S.H.I.E.L.D. recruits Professor Randolph to help solve the mystery of the Kree Monolith, while Ward sets about rebuilding HYDRA.
Tropes:
- Act of True Love: Fitz jumps into the portal without a second thought just on the hope of finding Simmons.
- Affably Evil: Ward, once again. After forcefully kidnapping Werner Von Strucker and letting Kebo "test" him via torture, he congratulates the young man for passing his test and even brings some tacos.
- Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking: When Coulson asks what Fitz needs to rescue Simmons, Fitz says that he needs more historical data on the Monolith, experts in Quantum Mechanics and Einstein-Rosen Bridge theory, and a sandwich would be nice.
- Badass Boast: Randolph claims that he could literally go through Fitz if he wanted to.
- Bittersweet Ending: The team rescues Simmons from the alien world, but she is traumatized by the ordeal, and Werner is seen plotting to get close to Andrew.
- "Blackmail" Is Such an Ugly Word: Coulson wouldn't call what he does to Professor Randolph "threatening"... well, actually, it is.
- Bookcase Passage: The portal machine is in a hidden room accessible only from a hidden passage, the entrance of which is built into a wall.
- The Bus Came Back: This marks Professor Elliot Randolph's first appearance on the show since season 1.
- Cardboard Prison: Discussed and Played With. Randolph's prison is very good for keeping human prisoners, but as Bobbi notes, a superstrong Asgardian like Randolph could easily break out anytime, which he soon demonstrates. See Play-Along Prisoner below for more details.
- Catapult Nightmare: Understandably, after months on a hostile alien world, Simmons has a hard time not waking up violently clutching a handcrafted weapon.
- Chekhov's Gun: The flare fired into the portal. Simmons did see it and it led her to where Fitz would eventually rescue her.
- Continuity Nod:
- Professor Randolph refers to cities falling from the sky and Asgardian tolerance to alcohol. As a former Asgardian stone mason, he was also drawn to the relevant hidden area of the castle in Glouchestershire because of the impeccable stone work.
- Ward brings tacos to his meeting with Werner after Werner passes the first test. This is what Garret did with Ward after Ward passed his first test on the way to becoming a HYDRA agent himself.
- Curb-Stomp Battle: Ward utterly destroys Werner's security team. Only one man even manages to land a hit on him. Said man is promptly shot.
- Distinction Without a Difference: Coulson says he isn't threatening Randolph. Okay, he's threatening Randolph.
- Distracted by the Sexy: Randolph remarks that while he was intrigued by the scriptures in the castle when he came there centuries ago, he was distracted by the dancers, leading Bobbi to roll her eyes.
- Drawing Straws: The opening scene is a mid-19th century research group drawing lots (in this case, colored stones from a sack rather than literal straws) to see who will go into the Monolith to see what's on the other side.
- Earn Your Happy Ending: Despite the Bittersweet Ending for Simmons, Fitz definitely comes out with a clear win. After spending six months on a potentially suicidal search for a way to find Simmons—including crossing the Despair Event Horizon—he finally gets what he wanted: reunited with a still living Jemma.
- Eek, a Mouse!!: When infiltrating a yacht full of bikini-clad girls, the first step is unleashing a sack of rats to disperse the crowd.
- "Eureka!" Moment: Fitz has one when Mack says that they're lucky the room's shape didn't cause the machine to shake apart, as he realizes that the room is designed to generate a subsonic frequency to activate the Monolith. As Fitz explains the process, Daisy has one when she realizes that Fitz has figured out she can open the portal.
- Fanservice Extras: Of both genders in Werner's boat. Shirtless, handsome and muscular guys along with curvy good-looking girls.
- Finishing Each Other's Sentences: Fitz is on the receiving end when Daisy realizes he knows how to open the portal without the machine:Mack: You're saying you've figured out a way to fix the machine?
Fitz: No, I'm saying I figured out that—
Daisy: We don't have to. I can do it. I can open the portal myself. - Go Through Me: Fitz threatens this when Professor Randolph wants the portal destroyed. Randolph points out that he easily could do it literally, but is wary enough of Coulson and Bobbi that he won't try. Plus, he's not so heartless as to deny them a chance to save Simmons.
- Heroism Incentive: In exchange for helping rescue Simmons, Randolph wants Coulson's promise that they will destroy the Monolith after she's saved. It's not that big a deal, as Coulson says that he'll sleep better at night with the Monolith destroyed.
- History Repeats: Last season started with Fitz severely traumatized and recovering. Now it's Jemma.
- Hollywood Science: Carbon dating can only date organic substances (such as wood and bone) back to 50,000 years or so. It cannot date inorganic substances (like silicon dioxide) back to 5 billion years or so. Admittedly, it's Bobbi who uses the term "carbon dating", so perhaps it's her mistake.
- Human Sacrifice: Randolph originally went to the castle in 1853 after hearing rumors about "journeys to the stars". After getting a partygoer drunk enough to admit that only "ritualistic killings" were happening, Randolph dismissed it as "half-baked Satanism" and assumed that the stories were just a fabrication to entice new sacrifices.
- Hypocritical Humor: Coulson claims that he's trying to defy Sigil Spam with their cars, only for Bobbi to point out that he hasn't done so with their jets. Coulson admits he thinks it's cool.
- Idle Rich: Werner von Strucker was coasting through life living on the money his father made as a HYDRA leader until Ward came along.
- I Just Want to Be Normal: May tells her dad she wants to have a normal life, but he points out that she's always carrying a gun or looking over her shoulder expecting the worst.
- It Was with You All Along: Accessing the Monolith could be done with Daisy's powers, though it explodes when she's done.
- Minor Injury Overreaction: One of Werner's bodyguards manages to get a punch in on Ward. Ward's response is to shoot him in the chest. The look on Ward's face, coupled with the fact that he took care of the rest of the guards non-lethally, indicates that the hit just pissed him off.
- Mythology Gag: Doctor Garner tells Daisy he's aware she wants to develop the Caterpillars, her "Secret Warriors".
- The Not Secret: Coulson was fully aware of Fitz's off-the-books missions to track down information about the Monolith, and Bobbi's covering for him while he was away.
- An Offer You Can't Refuse: Coulson threatens to turn Randolph over to ATCU unless he helps them save Simmons.
- Oh, Crap!: Professor Randolph is mildly alarmed that Daisy is an Inhuman, noting it's been centuries since the last time he heard the word.
- Overlord Jr.: We're introduced to Wolfgang von Strucker's son, Werner, and while he first appears to be Idle Rich, Ward is able to peel away his spoiled rich kid shell to reveal the potential HYDRA leader he was born to be.
- Play-Along Prisoner: Professor Randolph could easily escape prison, but he likes how accommodating Norway's prisons are and it's in his best interests not to draw attention when aliens are under such scrutiny these days. When he is convinced to leave, he casually rips the entire cell door off its hinges.
- Primal Fear: Coulson realizes that Randolph is terrified of portals, out of fear that he might be taken back to Asgard by one, and that the only reason he agreed to help was because he wanted to confirm the portal's existence.
- Psychic Nosebleed: Daisy gets a nosebleed when the portal machine is activated, as her power enables her to acutely sense the intense vibrations being generated by it.
- Ragnarök Proofing: Played With. The portal machine (and the hidden door to said portal machine) still works after about a century or so of neglect, but it falls apart a few minutes after being activated.
- Reality Is Unrealistic: Norwegian prisons are much nicer than US prisons. They're so much nicer, in fact, that the prison depicted is actually a lot worse than Norwegian prisons. They're more like dorms you're not allowed to leave. No barred doors or bare concrete blocks.
- Revenge: Hunter leaves the team to get started on the hunt for Ward, and talks May into joining him. Coulson tells Hunter to make sure Ward dies.
- Revenge by Proxy: May's father was injured in a hit and run, and May believes that Ward might've been behind it, hence why May is looking after him. While that goes unconfirmed, having Werner infiltrate Andrew's class is clearly intentional.
- Secret Test of Character: Ward has Werner von Strucker subjected to brutal interrogation in an attempt to force the turning over of the entire von Strucker family fortune. Werner eventually fights back and subdues his interrogator, which Ward reveals is what he'd hoped would happen because it proves that Werner is worthy to be in HYDRA.
- Shout-Out: Bobbi compares the secret Monolith lab they find in the castle to "the bunker under the Louvre." When Randolph asks if she's joking, the smirk she gives him (and possibly the viewers) leaves him wondering whether or not she's being a Troll.Randolph: All right, great. Now I'll have to check.
- Sigil Spam:
- The Hebrew word for "Death", seen last episode, is used in the castle to mark secret passages and other dangerous places. Lampshaded when Coulson admits to having the S.H.I.E.L.D. logo removed from his vehicles because it draws too much attention, only for Bobbi to point out he didn't do it for their jets. Coulson admits he couldn't help himself.
- Ward has continued HYDRA's tendency to do this as well.
- Sink or Swim Mentor: Ward is this to Werner von Strucker, getting him to man up by putting his life in danger.
- Sleep Cute: After Simmons wakes up from a nightmare, she notices Fitz asleep next to her bed. She goes over to lay her head on his lap.
- Social Darwinist: Ward starts spouting such beliefs, feeling that HYDRA fell because most of the prior leadership got where it did because of money rather than on personal merit. He makes it a point of recruiting those that have proven themselves through their own work for the new HYDRA.
- Suddenly Shouting: Fitz when the machine in the castle causes the Monolith to open:Fitz: It's staying open. Light! I need more light! I NEED SOME BLOODY LIGHT!
- Later, after Andrew calls May to inform her that Simmons was rescued, she informs Hunter:Hunter: Fitz! You absolute BEAUTY!
- Later, after Andrew calls May to inform her that Simmons was rescued, she informs Hunter:
- Steampunk: The portal-managing technology in the hidden room in the English castle. It was constructed by aristocrats during a previous era.
- Suspiciously Specific Denial: Randolph has zero intention of seeing any portal except to destroy it. He says the following:Randolph: Why come to me? I'm no interstellar travel expert. I've never even studied gravitational lensing or zero-point energy fields or quantum-harmonic oscillation theory.
Bobbi: And yet you know all of those words you just said. - Take My Hand!: Fitz reaches out to Simmons on the alien world in order to pull her back.
- Try Not to Die: Bobbi tells this to Hunter as he heads off to infiltrate HYDRA. Coulson tells Hunter to make sure Ward does die.
- Understatement: "My mom created a halfway house for Inhumans, and it was not enough."
- Unflinching Faith in the Brakes: Ward demonstrates the resolve of his new recruits by having them line up in a parking garage while he speeds around in a sports car, confident Ward will not hit them.
- Wham Shot: Werner transferring to Andrew's class at the end.
- When She Smiles: When Hunter insists on taking May out for beers to celebrate Fitz rescuing Simmons, he says, "Smile for once in your damn life!" As he says this you can see a very subtle but present smile on May's face, and it is indeed transformative.
- Why Don't You Just Shoot Him?: Averted with Ward as soon as one guy manages to land a punch on him.
- Xanatos Gambit: Ward's torture treatment of Werner von Strucker. If Strucker passes his test, then he gets a new student to mold into a proper HYDRA leader. If Strucker fails, then it would be culling out the weak and he'd be several million dollars richer thanks to the kid's bank passwords.
- You Owe Me: When Randolph's being uncooperative, Coulson reminds the professor that he saved his life.
