Agents of SHIELD Review: The Ghost (Season 4 Episode 1)

“They say when the Rider burns you, he burns your soul.”

Agents of SHIELD is back and the creators have promised a darker, sexier season. So far, the darker side of the show is in full effect for the Season 4 premiere.

The first appearance of Ghost Rider is up and close at the beginning of the episode as he helps Daisy take down some criminals. That we’re able to see Ghost Rider quickly in the episode instead of waiting for him feels like a good thing.

Agent Coulson and Mack’s new partnership leads to humorous little moments, and it;s good to see them still being themselves even though their concern for Daisy is above all other things for them. They’ve hardened, but they’ve still maintained their humanity in a job that often takes that away from them.

Letting Mack have a bigger role on the team is one of the best things the show has done as Henry Simmons and Clark Gregg have tremendous chemistry with one another — something we’ve seen in the last few seasons.

As Agents of SHIELD goes more into these story arcs, the hope is to still keep little light-hearted moments like the one with Mack and Phil on the plane at the beginning of the episode.

Fitz and Simmons’s relationship is considered one of the strongest parts of Agents of SHIELD. Their scenes together in “The Ghost” are no exception as seen by their talk early in the episode and their adorable cuddling in bed at the end.

Each character is given moments to shine in the premiere. Fitz being in complete shock at Dr. Ratcliffe and his newest creation AIDA, a life-model decoy.

After a bit of awkwardness due to some nudity, the discussion of being used in the field is brought up by Aida. This is only touched upon briefly, but it feels like it will definitely become a bigger thing later on in the season.

I’m not sure how much Fitz not telling Simmons about Aida is going to come back to haunt him, but knowing Agents of SHIELD, it will probably will.

Simmons now is one of the main head honchos in charge at SHIELD, and we get to see her in her new position of power in her scene with May. Jemma standing up to May and telling her to get Mack and Coulson back from their rogue mission to find Daisy was a wonderful thing to behold.

Elizabeth Henstridge is such an underrated asset for the show and a big role for Simmons this year is such a huge positive in every way . The leadership role Simmons has taken is definitely one of the strongest moments of “The Ghost.”

Quake getting help from Yo-Yo is nice to see even if it is easily the most predictable thing on the show.

Yo-Yo telling Daisy “Everyone gets attached to something” is very much the motto for this episode — and one that works really well for each member of the SHIELD team.

A quick thought on the box which the thieves at the beginning of the episode stole: it reveals a mystical spirit inside it which went through all the Japanese businessmen. It’s very reminiscent of something from an old 1980’s horror film.

If this is Agents of SHIELD‘s way to connect to the upcoming Doctor Strange movie, it should have been done a little better in “The Ghost.”

The show is handicapped on how much they can connect to the movies, but it definitely could have made a stronger impact throughout the episode. Ghost Rider’s effects are well done, but the scene with the box has the feel of the cheesy effects of previous seasons.

Ghost Rider is the focal point of the episode, and it works well in showing us how tortured of a soul Robbie Reyes has. The similarities between his pain over the power inside of him and the one inside Daisy are some of the strongest scenes of “The Ghost.”

Daisy’s fight with the Ghost Rider is interesting, not because of the longevity of the fight, but to see Daisy give in and almost beg Ghost Rider to strike her down is such a heartbreaking moment.

The moment seems not only to have affected Daisy, but Robbie as well. Robbie’s scene with his crippled brother is also a nice humanizing moment to witness — and it gives us more insight into the man with the darkness inside of him.

Overall, it’s a really solid premiere episode of Agents of SHIELD in its new time slot. “The Ghost”  lets a lot of new story arcs begin and shows off the new darker, harder side of the show.

Quick Hits:

• Yo-Yo gets under Mack’s skin so easily. It’s wonderful and hopefully it means we’ll get to see a lot more of her this season.
• Simmons goes for a hug — Fitz goes for a high-five. I love subtle yet PERFECT character moments.
• Little mentions of Ultron helps you remember that these still tie into the Marvel Cinematic Universe and I am glad for that.
• It’s creepy she is nude Holden no matter what explanation is given.
• Agent May is possessed by the spirit as it was revealed in the last minute of the episode! I’m intrigued where they will take that and what will happen to May, and I’m interested to see how the spirit affects her.
• We see Jed Whedon in the Yo-Yo/Daisy bus scen . Don’t you dare mess with FitzSimmons and their happiness. DON’T DO IT.
• Shoutout to Davis and his wife. Hope she has a safe birth.

What did you think of the season premiere of Agents of SHIELD? Tell us what you think in the comments section!!

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Agents of SHIELD airs on Tuesdays at 10/9c on ABC.