Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - Season 4, Episode 11 Review

"Wake Up" opens with Agent May fighting her way through a variety of Framework simulations devised by Dr. Radcliffe, and proves to be some of the most trippy stuff Agents of SHIELD has ever delved into. I've heard that the Framework is going to play an important part later on this season, so I hope to see more, even trippier stuff there. The way the simulations build on with the episode was cool though, starting off with May breaking out of a spa, then thinking she's breaking out of Radcliffe's lair, fighting Aida, and then an alternate timeline where May saved the little girl she killed (thus changing her character quite substantially).
The LMD May, however, realizes that she is in fact not real, and after confronting Radcliffe realizes she is responsible for SHIELD leaks, unbeknownst to her. Fitz realizes that Aida was in fact being programmed by Radcliffe and had not become self-aware, leading SHIELD to arrest Radcliffe - but the doctor has another LMD hidden away. As Fitz interrogates him, he realizes that Radcliffe replaced himself with an LMD - and is in fact helping Senator Nadeer and her "superior" as part of the Watchdog initiative. Sadly, this only serves to make Radcliffe appear even more evil, as opposed to a complex or morally ambiguous character, which only serves to make his antagonist role feel unnecessary.
Meanwhile, Daisy tries to sign the Sokovia Accords, after having a surprisingly heartfelt moment with Director Mace. Both characters acknowledge the "show" they put on for people, and it works very well to expand the two's dynamic, which I feel the series has neglected somewhat, given how interesting it is when it gets a chance to rear its head. However, Senator Nadeer finds Coulson and Yo-Yo in her office and uses this to place SHIELD under scrutiny - once again. While this isn't anything new from the series, it leads to an interesting character beat between Coulson and Talbot, with the General confirming that if it wasn't for him, Coulson wouldn't have got where he has.
Overall, "Wake Up" isn't much of an episode in its own right. There's lots of plot threads, and everything is weaving together into something interesting. I feel like the whole LMD arc is a little weak at the moment, serving more as a Watchdog arc than anything, but maybe that's just poor marketing.

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