Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - Season 4, Episode 21 Review

So, Agents of SHIELD rockets towards its season finale by...continuously building additional plot-points into the over-arching narrative. With Aida now in human - or Inhuman - form as Ophelia, she tries to confess her newfound feelings for Fitz, who tries to use these sudden emotional outbursts to encourage her to save the team from the underwater base. It really is Mallory Jansen's show this week as Ophelia tries to adjust to human life, and she comes so very close to even potentially joining the SHIELD team before everything goes horribly wrong. Just as it looks as if all is settled (for the most part), Fitz makes his own feelings clear and Ophelia embarks on a murder rampage, ready to slaughter anyone who gets in her way, and preparing to create a new world suited to her. Jansen is quite possibly this season's MVP, able to flick between different, albeit similar characters on a dime, and her interactions with the other cast members are consistently fantastic. In a way, it'll be a shame if she leaves the show next episode, but her arc - despite some highs and lows - has been fairly strong. She's probably the best villain since Garrett in Season 1, and possibly even the show's most complex antagonist to date.
However, despite the series seeming to create a new villain so close to the season finale, even as a living organism Ophelia still manages to be terrifying, with her murder spree being surprisingly intense for the series - and the newfound fury certainly adds to that. If there is one big criticism, it's with the whole Inhuman powers gimmick they've given her, as if Mallory Jansen's performance isn't threatening enough. Her powers constantly seem to be relevant to whatever the plot requires. Need a way to rescue Mack? Ophelia can teleport. Need to get her out of the cell? She has electricity powers that can destroy the anti-Inhuman devices in the base. It's all a little too convenient for narrative's sake, and comes across as lazy writing to be honest.
If "The Return" initially comes across as a slightly too jam-packed penultimate episode, it's because we feel so very close to the end of this season, and a rushed finale is not going to be a satisfying resolution - especially after the last two seasons ended on two-part ones. But hey, Ghost Rider's back, so maybe there's hope yet...

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