#aos 2x01

[florida3exclamationpoints]

The power and the implications of Peggy leading the Commandos into battle 😫🙌

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Thursday, January 11

Buffy: So what's the scuttlebutt? Anybody besides Larry fit our werewolf profile? Willow: There is one name that keeps getting spit out. Aggressive behavior, run-ins with authorities, about a screenful of violent incidents. Buffy: Okay, most of those were not my fault. Somebody else started 'em. I was just standing up for myself.

~~Phases~~

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

One Last Feast (Scoobies, K+) by Apache Firecat

Crossroads (Buffy/Spike, PG-13) by VeroNyxK84

Daily Drabble #6: Magnetism (Angel/Spike, G) by MadeInGold

A Morning After (Buffy/Spike, M) by TwilightChild

Prowling the PleasureScapes (Spike/Oz, M) by teddyscott

[Chaptered Fiction]

Three Little Words, Chapter 6 (Buffy/Spike, AO) by Maxineeden

A Darkened Night of the Soul, Chapter 27 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by In Mortal

Bonds of Shadows, Chapter 5 (Buffy/Spike, PG-13) by Chewbacha

Pack My Box with Five Dozen Liquor Jugs, Chapter 11 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by honeygirl51885

A Waxy Gent Chuckled Over My Fab Jazzy Quips, Chapter 11 (Buffy/Spike, PG-13) by violettathepiratequeen

The Vision Quest, Chapter 7 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by acb6293

What If Love Was Enough?, Chapter 9 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by Spikelover4ever

Who's Pole?, Chapter 3 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by Desicat

To All We Guard, Chapter 14 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by simmony

Unforeseeable Paths, Chapter 14 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by Axell

Crash and Burn, Chapter 29 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by NautiBitz

The Circle of Scooby, Chapter 13 (Crossover with Lazarus Long Books, FR15) by redjacobson

Healing After Heaven, Chapter 18 (Crossover with Highlander, FR13) by Kate

A Breath is But a Soundless Whisper, Chapter 13 (Buffy/Spike, 18+) by Blackoberst

What the Drabble?, Chapter 67 (Buffy/Spike, R) by VeroNyxK84

Overboard!, Chapter 4 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by bookishy

Other, Chapter 4 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by Grief Counseling

Love Lives Here, Chapter 7 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by Passion4Spike

Origins, Chapter 53 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by Niamh

I Do!, Chapter 18 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17) by Dusty

[Images, Audio & Video]

Manip:Ain’t no king, man, she’s my queen by satinsafe

Artwork:[Spike sketch] by isevery0nehereverystoned

Artwork:Spike Nouveau by riskpig

Artwork:[Buffy tarot cards] by genericaces

Artwork: 6.08 “Tabula Rasa” by whatisyourchildhoodtrauma

Icons: Cordelia Chase by slashericons

Gifset:I've hired myself out as an attraction. by thepunkmuppet

Gifset:season seven > dawn summers by starryeyesxx

Gifset:Post-Break Up Bangel Remembering by bangelgifs

Gifset:btvs movie posters: spuffy edition (part seven) by spuffygifs

Gifset:buffy summers in every episode: 2x14 » innocence by sarahmichellesgellar

Gifset:2x01 | “When She Was Bad” by clarkgriffon

Gifset:4.17 | Superstar by discovampires

Gifset:every single cordelia chase look #26 by thepunkmuppet

Gifset:every single cordelia chase look #27 by thepunkmuppet

Gifset:Anthony Head in Buffy The Vampire Slayer S1.4 by 51kas81

Gifset:Anthony Head in Buffy The Vampire Slayer S1.4 by 51kas81

Gifset:season seven > anya jenkins by starryeyesxx

Gifset:season seven > spike by starryeyesxx

Video: buffy & angel | glitch by lostlcve

Video: Buffy, The Vampire Slayer - The Heart Never Learns by Boo Harder

Video: Buffy/Cordelia | Hero [BTVS] by Light

Video: normal again edit by d4untl3ss_c4k3

[Reviews & Recaps]

[Rewatch update] by coraniaid

Help your friends with their bad ideas... | Buffy the Vampire Slayer 5x17 "Forever" | Reaction! by The Normies

I'm traumatized 🫣 Buffy The Vampire Slayer S07E03 'Same Time, Same Place''♡Reaction & Review♡ by SoFieReacts

NOOOOOOOO - Angel Reaction - 5x12 - You're Welcome by TheLexiCrowd

Heartthrob: Angel 3x01 Reaction by Dakara

ANGEL 4X12 REACTION | First Time Watching by EvilQK

1x10 Buffy the Vampire Slayer First Time Reaction - Nightmares! by Veggie Gamer

Horror Icon Buffy the Vampire Slayer by Horror Trans

Podcast: Effectively Priced - Angel S05E13 - Why We Fight by Pop Culture Role Call

Publication: 10 Best Buffy the Vampire Slayer Villains, Ranked via CBR

[Community Announcements]

Welcome to the shiny new Tumblr of Otherworldly Chemistry! by otherworldlychemistry-revamped

[Fandom Discussions]

Angel and the Claddagh Ring by abreathofsnowandashes

[Buffy makes Spuffy special] by legallights

Spike's S7 death - did you know what came next? by multiple authors

“Home” S4E22 “But it means something that you tried” by multiple authors

Why doesn't Buffy kill Spike? by multiple authors

Kennedy by multiple authors

I've got a theory: Warren and Willow are flip sides of the same coin by multiple authors

What is it problem with Riley exactly? I’ve never understood that. by multiple authors

Say what you want about Dawn, but this scene is so heartbreaking and you can't help but feel so sad for her. by multiple authors

What is the worst thing this character has ever said or done? [Buffy Summers] by multiple authors

Buffys environmental awareness by multiple authors

Connor by multiple authors

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Join the editor team :)

[heartstoppermybeloved]

NEM COMEÇOU E EU JÁ ESTOU ACABADO | Reação assistindo Heartstopper 2x01 Estamos aqui hoje para reagir ao primeiro episódio da 2ª temporada de Heartstopper. MINHAS REDES SOCIAIS: Instagram: ... via YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srdwLMnYPs8

[agentreeb]

Happy birthday Leo Fitz (August 19th, 1987)

“Instead you became the most open, loyal, caring person I’ve ever met”

[samanthaswishes]

Agents of SHIELD Rewatch Season 2A (ep. 1-10)

Here's my commentary on my rewatch of Agents of SHIELD Season 2 Episodes 1-10. This may not be the best commentary since these are just the thoughts and opinions that come to my mind as I watch the episodes rather than a full-blown analysis, but I'm just having fun with it!

2x01 Shadows

PEGGYYYYYY

I wish Trip's grandfather was in this scene. Would've been so cool.

The Kree and the OG 084

Skye with bangs! *chef's kiss*

We got the introduction of Hunter, Hartley, Idaho, and Mack. And only 2 of them make it out of this episode alive.

I know we couldn't really trust Hunter back then, but his first few lines really did make me like him.

"You're the man in charge, but I'm in charge of you." YES YOU ARE, MAY

I just wanna say I love Skye's stealth outfit this season.

So did Hartley meet Hunter through Bobbi or did Bobbi meet Hunter through Hartley? Because Coulson refers to Hunter as a friend she made undercover.

BUDAPEST

I remember my first time watching this episode and being so shocked that Jemma wasn't really there.

So since Fitz was imagining Jemma, were the other scientists in the lab just ignoring him talking to himself cause none of them seemed to be really fazed by it?

The first episode of season 2 and there's already been 3 bottles of beer drunken.

Trip freaking out about the Koenigs is a mood.

Skye just misses her dad

Again, no one talks about Skye's trauma with Ward. She really did not want to go down there! She's fucking terrified!

When did Raina and Ward have time to have a conversation about Skye's dad? I mean, I know Raina told him about the monsters, but when did she ever tell him "I know Skye's dad. He's alive."

How did we go from goofy, disgruntled side character to season 5 villain with Talbot?

"Hi again" I love Melinda May.

Sometimes the military people in this show are really stupid.

Honeycomb Kill Room™

Idk about y'all, but I'm low-key getting red flags when Fitz referred to himself as the team golden boy. Like, relax, Koenig is literally just doing his job. I'm trying to not think about my dislike towards Fitz in later seasons, but the more I watch earlier seasons, I see more aspects of him that I really don't like.

Absolutely love every moment Shield plays Talbot.

Was it ever established if Hartley and Idaho were in on the whole Real Shield thing?

The way May turns to Skye and says "Let's stick together." I love these Mama May moments.

Was I the only one who low-key shipped Skye and Trip this season? Cause I totally did.

"Talbot out."

Okay, but honestly, Creel wasn't that hidden. I'm pretty sure it's easy to see abs on a wall.

NO HARTLEY DON'T!

"Cut it off" This line foreshadowed many more scenes to come in this series

"Have you seen what they've done with robotics these days?" "Probably an upgrade." We really got the Coulson robo hand foreshadowing 21 episodes prior.

So how long was Creel waiting for the Shield car to just pull up in the middle of the road?

And goodbye Hartley and Idaho :(

2x02 Heavy is the Head

Can we talk about how May wanted to get Hunter out of the car and save him from being captured by soldiers before going after Creel?

I needed more of May on the motorcycle aka Lola's Boyfriend™ (if you know, you know)

"I know. And we just retired the bathrooms."

I love Mack. He always has faith in people even when other people don't 100% believe in them.

I know Coulson is trying to protect Skye, but leaving her in the dark about the alien writing wasn't the best call.

It's canon that Mack likes singing in the shower.

I never noticed halluci-Jemma checking Mack out😂

I wonder if when she was looking at the picture of Izzy and her sister, Skye was thinking about the family she never had.

Oh, there's my answer. Hunter and Hartley met each other through Bobbi.

RAINAAAAA

"I doubt it. The guy's jacked, and he can turn any body part into any material." Oh, Skye, I love you. Also, this line catches me off guard every single time😂

"Beat it. You're pissing him off!" Said to the extra scientists who haven't done or said anything.

"How did we get the nonlethal option?" "Coin flip. Trip called tails." I love these little small lines.

Hunter made the biggest mistake ever, and that mistake was icing May.

"Aw HELL no"

Hunter, you idiot. You just don't go stalking up in public in broad daylight, guns blazing.

We love the callback to the device in 1x07.

"Is Coulson okay?" "Of course." "WhAt Is WrOnG wItH yOu??"

And there's Skye's daddy. Cal seemed so much scarier in 2a, but he just turns into a lovable character in 2b. I love him.

"Can I call you Glenn?" "No. Where's Hunter." "Watching Cake Boss." Idk why but this exchange is hilarious to me.

"Let's get out of here before the iceberg runs out of fuel."

Talbot was so close to the quinjet. I wished he ran into it.

2x03 Make New Friends and Influencing People

This whole brainwashing thing is so creepy. I hate it.

So sad that Kara was actually a really good and loyal Shield agent before Hydra.

Okay, but this whole opening with Jemma is adorable, and I love it.

When I first watched this, I had no doubts in my mind that she wasn't undercover. I mean, Simmons would never be with Hydra.

"I pretended they were all Ward." HA

Thinking about how May telling Skye that her shots weren't puny probably made Skye really happy because as a kid, she was hardly complimented or rewarded for a job well done.

"Don't be sorry. Just wait." She says while holding a massive sniper rifle.

"Experience doesn't make it any easier to cross someone off." Ooh, the Bahrain references. This season, you guys! THIS SEASON!

I still feel bad for Donnie Gil. He was just a kid who was manipulated then brainwashed by Hydra and has a power that was taken advantage of.

Coulson once again in Full Dad Mode™

See, I understand Jemma and why she left. She wanted to help Fitz and truly did care about him, he was her best friend after all, but she ended up not helping him and making him worse, so she left. She also needed time to work on herself and come to terms with what had happened. She was at the bottom of the ocean too. Not just Fitz. I understand that Fitz does need help and support, but so does Jemma. It's not fair that people say they hate Jemma for leaving him because they are basically saying it was her job to make sure he was okay.

"I wasn't loyal to Hydra. I was loyal to Garrett." THAT'S THE SAME FUCKING THING.

"My family tore me down." Yeah, so did every foster family Skye had ever had, and she turned out to be a ridiculously nice person. She didn't even have anyone to build her back up, but she still turned out good. God, I hate Ward so much.

I also fucking hate the people that said Skye should've been more sympathetic and should've comforted him. HE LITERALLY KIDNAPPED AND MANIPULATED HER AND EVEN THREATENED TO DO EVEN WORSE. NOT TO MENTION ALL THE PEOPLE HE KILLED OF HIS OWN FREE WILL. It was not her job to change him. She deserved so much better than be turned into Ward's object in the eyes of these "fans".

I also noticed that Ward sympathizers/SkyeWard shippers still refer to her as Skye even after she changed her name to Daisy, literally ignoring all the character growth she had done to reach that name and why giving up the name Skye and becoming Daisy was so important. (I'm only calling her Skye rn since that's what she is called in s2)

Love how Hunter is trying to psych Skye out of jumping out of the plane, but her heartbeat remains steady.

Also, I have mixed feelings about the whole Ward/Fitz cell scene. I obviously don't agree with Ward in one slightest bit, but Fitz was acting impulsively. Granted, he did get information out of Ward.

"WhAt ThE hElL? I jUsT tOoK OuT tHe BoOmErS!!"

I just wanna sing "Let it Go" this entire episode.

Skye's heartbeat was steady when she killed Donnie, but I really wished we could've seen the aftermath of it, and how it affected Skye taking her first life. They do briefly, but it turns into something about Simmons being undercover and not Skye's own psyche.

"We're even, right?" "We are." I love Trip's face in the background. Wish he never died so he could've gotten even.

"Reminds me of before." Aw Skyeeeee

Again, we don't talk about Skye's trauma with Ward. Her heartbeat was steady when killing someone and jumping out of a plane, but the second Ward pulls the 'your dad is alive' card, he gets under her skin and freaks her out.

2x04 Face My Enemy

Let's go! I frickin love this episode!

"Five Finger Discount"

MAY IN THAT DRESS!

I absolutely love how quickly May changes her face from smiling to absolutely hating everything. She just does not want to be there😂

Also, I love how May laughing is its own whole scene and joke.

As a former competitive dancer, I want to take the dance elective at Shield Academy.

This episode is one of the few where the team has major sibling vibes.

This undercover May is still so jarring, but I love it.

"Maybe Talbot's still pissed cause we kidnapped him that one time."

"YO!" *PUNCH*

Coulson was so ready to show off his skills in front of May.

May's remark when Talbot says "I've been thinking." She knows what's up.

"You liked it." "No, I didn't." "A little bit?" "A little bit."

Psycho Living in Our Basement™

Love that they brought back the nano mask from Winter Soldier. Absolutely love Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Black Widow, but Agents of Shield did it first.

As much as I dislike Fitz, I really relate to him here. I have really bad social anxiety and talking to people is so, so, so difficult for me. I either have nothing to add to the conversation, or I want to say something, but I can never get the words to form to get it out. Even online, I'm constantly rereading everything I want to say.

Bakshi really thinks he has the upper hand on Melinda May? Bitch, please.

Love how Coulson automatically knows that she isn't May. He knows his wife best friend.

Why did I get excited for Skye and Mack literally just standing next to each other? I know they don't even get close until literally the end of the season, but I just love my big brother Mack and little sister Daisy dynamic.

All I can think about when I see the elevator opening is the blooper where Clark and Ming are kissing.

WHO IS THAT GIRL I SEE STARING STRAIGHT BACK AT ME~

^I love Mulan way too much😅

YESSSS MAYYYYY

Watching the Live With Lil' of this episode with the stunt double from this episode makes me appreciate the May vs May fight even more than before (and I always LOVED that fight scene so much. It's probably one of my top favorite fights.)

The move May does off the coffee table is very similar to a ballet move that I can't remember the name of, but the dancer in me really likes that.

"wE gOtTa Go" Idk why but the way Coulson runs in is so funny to me.

Ugh, okay, this moment between Fitz, Mack, and Hunter is very sweet, but I hate the way Fitz presents Simmons to them. He gives them an image of her that they see in a bad light. They don't even have the full story and Jemma's not there to defend herself.

"Some people are better in small doses." YOU CAN SAY THAT AGAIN! That's probably why I like season 7 so much since Fitz is only in the last 3 episodes.

Love how May's plan to protect Coulson is to send him to a cabin. And what does he do when Skye needs protecting? Sends her to a cabin.

2x05 A Hen in the Wolf House

BOBBI TIME

This wedding opening is so funnily random (is funnily a word? who cares, it is now.)

UGH just tell Skye already. She deserves to actually know and not be spied on.

Again, Cal was so much scarier in 2a

And now the dude's dead.

"Pretty awesome, right?" What the hell is wrong with this guy?

"I wAs A fAt BaBy"

Fish Tacos~

THERE SHE IS! We love you, Bobbi.

I love Bobbi so much. This is the only thing I will talk about for this episode haha.

I love how protective the whole team is of Skye.

HAIR FLIP

Ooh, Cal's not gonna like that. Skye's got another dadddd.

May's hand on Jemma's shoulder when she sees Fitz again

I was too invested in this episode to commentate haha😅

I love May's face in the background when Bobbi and Hunter were arguing.

"bObBi?!?!"

Also, did Trip really not know Hunter and Bobbi were married? He seemed to know Bobbi pretty well in the quinjet.

"wHy ThE hElL wOuLd YoU dO tHaT?"

2x06 A Fractured House

Why did they have to start with a scene of Ward working out??😑

"We're not responsible for this, are we?" You'd think they'd all be aware if they had a mission in killing government officials. But this is so funny how they're all like "WaS iT uS?"

"Guess being a douchebag runs in the family."

WHO CARES ABOUT THE WELL ANYMORE WARD. BASED ON WHAT YOU'VE DONE, YOU DON'T GET TO USE THE WELL ANYMORE

I don't like particularly like Jemma this season because of how she acts when Skye gets her powers and her low-key xenophobia, but I truly feel bad for her in terms of Fitz. She's not allowed to express her feelings. She's treated like she owes Fitz something. Yes, he saved her life, and she really did want to help him, but she only made him worse, so she did what she felt was best for both her and Fitz.

"It's funnier now."

I think both Ward and Christian have some truth to their sides. I do believe Christian forced him to throw Thomas down the well, but I also believe that Ward had a dark side as a kid and still chose to make these decisions.

Am I supposed to feel bad for Ward? Cause I don't.

One thing I miss after Bobbi and Hunter left is the Bobbi and May team up fights.

"Don't die out there."

I love that Jemma stood in front of Skye, protecting her from Ward. Why she couldn't do that in season 5 is beyond me. Maybe because she was personally affected by him, but as soon as Fitz did something bad to her best friend, she chooses the abuser over the victim. Ugh, not looking forward to season 5.

They gave him an inch, Coulson.

2x07 The Writing on the Wall

Is there not security that checks you for weapons at a bus station? I'd feel like they'd treat it almost like an airport. (As you can see, I've never been to a bus station) How the hell did Ward get in with all those bombs?

Love how easy they were able to get a dead body😂

Bobbi, aren't you supposed to be one of the best spies? How come you've been on the same page the entire time? Ward's really good too. Why didn't you turn the page? Even when I'm pretending to read something, I'm scrolling down or turning pages.

I need more of Hunter dressed as a cowboy.

Project TAHITI is scarier now

Ward going back to Hydra proves that he is not a good person. I get he was doing that to give Bakchi to Coulson, but still.

THE TRANSITION FROM THE KILLER TO COULSON!!!

May definitely not only yelled at Coulson for going into the memory machine but also for putting things onto Skye while she was in charge of him.

*lets Fitz play the video game* "It's good for you."

"YoU wErE dReSsEd LiKe A cOwBoY!"

DID HE JUST LOCK THAT GUYS FAMILY IN A CLOSET?

Okay but that guy was smart to cut the rope on the nail. I wouldn't have thought of that.

HE STILL GOT HIS SPY INSTINCTS

It's so hard to see Mack during this season. There's obviously this rift between him and Skye because of the alien DNA. Love that they became partners in season 3 because next to MayDaisy, their relationship is my favorite.

2x08 The Things We Bury

JIAYING!

"What are we gonna do, storm Oahu?"

Why does the Hawaii mission seem so chaotic?

"You ever want kids?" *slowly takes the object out of pocket*

Jemma being the biggest Peggy Carter fangirl is the cutest thing ever.

PEGGYYYY

Still kinda crazy how (I believe) Peggy Carter and Jiaying have canonically met. Even crazier when Jiaying's daughter (Daisy) ends up dating Peggy's ex (Sousa).

I couldn't care less about the whole Ward and Christian side plot in this episode

I love the whole progression of Whitehall's cell scene

ALL THOSE PEOPLE ARE FROM THE HUNAN VILLAGE

So it is revealed that Bobbi fears judgment, right? She does regret giving up the safe house where Kara was. That was established, right?

Okay, but Christian is right. Ward believes himself to be a hero, but really he is a terrible villain who couldn't care less about human life.

"Man With a Plan" Was Trip referencing the song from CA:TFA?

Um, yes, Cal, Phil is in fact the closest thing Skye has to a father, so I think it's best you don't hurt him.

Anyone in this show who says "the end justifies the means" is always in the wrong.

I was so scared Trip was going to die this episode the first time I watched this. I was relieved when he lived but then 2x10 had to come in and take it all away.

I've binged this show so many times, and I always forget about the whole vivisection of Jiaying scene. I like literally suppress that scene.

YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND WARD. YOU KNOW NOTHING OF SACRIFICE!

I don't know why but the cut from Bobbi and Hunter to them making out in front of the car is so funny to me.

This scene always makes me giddy. Like... THAT"S SKYE'S MOM!

2x09 Ye Who Enter Here...

Okay, but this dream sequence! Not only do we get a little insight into what might have happened in the Hunan Province, but we also get the confirmation that mom and dad in Skye's mind have sort of been filled by May and Coulson.

Also ANGEL EYES

"Of course, I'm her SO"

This is one of the only times Simmons is allowed to share her side of the story without any biases. She also refers to him as her best friend. Why isn't she allowed to want him to be a best friend? She doesn't owe him her feelings. It's not like she doesn't care. Ugh the whole Fitzsimmons thing this season is so frustrating.

"You're a big brother, but you're not my big brother." Um, in the happy domestic timeline au I have in my head, Mack is everyone's big brother. Except obviously Yoyo's since the two of them are soulmates.

"CaLl An AmBuLaNcE, tHiS gUy JuSt PaSsEd OuT!"

THIS EPISODE IS SKYE'S FIRST HAND-TO-HAND FIGHT!

"Whot the hell is that?" "May's evil twin."

"Ooh hats!"

This is why I love Coulson! He really does care for human life.

I'm like on the bridge on whether or not I actually want to be in a car with May. I feel like she's a good driver, but in this episode, she's so aggressive.

"YoU kNoW sHe StIlL hAs My FaCe?"

"Where's your friend Diego go?" All I could think of is GO DIEGO GO!

Mack low-key being afraid of the ghost story is a mood and totally sets up his hatred for robots and basically everything he's about to experience in the coming years.

MAMA MAYYY

2x10 What We Become

Yayyy, this is my fav season 2 episode. Except for, you know, Trip dying.

This is another episode I'm too invested in, so I might not say a lot😅

So why did Cal decide to tell Skye that Jiaying was dead?

That whole "Bicycle Built For Two" song was already creepy because of Cal, but TikTok made it even more creepy.

I just wanna punch Ward.

YESS SKYE YOU BEAT THOSE HYDRA AGENTS

Ooh, Coulson, Cal's not gonna like that.

DAISY! HE SAID IT!

Skye crying over Coulson gets me every time. It's not your fault Skye!

DANG IT TRIP WHY DID YOU HAVE TO GO BACK DOWN!

QUAKE THEME QUAKE THEME QUAKE THEME QUAKE THEME

The Quake Theme is literally my favorite score from this series.

How does Skye look so great after going through terrigenesis? Like, my god I want whatever the terrigen has.

WHY DO YOU HAVE TO SHOW TRIP FALLING APART EVERY TIME UGH!!!!!!!

And Gordon. No matter how many ties I see him, he creeps me out.

[queen-of-love-and-beauty]

Like mother like daughter

[ryder616]

Rewatching Shadows

AoS enters season 2 with a new look, setting and mood: the Pilot was all bright lights - other than that dark corner for Coulson’s very special brand of trolling -  open skies, colors and a quip per minute, the S2 premiere has much more somber lighting, the bus has been replaced by an underground bunker and the girl who went on her first mission in a pink dress saying things like “I have eyes on top dog. The eagle is landing on it”, is now zipping down from the ceiling in her (very cute!) tactical outfit, all business: “We got ears on them. The package is in the open”.

Things have changed.

So much, infact, that it’s easier to list what has remained the same: Phil Coulson still wears impeccable business suits, Trip is still a ray of sunshine, May is still badass and Fitz still wears a cardigan (although he’s done away with ties, a subtle indication that one of his hands doesn’t work well enough anymore).  The only one who is exactly the same is Jemma Simmons and that’s because she’s not real.

The New Kids on the Block:

We are swiftly introduced to the new faces and in typical AoS fashion the one we might expect to stick around the longer, due to her actress and comics connection - all 3 of them have names of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents from the comics, but Hartley is Victoria Hand’s girlfriend - won’t make it past the credits. Hartley will come back later in the season in a flashback for Real S.H.I.E.L.D.’s origin story but I will always lament her swift demise.

Hunter is already his lovable roguish self: he plays the cynic merc who’s only in it for the money but he is quick to action when his friend is in danger, damn the consequences, and displays (even more so in the next couple of episodes) a certain amused protectiveness toward the youngest and still most inexperienced member of the team - Skye - that already suggests how his attitude is mostly a facade.

And then there’s Mack. He doesn’t have much to do here but his presence is kind of majestic and not just because he towers over everyone. He is immediately positioned as a critical voice, if subtly: his inquiry over the outcome of the opening mission could be dismissed as normal curiosity and banter but later he immediately backs up Hartley and Hunter’s reservations over the military base raid and radiates displeasure at Coulson’s decision to risk the field team’s lives “for a Quinjet”.

And on the bad guys front we get Whitehall, Bakshi and Carl Creel. That’s already enough to make Shadows a top shelf season premiere.

First Officer:

May has her hands full and then some. She’s training Skye, leading the field teams and is second in command to a somewhat absentee Director, in charge of the day to day and clearly acting as a buffer between him and the team while he’s flying all over the world to recruit new agents and secretly enact the Theta Protocol. Plus, you know, losing his mind over some weird scribblings. All in a day’s work.

We’re Vigilantes:

Despite all the trappings of a legitimate intelligence agency, S.H.I.E.L.D. is currently very, very illegal. The organization has been labeled as a terrorist group and all of them would be on several Most Wanted lists if the government knew their names and still had their files (Skye deleted everything in S1 and hopefully went back at it after Natasha’s info dump to erase any possible further reference to our people). They’re vigilantes with an organizational chart. It’s interesting how little difference that makes in their methods overall, which doesn’t really speak all too well of the former legitimate S.H.I.E.L.D.

Home is where the secret vaults are:

The Playground, a former SSR base, will outlast all the other S.H.I.E.L.D.  “home” locations with the exception of the Zephyr One, serving as the main base of operations for three seasons. It will endure Real S.H.I.E.L.D., Daisy’s dad, Darth Daisy, Hive and the LMDs, because even after the MayBot blew it up it still looked salvageable, only not very secret anymore. Then again, the Lighthouse will survive the literal destruction of the planet. S.H.I.E.L.D. had outstanding structural engineers.

Stuff that crossed my mind:

The answer to death itself. Uhm, maybe in a roundabout way, I suppose. You really didn’t know jack, did you?😛

The crate Dugan starts to open contains a blue body, likely the Kree that will end up powering the T.A.H.I.T.I. project. Did Hydra found it when they took possession of the Obelisk?

They’re finally beaten. Er...yeah, I mean, why even say things like that? Maybe if fictional characters started saying “we’ll never win” more often, bad guys would finally stop coming back.

We got ears on them. The package is in the open. Look at her, all agenty and stuff. With the cutest outfit. And she has an icer, just like everyone else, so the guy she shot took a nap only. We’re not there yet.

We can’t be sure you won’t run off with the money. Ah, I see her diplomatic skills have remained intact🤣

It’ll be good to see him. If I see him. Skye misses Coulson and likely not just him: Jemma’s away, Fitz isn’t the same, there’s a bunch of new people around she doesn’t particularly like and yet again she’s had to adapt to new circumstances. She’s really good at that, out of necessity, but it doesn’t mean she likes it.

You're the man in charge, but I'm in charge of you, remember? There’s a domesticity in this scene that’s hard to dismiss, especially when she hands him the glasses he couldn’t find. The bond they already shared has clearly been strengthened by S.H.I.E.L.D.’s new circumstances and Coulson’s own predictament.

Flying Economy blows. Welcome to the real world, Phil.

The first 084. Oh, I’m sure it won’t be anything dangerous or life altering. Just your run of the mill shiny object of doom.

It’s better than the crap you cooked up in Budapest. Oh! Were Nat & Clint there, too?

How’s the mood in there today? It’s as good as can be expected. Fitz is struggling and everyone can see it but they have no idea how to help him😭.

Can you see that? Oh, good. I mean, what? That’s weird. I adore Iain’s delivery here. The relief that he’s not imaging it - so he’s obviously aware that “Simmons” isn’t real - and then the realization that it probably makes things worse.

Sounds like my ex wife. And who could that be, mhm?

It's a little bit strange. I mean, they're exactly the same. You really think they were just twins? Come on. -- I have heard all your theories, Trip. Skye and Trip have obviously bonded, spending their downtime together on the Bus - Skye’s former “home” where she’s obviously more comfortable for now than the base - having a beer and likely spinning all kinds of conspiracy theories together (Skye’s a not-so-former conspiracy nut after all, the kind who’s often right though).

You’ll go crazy staring at this crap. No, but somebody else is.

Why, no hugs? He was really looking forward to it. It would be understandable and probably wise if Coulson was actively trying to distance himself a little from Skye because he’s the Director now and having fatherly feelings for one of his field agents could become quite the issue. But the alien writings mess and Skye unknowingly being the “control group” is probably the more likely motivation.

Do I have a say in this? Coulson is aware of how much he’s asking. It isn’t fair to her at all but what else can they do?

Just tell me there isn’t a off button I can accidentally hit. The computer hacker worrying about something like this is VERY telling.

I was clear-headed, accepting. Who I am, what I’ve done. Uhm. I think future events will show he hasn’t really accepted much but I have to say he sounds very genuine here. Self-delusion or manipulation?

C’mon girl. You know I look good. Yes, yes you do. 😍

Skye, who has memorized the code, is annoyed that Hunter tries to help, while she had no such reaction when Billy corrected her earlier. Hunter just smiles like you’d do with a precocious child who’s being a bit of a brat but damn, it’s endearing.

At the time I screamed at Hartley because why waste time opening the box when she should just take it and go? But of course she's working for Real S.H.I.E.L.D. so she needs to know what the thing is now as she likely won’t have a chance later. Picking up an 084 with her bare hand, though, is inexcusably stupid.

Unlike most every other human after her - the exception is Creel, who is gifted - Hartley doesn’t quickly turn to stone after touching the Obelisk. The transformation holds off long enough for her to get into the car and give Hunter time for some very impromptu field surgery. It’s probably just out of dramatic necessity but I head-canon that she has some very marginal Inhuman ancestry: not enough to trigger full terrigenesis, but enough to not be killed outright in the span of half a minute.

You've seen what they can do with robotics these days. You can say that again!

Either the soldiers are terrible marksmen or May, Skye and Trip have deployed that highly sophisticated deflector shield called plot armor😁  

You risked that for a Quinjet. Judgy MacJudgy is in session🤣 (I love Mac but I’m going to tease him A LOT, I think)

I’m afraid he can’t do anything. He’s not the same since Simmons left. Say What?🤯 Yeah, I originally spent the episode grumbling at Simmons’ role - “Is this all she’s going to do, be the supportive not-girlfriend?” - only to slap my forehead at the end because of course. It’s so obvious. And yet😳

You have no idea. But he does. He knows Whitehall’s history, doesn’t he? It’s going to be a plot point later when Bobbi interrogates him. Mhmm....

[tv-screencaptures]

[mspirations]

Skye “ Shadows” - 2x01

Sorel Joan of Arctic Wedge Mid Boot in Black/Grill

Thanks for identifying:

Fashion of Comics

[florida3exclamationpoints]

Not Ward being like "I'm so sad 😔 I've been hurting myself 😔 you should feel bad for me 😔" hey bro try harder please 🫶 "I started running into the wall and now I have a black eye 😔" "You should've run faster" SO TRUE BESTIE

[marvelsaos]

Iconic Skye/ Daisy Johnson Outfits

Season 2

(gif request by anon)

[fitzsimmxns]

peggy carter icons season 2 episode 1

— ♡ or reblog if you save

— credit my twitter @bluntscarter !!

[wayward-wren]

My goodness I clean forgot Peggy and the Howling Commandos showed up at the start of season 2! That was a fantastic surprise 

[maymchale]

ᴘʜɪʟɪɴᴅᴀ ʟᴏᴏᴋɪɴɢ ᴀᴛ ᴇᴀᴄʜ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ✨ 22/?

[howtotrainyouragents]

I know AoS Season 2 isn’t everyone’s favorite, but I love it so much because it fully leans into the spy premise.

 Like, just the opening scenes of Skye in full tactical gear and the team on an undercover mission tells us what this entire season is gonna be about.  Season 1 is more “bureaucratic spy” stuff with a heavy filter of corny, Marvel, family-friendly fun. Seasons 2 actually dives into the “spy organization” aspect of the show’s premise (and is more or less the only season to do so to this extent).  They have Simmons undercover, brainwashing, the bad guys manipulating each other, Philinda undercover, Howling Commando gear, the Hawaii mission, Bobbi and Mack undercover. Bobbi and Hunter are introduced and at least 50% of their purpose is to be the traditional old-school spy couple that are super competent and super hate/love with each other. 

And it’s such a clever thing to do for this season for two reasons. 

1) It’s a natural shift after the HYDRA reveal. You can tell in the last few episodes of Season 1 (which is still some of the best stuff) even the writers struggle to balance the fun feels with the very real, serious things that are happening. Season 2 doesn’t hold back. Season 2′s like “we know shit just went down, and we’ve decided to roll with it.”  It’s darker and edgier, but it’s appropriate. They are spies without an organization: they have to play the shadow games if they want to survive. 

2) It’s a great fake-out for the Inhuman storyline. They dangle Inhuman stuff throughout the first half of the season, but they also keep us busy with so many complicated, grounded storylines that we don’t really get to focus on where all this is heading until we head into the temple with Skye. 

Also this doesn’t really have to do with the spy premise, but this season also manages to introduce a new, compelling villain that’s NOT Hydra through Real SHIELD  (Flex on S1, S3 and S4 lol). It allows us to have a fantastic story about SHIELD vs Inhumans without making SHIELD the bad guys.

 It also revisits the day SHIELD fell from a totally new perspective, adding an incredible amount of worldbuilding and character nuance. But that’s not all. We get to see the change in the old team too. I’m talking about the way Fitz, Simmons, and Skye have changed from Season 1 to Season 2. I’m talking about how May was prepared for another base takeover and got Coulson out of there when Real SHIELD showed up. I’m talking about the fear and confusion from Fitz, Simmons, and Skye when they saw their friends turn against them, but this time they stood their ground and fought back. That’s. Good. Character. Shit. And that’s what I’m here for. 

P.S. And yeah, unfortunately, going full spy mode means the writers go crazy with the torture, which is not fun. But by and large they manage to deepen this aspect of the show’s premise while not losing its heart and warmth (thanks to the wonderful characters and relationships). So props to season 2!  

[never-stopp-growing]

Wait is that Damien fucking Darhk???