Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Failed Experiments
Season 3, Episode 19 Recap

9/18/2016

Image copyright Marvel Television and ABC Studios.

And what if you fail, if they decide to turn on you instead, to come after us with their weapons of war, to kill me...kill all of us? What then?
—Hive
Then I will rip their hearts out.
—Daisy

In memory of Dan Schmidt, the founder of Across the Airwaves, who sadly passed away this summer. The tribute episode for him can be found here.

Looks like "Failed Experiments" was another fantastic episode that should be counted among the best of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. I just had to be reminded since this wasn't the Summer of Erin, where I got to rewatch all the series I've been wanting to rewatch for years, but the Summer of Erin Must Do a Million Things and Have No Time for Herself. There were so many of these impressive episodes in the third season, maybe more than the first two years. While every episode has a reason to watch - even if it's something as simple as a perfect one-liner, a sweet moment, or the look on someone's face - the further Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. gets into the mysteries and closer to the edge of disaster, then the deeper the storyline and friendships, the more developed the personalities, and the more involved we the audience are.

I didn't think it could get any better than Daisy's parents in the second season, a heartbreaking origin story that culminated in beautiful, indelible performances between Clark Gregg and Kyle McLachlan, and then McLachlan and Chloe Bennet in the same perfect episode, S.O.S., Part 2. But the goal of any show is to always be better, always keep the audience on their toes and entertained. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. makes it look like a breeze. The people are why this series is so good. They are written realistically with their own fears and motivations. After three seasons, the characters have become closer than ever. Yet, Daisy, finding herself with a power she never imagined, feels like more of an outsider than ever. Even though she's surrounded by people who love and accept her, she was able to be manipulated...with a little help from some powerful parasites. Let's see how that went...

Note: Comments in italics were added today. I thought I might point them out since they weren't part of the original comments I shared with Across the Airwaves.

ATA: "FAILED EXPERIMENTS" TWEETS

Listen to Podcast Episode

Hey, everyone, how are you all doing? I hope the answer to that is "good" or "fantabulous." I'm fine, by the way. Thanks for asking. I mean, I'm just going to assume you asked. Okay, let's get on with things.

I wish I had time to rewatch the whole season before the finale. As always, I've had a fantastic time, but I'm scared for how this may end. Anyway, that's for another day. Right now we're talking about "Failed Experiments."

This episode I think is really the first that made me truly angry at Daisy, even though she's not really in her right mind. She's under Hive's influence, yet sometimes she seems almost like she's making her own decisions and coming to a new understanding on her own of how she thinks the world should work. Then I realize that no sane person can do a 180 on their friends, her only family, and try to kill them just because they oppose someone who until recently completely repulsed her. Chloe did a fantastic job here. She seems almost reasonable when she doesn't have that wild look in her eyes and she's not saying she'll rip out hearts.

It's horrible that Daisy has been swayed to the dark side and that Coulson believes she's gone for good. It's depressing that she tried to kill Mack and said such hurtful things. It's awful that Lincoln risked his life and had nothing to show for it. It was tough to watch all the betrayal and bitterness, and Daisy's new interpretation of the facts and throwing away family. But all these terrible things sure do make an entertaining and captivating story, and I hope, in the end, Daisy can come back.

Okay, onto the tweets. They're not all gold, I know. But once in a while there's inspiration.

Ooh boy are those guys nasty.

I thought Fitz might be okay with Daisy. I had no hope for Simmons with Hive. And in the last tweetcap, I said I was even more scared for Fitz. I was for most of that scene and then I realized Daisy might do something she could never take back.


Images copyright Marvel Television and ABC Studios

It was so touching I had to find it and watch it again. I need someone to make artwork for that scene and this episode, like all the others. Maybe I'll finally have to do what I've been wanting to do, and saying I would do, for so long: get out a pad and pencils and start drawing again.

But I wanna punch her so bad right now. Come on, Simmons. It's not unusual for someone to do whatever it takes to save family. Punching is a bit extreme when the right words would do, though. I don't remember if I was actually talking about Simmons or Daisy. Maybe that comment got misplaced.

Always so optimistic.

I trust the writers implicity, but that would be almost too much. I can picture it now. I'm almost crying thinking about Clark's sad puppy expressions.

And now some things I thought may be too revealing for someone in my timeline, so I didn't tweet them. We're so close to the end of the season that anything I say could be interpreted as a spoiler.

Mack is desperate to save Daisy while Coulson lost hope. That scene was wonderfuly played by those two. Can't wait to rewatch it.

Make them understand, Daisy? I know you're under Hive's control, but try to remember how not very wonderful at all that thing is.

Threatening to rip out hearts now? Okay, you have an enthusiastic volunteer in me. I'd rather have powers than be dead. But...I also don't want to turn into a puddle. (I think I meant pile of rubble.) I'm liking the odds less and less.

"I'm curious if you can defeat what made you." Oh, no you don't. Don't even suggest something so awful.

Team of misfit toys. Wow, Daisy, you need to shut the hell up and fight a little harder...Not Mack! Fight Hive!

On a Side Note:

On another side note, I completely forgot about BattleBots until just now. *sigh*

Oh, my goodness, it's 1:38 AM. What are you doing to me, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.?

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