Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - Season 4, Episode 20 Review

"Farewell, Cruel World!" is appropriately enough the episode in which the SHIELD team finally escape the Framework with Radcliffe's help, and it's an...interesting one to say the least. The episode fills in a huge amount of much-needed plot points, but also decides to throw in some important elements such as the death of Fitz's father, and Madame Hydra's creation of a new human body. It's not over-stuffed, but seems a little too much for one episode.
When the team finally make their way to the 'back door' of the Framework, one can't help but feel a little underwhelmed. Maybe part of this is because of Ward's absence - I mean, didn't he live through the last few episodes? Or have I forgotten something here? The fact that the series made Ward's appearance such a key part of the introduction to the Framework arc only to drop him so close to the end just seems a little odd. There's not much of an actual good-bye to this alternate universe, and that seems a little anti-climactic in my opinion. Maybe we'll get to see a stronger farewell in the finale, but for now it definitely disappointed.
Overall, the episode felt a little underwhelming in places, often failing to reach the emotional and climactic heights I think it was going for, but as it is it was a fairly strong episode.

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