Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D Review: Code Yellow (Season 6 Episode 4)
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D always does an excellent job of balancing action sequences, strong character work, and peeling back both subtle and not-so-subtle layers of mystery.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D Season 6 Episode 4, “Code Yellow,” is no exception that rule.
“Code Yellow” is billed as an update on Deke Shaw, who has been MIA in the new timeline and the one year later setting.
While the update on Deke is a large portion of the episode, “Code Yellow” is really a cleverly disguised effort to peel back some of the mystery surrounding Sarge/Coulson and what they’re after.
Turns out, Sarge and his crew are much like the man who capture Fitz: time hunters. They were after Deke for the same reasons Fitz was hunted. He “doesn’t’ belong.”
While time travel can feel like an overdone story, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D has one of the more interesting takes on it over the last few years.
Since Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Avengers: Endgame addresses time travel in a different way than other time travel shows and movies, treating those who are out of their correct timeline like Deke and Fitz like criminals is an interesting take.
There are also those who have complained that Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D seems to be ignoring the Endgame events, since it’s set during the five year snap time. But this could turn out to be a whole separate timeline, altered because of Fitz and Deke.
Regardless, “Code Yellow” creates a lot of interesting possibilities in terms of time travel, timelines, and hunting people who don’t belong in the timeline.
MAURISSA TANCHAROEN
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D also takes this opportunity to peel back some of the mystery surrounding Coulson’s doppelganger, “Sarge.” Sarge posed as Coulson to try and trick Deke, but when Deke became suspicious he stabbed Coulson in the hand and it bled, which means it was decidedly not robotic.
There are a few possibilities that stem from this.
One, is that Sarge is just a life model decoy or doppelganger. But he did bleed!
Two, Coulson’s body could have been resurrected by a vessel-type situation and grew his arm back.
Or three, this is the Coulson from a separate timeline, which may be why the name Coulson sounds familiar to him.
JEFF WARD, PORTIA BARTLEY
Regardless, the new information creates several interesting possibilities on where the season, or even the show as a whole, is going.
Finally, the Mack and Yo-Yo relationship took an interesting turn when Yo-Yo’s new beau, Keller, swallows a weird alien butterfly and Yo-Yo puts him down.
Mack was handling things professionally when Keller was trying to tell him, but there’s obviously still a spark between Mack and Yo-Yo, creating another interesting layer to these excellent and well-rounded characters.
A few stray thoughts:
- Mack’s reaction to Deke’s Daisy fantasy was the best part of this episode, bar none.
- Maurissa Tancharoen, one of the show’s executive producers, makes an appearance in “Code Yellow” as Sequoia, Deke’s lady friend and fan. She does a fantastic job, and really should act in more things.
- May being kidnapped by Coulson’s doppelganger is going to provide the biggest reveals yet. I’m sure of it.
What did you think of this episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D airs Fridays at 8/7c on ABC
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Nick Hogan
Nick Hogan is an experienced podcaster and writer (particularly on media topics), who loves discussion and analysis of TV and is always looking for new shows to watch. He is also a parent who loves buffalo wings, blowing raspberries, and his beloved Cincinnati Reds.