Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., “Who You Really Are,” was written by Drew Z Greenberg and was directed by Roxann Dawson. I love that the title of this episode works on a number of different levels. It resonates with the plot in which several characters lose their memories and don’t know who they are, but it also resonates on a deeper level as the sides start to be drawn in the Civil War that is coming. Are you a tolerant and open-minded person or do you fear others that aren’t like you? Who will stand for the inhumans?
The episode features two great guest stars with Jaimie Alexander reprising her role as Lady Sif. Eddie McClintock guests as Vin-Tak, a Cree with some important insights into the obelisk. It’s always great to have a visit from Lady Sif as we are guaranteed some terrific fight scenes, and this episode certainly delivered those. McClintock is always a joy to watch, and I wish there was some way to have Vin-Tak and Coulson (Clark Gregg) spend a lot more time together! They are comedy gold. I loved Vin-Tak vowing to earn Coulson’s trust, and his way of stopping an argument that isn’t going anywhere!
I loved the scene with May (Ming-Na Wen) and Skye (Chloe Bennet) sparing. May tells Skye to stop holding back. Fitz (Iain De Caestecker) comes to check on Skye, afraid that she won’t be able to hold back. Both Caestecker and Bennet are just terrific yet again in this episode. It’s hilarious, of course, when May tells Fitz he’s also welcome to come and train with her. Did anyone else get the feeling that May was purposely pushing Skye, sensing that something was amiss? Coulson and May also seem a bit suspicious when Skye begs off going back into the field after her interaction with Vin-Tak.
Hunter (Nick Blood) and Bobbi (Adrianne Palicki) seem to be getting even closer. Hunter tells her he’s thinking of joining S.H.I.E.L.D. – after all, they’re a man down now. Bobbi naturally realizes how much of a commitment that is for Hunter to make – as much to her as to S.H.I.E.L.D. She is lukewarm at best when he first tells her. Later we see that Mack (Henry Simmons) does not want to bring Hunter into their secret, and he tells her to push Hunter away and discourage him from joining S.H.I.E.L.D.
The scene in which Bobbi does push Hunter away, telling him they need to slow things down, is quite heartbreaking – for both of them. Both Palicki and Blood are very good in this scene – one of their best. I really liked that they didn’t make Hunter a complete idiot. He knows he’s being played somehow and he knows that the secret Mack and Bobbi share isn’t a support group. When he confronts Mack, however, Mack can’t let Hunter expose them, so he chokes him out – I was really worried he would outright kill him, but it’s clear Hunter is still breathing. Mack’s temper once again gets the best of him. It seems clear that Bobbi and Mack will be on the side that is against the inhumans, which makes me sad as I like both of them – but I can’t root for that side.
There were lots of great little “team” moments that will make seeing the team split up even worse. Coulson asks Mack to become a field agent, demonstrating that he’s come to trust him as part of the team and rely on him. I loved Mack, Hunter, and Fitz all working in the field together, especially when Hunter knocks over the light pole! Simmons (Elizabeth Henstridge) having modified the icers to make them more lethal was a little scary.
There were lots of great effects in this episode. I loved how Vin-Tak turns blue. It was also a great effect when Skye’s gun shakes itself apart and the destruction when Skye loses control. And of course, the Bifrost Bridge back to Asgard was terrific.
After Skye fails to control herself and lets Vin-Tak get away, she tells Fitz that she wants to tell Coulson. Fitz is afraid for her. He knows how difficult it was for himself when he was different, but more importantly, he doesn’t trust the others not to do something rash. He’s particularly worried about Simmons and Mack.
When Vin-Tak shares the information about terra-genesis, and indicates that the inhumans are abominations that must be destroyed, Skye loses it. Coulson is the first to realize it’s Skye. Gregg is fantastic in this scene as he is devastated by the implications. May quickly follows in realizing the truth, and Skye if finally able to unburden herself and admit that she’s doing it. May immediately grabs Skye to get her to safety. All three of Mack, Bobbi, and Hunter fight for Skye – ironic for Bobbi and Mack.
Sif is hot on their heels, however. May takes Skye to the cell and tries to help her focus so she can demonstrate that she CAN control it. When Skye ultimately can’t control it and Lady Sif breaks through the barrier, Skye shoots herself to stop it rather than having May risk her own life. It’s touching that Skye has to look away when she shoots herself. Skye puts herself in the safe room on the bus after she overhears Mack’s remarks about inhumans. In fact, everyone is angry with Fitz for lying.
When Simmons discovers the actual DNA results, Fitz continues to cover for Skye, telling Simmons it’s just a simulation. Simmons is angry that Fitz lied to her, maintaining that it’s Skye they’re talking about and she would never lump Skye in with other inhumans. However, given how scary Simmon was last week and her modifications on the icers, I think Fitz was totally right in playing his cards close to his chest.
Vin-Tak’s mission was to retrieve all of the obelisks, but when the team opens the chest, they find it’s empty. We already know that others had passed through the mist and undergone the change, so can we assume that the others have also been used up? We know there are plenty of other inhumans out there, but are there also more obelisks waiting to turn more humans into inhumans?
I thought this was an entertaining episode in and of itself – how lovely was it that the name Thor made Lady Sif smile even while she couldn’t really remember him. I also loved her continually demonstrating the knowledge of something advance because it was taught to children in Asgard. The episode also moves us closer to Civil War – which I’m really not so keen on. What did you think of the episode? What do you think Mack will do with Hunter? Do you think that Vin-Tak’s warning will change how S.H.I.E.L.D. deals with inhumans? Should it? 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.
