Score: 8
In “F.Z.Z.T.”, Coulson’s S.H.I.E.L.D. team is investigating mysterious deaths that involve an electromagnetic pulse and leaves the victim floating in the air. Of course, the first thought is that there is a new villain with superpowers running loose killing people. However, the trend of victims is a group of firemen who were first responders during the Chatiuri invasion. Eventually, the team realizes that the cause of the anomalies is an infection caused by an alien virus. The firemen kept a Chatiuri helmet as a souvenir from the invasion. The Chatiuri invader that wore the helmet was carrying a virus that causes the human brain to overlord with electrostatic energy. Due to that overload of the brain, it eventually discharges a strong EMP that kills the person. One of the symptoms of an infected victim is that objects around them levitate. I really like how this storyline ties the show back to the Avengers movie. The defeated invaders left gear and debris all over New York City. While their weapons are definitely lethal, this episode does an excellent job pointing out that other items, such as a helmet, can be dangerous as well.
One of the best parts of the episode is when Coulson’s team tracks down the last infected fireman at the firehouse just as he is overcome by the virus. Coulson orders his team to fall back. He sticks around to comfort the fireman with his own experience with dying, referring to Loki stabbing him during the Avengers. Coulson shares that he was told he only died for eight seconds. However, he believes it was much longer as he was in a place that was very beautiful, referring to the afterlife. As such, he gives peace to the fireman who will be going to the same place thus should not fear his imminent death. It is a very emotional moment for Coulson as he recalls his death. In addition, it proves he is skeptical about the story he has been told about his resurrection. Over the series, it appears that Agent Melina May knows and is hiding the truth from him. While they talk about his death at the end of the episode, May tells him that he definitely died. Nevertheless, she reassures him that he is physically the same but that any difference he feels is due to a mental and emotional change after a traumatic event. She also makes an excellent point that he cannot go back to the man he was before he died as the experience definitely changes a person. Nevertheless, the show is definitely foreshadowing a very interesting story around Coulson’s death and rebirth. It is definitely a story arc that keeps me intrigued and watching the series.
Coulson’s team gathers the evidence and the helmet to bring to the “Sandbox” for research. As it is across the Atlantic Ocean, they have to fly everything over on their plane, the Bus. During the flight, Jemma Simmons handles the autopsy of one of the firemen and discovers that the virus is transmitted through touch. Unfortunately, she touched the victim and contracts the disease. While she races against the clock to find a cure to prevent her death, the more dire issue is that the EMP that she will emit upon death will knock the plane out of the sky and kill the rest of her team too. As such, it becomes a very difficult situation for the Coulson. He needs to weigh obeying the orders of his superiors to throw Simmons off the plane to ensure the safety of the rest of his team or keep his belief in Simmons to find a cure. Of course, Coulson decides to ignore orders.
The episode really shows how close the team has become. Leo Fitz is Simmon’s closest friend and risks infection by entering Simmon’s quarantined lab to help her develop a cure. The two have had a quibbling brother and sister relationship till this episode. However, the dire situation really shows how much they care for each other and there is a definite attraction between the two. Agent Grant Ward continues to mellow. While he is robot like and the rest of the team mocks him for his dry personality, he has developed affection for his team members. In a very good moment, he laments that the threat is not an individual with superpowers. He can fight a person but not an invisible virus. Accordingly, he is distraught that all his strength cannot protect his team. On the other hand, he is still upset about Skye’s betrayal the last episode. Accordingly, he is passively aggressive at the beginning of the episode with her. Ward is a person that is a loner and has a tough time trusting people. However, he started to trust Skye, chose to mentor her, and was developing a bond with her. Her betrayal is extra painful for him as he feels duped and is generally guarded from others anyway. Coulson talks to Ward and calls him out for being extra harsh on Skye especially since the rest of the team has accepted her apology. I expect Ward and Skye to mend their relationship over the next few episodes.
At the end, Simmons makes a very selfless decision. When it appears that her attempts to create a cure failed, she jumps out of the plane to save the rest of her team. However, she jumps prematurely as the cure works. While Fitz struggles trying to put on a parachute to jump after her, Ward intervenes. He takes the parachute and cure from Fitz and jumps out the plane to save Simmons. Afterwards, Coulson is furious with Simmons. Even though she had good intentions, she made her decision without the consent of the team as they are in it together and should have a say. In the end, Coulson is similar to a father to his team. While he will get mad at them for making reckless decisions, he does it out of love and truly cares for each of them. Again, this episode is excellent for showing how the team has grown and come together and linking back to the Avengers movie.
About Pat Wong
Patrick is a contributor for Rookerville. He is an avid sports fan. Before joining Rookerville, he was part of a defunct New York Yankees message board, NYYankeefans, where he was its top poster and was inducted in its Hall of Fame for his contributions. Patrick is also a passionate fan of movies. He has enjoyed reading movie reviews over the years and is excited about the opportunity to review movies.