Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., “One of Us,” was written by Monica Owusu-Breen and directed by Kevin Tancharoen. This was another terrific episode with plenty of action and reveals. The title puts an interesting spin on the episode as everyone seems to be trying to figure out where they belong. Skye (Chloe Bennet) is caught between being put on the Index and being an Agent – which will she be allowed to be? Does she really have to choose? Bennet is terrific in this episode.
Cal (Kyle MacLachlan) busies himself assembling a team off the gifted index that include Karla (Drea De Matteo), Wendell (Ric Sarabia), Francis (Geo Corvera), and David Anger (Jeff Daniel Phillips). All of them are “enhanced” humans, but Cal uses them to stack the deck for a confrontation with Coulson (Clark Gregg) whom he still hasn’t forgiven for killing Whitehall on him. MacLachlan continues to knock the part out of the park. I loved his face when he saw that David’s voice would even knock the birds out of the sky. His manic intensity in facing off Coulson is also terrific as is his rant in the diner. We learn in that rant that his own condition is apparently self-induced through pharmacology.
Meanwhile, everyone is concerned about Skye’s condition. She keeps assuring them that she is learning to control it, using the techniques that May (Ming-Na Wen) has been teaching her as long as she’s been her SO. I love the concern and support that May offers her throughout. Even though Coulson brings Skye grilled cheese, he still sticks with protocol and insists on a full psychological evaluation and threat assessment. They reach out to May’s ex, Andrew (Blair Underwood). Not surprisingly, Underwood is terrific, so I hope they find ways to bring him back! There was great chemistry between Wen and Underwood too!
I really liked the sessions that Andrew and Skye had. She is savvy through all the evaluations she had as a kid in foster care. I liked that she challenged him, but I also liked that he made it clear that he was there as much for Skye as for S.H.I.E.L.D. Skye makes it clear that she shot herself with the icer because she couldn’t stop what she was doing. It wasn’t because she was suicidal, she shot herself to protect her team. We find out after the final confrontation that the way she is controlling her powers is by directing them inwards and that’s hurting her. Ultimately, Andrew decides he needs to recommend that Skye leave S.H.I.E.L.D.
Bobbi (Adrianne Palicki) seems to have interactions with almost everyone in this episode. She sticks up for Fitz (Iain De Caestecker) with Simmons (Elizabeth Henstridge). Simmons, however, says that she and Fitz shared science, so she feels particularly betrayed by his having falsified the records. Simmons tells her that a betrayal of trust changes everything. This resonates with Bobbi because of Mack (Henry Simmons) holding Hunter (Nick Blood).
Bobbi also works fairly closely with Coulson in this episode. I loved the scene in the asylum when we see Coulson’s admiration for Bobbi’s fighting skill. But I also think he may be on to her. He asks her about Hunter not showing up for work. She says that the offer of a permanent position might have frightened him off, but she also admits to having been in a relationship with him, but then she lies to say she called if off and that might have driven him away.
I loved that we got to see May and Andrew interact and catch up, but it’s hilarious when Fitz comes to the door and then doesn’t want to go in, preferring to brave the lab where Simmons is. Then we see the two of them doing something we haven’t seen in a while, getting excited over the same topic: May and Andrew. Fitz is shocked that they ever got together – He listens for a living and she doesn’t speak!
The climactic fight scene is terrific. There were also lots of great special effects in this episode – from Anger’s mouth to Gordon’s (Jamie Harris) teleporting. I loved him hauling Cal away and telling him he was making too much noise! The enhanced humans are surviving by staying under the grid. Gordon clearly doesn’t want that to be endangered.
The biggest reveal is the existence of another arm of S.H.I.E.L.D. Mack takes Hunter to them, saying that he and Bobbi are working for the “real” S.H.I.E.L.D. What did you think of the episode? Did you like Andrew? Should Skye leave the team for her own safety as much as the safety of the others? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
About the Author - Lisa Macklem
I do interviews and write articles for the site in addition to reviewing a number of shows, including Supernatural, Arrow, Agents of Shield, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, Forever, Defiance, Bitten, Glee, and a few others! Highlights of this past year include covering San Diego Comic Con as press and a set visit to Bitten. When I'm not writing about television shows, I'm often writing about entertainment and media law in my capacity as a legal scholar. I also work in theatre when the opportunity arises. I'm an avid runner and rider, currently training in dressage.
