andrew: I never gave up on you. Please don’t give up on me.

FitzSimmons moves forward again; it looked as though these two had hit a major road block when Jemma told Fitz about her relationship with Will. However, when Fitz hears Jemma’s recordings from her time on the planet, he’s reassured of his place in her heart.  Jemma kept herself going by imagining her life with Fitz–both their past, and their future. They aren’t quite sure where to go from here, but they know they’re going together. Their relationship has been the stable thread throughout this season, and I hope it stays that way.

Other thoughts:

  • I hate Lincoln. He brings nothing to the story, he isn’t compelling to watch, and I don’t care about his plot line.
  • Daisy and Melinda hugging in the hallway is a bright spot amidst the chaos. Then, when Melinda asks for Daisy’s advice on what to do with Andrew, it shows how their relationship has come full circle. I hope we see them interacting more throughout the season now that Melinda is back.
  • Daisy and Rosalind reached a new understanding. After Daisy saves her from a forty foot fall after Lash throws her off a building, these two realize they’re both a little right and a little wrong in their view of Inhumans.
  • Coulson got it on with Rosalind, right before we learn that she’s working with Ward’s newest (and oldest) Hydra contact. So shocking that someone Coulson trusted would turn against him. Haven’t heard that one before.

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Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on ABC.

Samantha (she/her) is a social media specialist by day and a sci-fi junkie by night. As a freelance writer and podcaster, she also enjoys live-tweeting, blogging, good music, and better television. Her current favorite television shows include Star Trek (yes, all of them), Riverdale, and Stranger Things and there will always be a place in her heart for Battlestar Galactica, Leverage, and The West Wing.