10 Best Episodes of Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD

A cornerstone of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Agents of SHIELD will begin Season 4 on the ABC Network September 20th.

The original team has seen many changes since the pilot episode three years ago.

Over the course of 66 episodes, we have seen the team split because of Hydra, Inhumans, a traitor in their mist, and an alien force from another planet.

So, I’ve come up with some of my favorite episodes of Agents of SHIELD that highlight the action, intrigue, and thrills that we have gotten over these last few years. (If you haven’t seen these episodes, expects tons of SPOILERS. Get on Netflix and start watching!!)

1. “Pilot” (Season 1 Episode 1)

The pilot episode lets us get our first glimpse of the new Agents of SHIELD team under the leadership of the suddenly alive Phil Coulson when they go looking for a master hacker by the name of Skye.

Joss Whedon directs this pilot, and you can see his impact from the first time we meet FitzSimmons and Melinda May to the chemistry between straight-laced Agent Grant Ward and Skye during a memorable interrogation scene.

This episode also brings us the first appearance of Mike Peterson, who would later become Deathlok, a well-known hero in the comics. It’s essential viewing for those who want to see how the team is introduced and how much each member has grown and changed from this first episode.

2-3. “End of the Beginning” and “Turn, Turn, Turn” (Season 1 Episode 16; Season 1 Episode 17)

It would not be exaggerating to say that these two episodes changed Agents of SHIELD forever.  They highlight everything people love about Agents of SHIELD — action, suspense, intrigue, and a shocking ending.

(Also its tie-in with Captain America: The Winter Soldier is the best the show has ever connected with the Marvel movies.)

Seeing how deep Hydra had infiltrated SHIELD all the way up to Coulson’s close friend John Garrett changes the team forever as “Beginning” becomes a “Who do you trust?” thriller as the team starts turning on each other when they believe May might be the traitor.

“Turn” is exactly what you would want in an action film as the team fights it way through SHIELD headquarters to reclaim it from Hydra. An almost perfect episode that is highlighted by the shocking moment where you find out that Grant Ward shoots Agent Hand and becomes one of the most hated characters in the Marvel Universe as he is revealed to be the true traitor to Hydra.

4. “Beginning of the End” (Season 1 Episode 22)

The Season 1 finale finds the team fighting back against Garrett, Ward, and Hydra in a all-out battle as Fitz and Simmons fight to survive the watery grave Ward put them in while also revealing their feelings for one another.

Nick Fury shows up to help and give what is left of SHIELD to Coulson so he can keep it going. It’s awesome to see Fury working with the team and satisfying to see Garrett meet his end. Also, we see truly how much Fitz and Simmons mean to each other as Fitz sacrifices himself to save Simmons in a moment that is still remembered and dealt with on the show to this day.

5. “Shadows” (Season 2 Episode 1)

The Season 2 premiere introduced us to the new status quo. Simmons was gone, Fitz was struggling with his injuries, Grant Ward was a prisoner at the new headquarters, and SHIELD was now a group outside of the government. This episode is on the list for those reasons plus a few more.

In includes a special flashback appearance by Agent Carter and a surprise deadly ending for one of the new members of the team thanks to a well-known Marvel villain. This episode let the viewers at home know that things had changed and the team would never be what it once was.

Next Page