MARVEL'S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. - "The Laws of Inferno Dynamics" - S.H.I.E.L.D. and Ghost Rider find themselves unlikely allies when the lives of all of Los Angeles hang in the balance, on the winter finale of "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.," TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6 (10:00-11:00 p.m. EST), on the ABC Television Network. (ABC/Jennifer Clasen) Agents of SHIELD Review: The Laws of Inferno Dynamics (Season 4 Episode 8)

Agents of SHIELD Review: The Laws of Inferno Dynamics (Season 4 Episode 8)

Charles Dulaney Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Reviews

It’s rare for a show to give you a definite ending to a story arc while also perfectly positioning itself for the next one.

Agents of SHIELD Season 4 Episode 8, “The Laws of Inferno Dynamics” closes the chapter on Ghost Rider and his Uncle Eli while opening a new one with Aida and Life Model Decoys.

We finally get to see the whole team (including The Director in his full costume glory) together battling to stop Eli’s cube matter machine. This leads to a great action sequence with Yo-Yo  in a beautiful sequence highlighting her speed taking out Eli’s goons.

Another great moment is seeing Daisy absorbing the growing tremors caused by Eli’s machine. My hope is we get more of these moments in the future.

Ultimately, the main confrontation — as it should be — is between Robbie and Eli.

“We had a deal. Let’s finish it.” – Robbie

Sadly, the Ghost Rider story was never going to have a happy ending for Robbie. All season long, Robbie has told Daisy that he knows there was going to be no happy ending for him. His deal with the devil was much too similar to the deal Eli had made with  his own devil, the Darkhold book.

I wish we could have gotten a farewell scene between Robbie and his brother Gabe, but it’s understandable considering Los Angeles was in danger.

Robbie sacrificing himself to trap him and Eli inside the cube shows how much of a hero Robbie truly is. I say “is” because as Phil tells Daisy afterwards, in my soul I have a feeling we haven’t seen the last of The Ghost Rider.

It’s refreshing to see the team celebrating a win and Daisy again with her true family. The smile Simmons has when handing Daisy her lanyard (ID Badge) gives you the hope that things are turning around not just for Daisy but the whole team as well.

Except…..we go to Dr. Radcliffe’s place as an agent is helping pack up AIDA’s research.  It’s shocking to see AIDA brutally snap the agent’s neck, but what we see next is even more unbelievable.

We see Agent May, unconscious, trapped in AIDA’s secret room. Meaning that the Agent May who is drinking and flirting with Coulson is not Agent May at all, but a life model decoy!

MARVEL'S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. - "The Laws of Inferno Dynamics" - S.H.I.E.L.D. and Ghost Rider find themselves unlikely allies when the lives of all of Los Angeles hang in the balance, on the winter finale of "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.," TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6 (10:00-11:00 p.m. EST), on the ABC Television Network. (ABC/Jennifer Clasen) MING-NA WEN
MARVEL’S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC/Jennifer Clasen) MING-NA WEN

This leads to so many questions for me — how long has May been in there? When did AIDA switch them? Who the next person she plans on swapping out? Can we get a Agents of SHIELD/ Westworld crossover?

Okay, that last one is me dreaming, but crazier things have happened.

So as we wrap up a successful Ghost Rider arc, we open a new chapter on Agents of SHIELD with what looks like AIDA getting ready to start a LMD uprising through infiltration of Shield. Seeing as how Dr. Radcliffe has been using her and getting her shot, AIDA could have a very human emotion on her mind — revenge.

Quick Notes:

  • It looks like we are full steam ahead on a Mack/Yo-Yo relationship now after their argument leads to some serious kissing. It’s about freaking time.
  • How tired do you think everyone at SHIELD is of having to say the Director’s catchphrase? Jeffrey probably has them engraved in their lanyards.
  • Also, we get a very tense conversation in this episode between Mace and Coulson. Both having valid points made the discussion a highlight as Jeffrey rightly points out Phil still acted like he wants to be Director. Coulson also points out that Mace has been making a some questionable decisions. Both men were right and I appreciate their discussion about this.
  • Fitz has a fear of clowns like any rational person would.
  • Phil makes a reference of knowing the previous incarnation of the Ghost Rider. Will we see Johnny Blaze in the future?
  • The Director gets to use his full salesman personality in effect when proclaiming that Daisy had been working with Shield all along. Kudos to Jason O’Mara for making Jeffrey one part likeable and one part snake-oil salesman at the same time.

What did you think of this episode of Agents of SHIELD? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Reviewer Rating:

User Rating:

Click to rate this episode!
[Total: 2 Average: 4.5]

 

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

Charles is a full-time fan of television and movies when he's not swamped by his many cats. He's also a proud Uncle who can't wait to show his nieces and nephews all of J.J. Abrams' TV work. He loves all things DC TV and Agents of SHIELD.

4 comments

  • The previous owner of the car was Eli. Hence why it was shot up by Joe Bauer’s goons. They thought Eli was behind the wheel.

  • Furthermore, the previous Ghost Rider (likely Johnny Blaze) was shown riding a motorcycle in Robbie’s origin flashback.

Comments are closed.