TV REVIEW: Ward Returns in SHIELD’S “Love in the Time of Hydra”

By Felicia Kudronowicz

We’re back with for another week of SHIELD. This episode was lacking in the combat department, but we definitely learned some vital intel in  “Love in the Time of Hydra”.

Right in the cold open things start to get interesting as Ward finally returns. It turns out he was rescued by Agent 33, who is still sporting May’s face thanks to the now permanently burned-on face mimicking mask from earlier this season. They find the creator of the mask and get it repaired, but Agent 33 still can’t remove it and she is stuck with May’s voice. To thank Ward for helping her, Agent 33 turns herself into Skye, which makes for the creepiest scene yet. She has Skye’s face with May’s voice and Agent 33’s personality. Talk about confusing. Ward insists he wants to get to know the real Agent 33 so they go to take revenge on the person who took her from her safe house and got her in this mess in the first place.

In the meantime, the team is still deciding what to do with Skye. Coulson ultimately decides to take her to a secluded cabin in the woods (ha ha). He gives her gloves that Simmons designed to lessen her powers, but it is up to her if she wants to use them or not. Then he just leaves. I have no idea what Skye is going to do with all her free time, maybe marathon Buffy?

In our third storyline this episode, Hunter finds out that this secondary ‘Real SHIELD’ is trying to get rid of Coulson, deeming him to be unreliable. This actually makes sense to me. I think Coulson’s judgment is often clouded by his feelings and, who know’s? He still might be an alien, so I can kind of see where they are coming from. The head of this second Real SHIELD is Robert Gonzales (Edward James Olmos). Even though he seems creepy, he has a point. Hunter doesn’t want anything to do with this secret organization and he succeeds in making an escape to warn Coulson’s team.

Meanwhile, Ward and Agent 33 have infiltrated the Air Force where her kidnapper is being held. They get in, take him and get out. During this whole little mission, they have a run in with Talbot. (I have to say, I’m continually impressed with how many women are on this show. It shouldn’t be a rarity, but it really is and I love how diverse the casting is.) After this little meet up, Ward and Agent 33 torture her kidnapper and she succeeds in getting her original face back.

In the end, Bobbi decides to try and beat Hunter to the SHIELD team and kill Coulson. They give her 12 hours and she says very confidently that she only needs 6. Is it bad that I’m kind of cheering for Bobbi? She’s just so badass. Mac also makes his way back to SHIELD, but May is very suspicious of he and Hunter’s disappearance. We also find out that Fitz is having doubts about Skye’s seclusion. It’s very cute how protective he has gotten over Skye. He knows what it’s like to change and have people treat you differently. It’s a very sweet bond they have and it shows how far apart Fitz and Simmons have grown.

Next week we’ll see a SHIELD vs. SHIELD face-off, find out who comes out on top, and what Skye gets up to in her cabin. I’m still hoping for a Skye/Ward reunion as well. I guess we’ll just have to watch to find out.