Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Series Finale Review: The End is at Hand / What We’re Fighting For (Season 7 Episodes 12 and 13)

After seven long seasons, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has at last come to an end. As difficult as it will be to express all of the emotions that come with a long-running series end and still review the double episode — Here we go anyway. 

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 7 Episode 12, “The End is at Hand” is littered with great character moments and payoffs as the S.H.I.E.L.D. team goes on its final mission. 

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 7 Episode 13, “What We’re Fighting For” culminates seven seasons of the series on the team’s final mission together. 

Even though “The End is at Hand” makes viewers sweat a little, “What We’re Fighting For” pays off just about everything in a satisfying way. 

Really, no two episodes have worked better as a two-hour block. It’s difficult to tell them apart as they transition from one to the next seamlessly — the only major difference being one more prominently features Fitz. 

The full-on return of Iain De Caestecker’s Fitz really gives both “The End is at Hand” and “What We’re Fighting For” some immediate emotional credibility. Fitz’s long-awaited return gives enough hope and heart to the story to make Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. fans feel warm and fuzzy for the bulk of the two hours. 

Knowing the Marvel Universe and the S.H.I.E.L.D. team, the fact that the heroes were always going to win against the Chronicoms and Nathaniel Malick was a foregone conclusion.

What is far more interesting about this finale is discovering the how and why. Every reveal about Fitz and Enoch’s behind-the-scenes work is interesting and exciting, and more so than the encounters with the bad guys.

More than anything, “What We’re Fighting For” feels like both a love letter to the show and masterclass in satisfying conclusions. Nothing within it is dragged down by death or loss or heartbreak, but there’s love, reconciliation, and hope. Little makes fans happier than seeing a character they love and who has been through a lot get the happy ending they deserve. 

Perhaps it’s just the happier ending or the nature of finales, but both of the final episodes kept the jokes flowing too. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s creative team has truly mastered the art of making people laugh, cry, and feel excitement in rapid succession, and sometimes all at once. 

Enoch: My time with Fitz taught me how to be an outlaw, and I’ve gotten quite good at it

But of course the masterpiece of the puzzle is Alya, Fitz and Simmons’ daughter, revealed to viewers in the finale as having already existed when S.H.I.E.L.D. battled Izel at the temple. With Simmons’ memory loss and the not so great track record FitzSimmons has of being happy, Alya’s existence and their subsequent retirement is the best possible ending for them.

Coulson Academy, Director Mackenzie, Daisy and Sousa. All of these are just icing on the cake as each character moves into a different but still happy phase of their lives. The ending is filled with hope and satisfaction, no matter which character is your favorite.

Would I have liked to see Hunter, Bobbi, Deathlok, Ward, Tripp, etc? Sure. But in every way, “The End is at Hand” and “What We’re Fighting For” serve as an exciting and satisfying end to the characters we love the most, and then some. 

A few stray thoughts:

• Really, the only complaint I could possibly have is that I didn’t get to see more old characters return during the final season. But as a fan of the characters remaining – this is still a satisfying end. 
• “Enoch, put your face on, you’re freaking everybody out”
• Easily the funniest sad part, maybe of either episode, is Deke’s volunteering to stay behind and cutting off Sousa with a raspberry. I’m gonna miss that little weirdo.
• Also – Deke’s Fitz impression is fire.
• Among many Easter Eggs for long-time fans is alternate-timeline Victoria Hand taking out alternate-timeline John Garrett. Beautiful.
• Just learned that James Paxton, who plays young John Garrett, is Bill Paxton’s son. 
• It has been my honor to review Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. these last few years. 

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. deserves all the accolades being heaped upon it for sticking the landing. It’s one of the only series in recent memory to be consistently good by being funny, exciting, and making viewers care about each and every character. Television won’t be the same without Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

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. is available to stream on Netflix.

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