And so now it’s clear that Agents of SHIELD has been playing the long game, right along with the entire grand tapestry of the MCU and even the Marvel comics division.  This was an episode full of reveals, and while some of them were fairly obvious, others were relatively well concealed.  What is now apparent is that the direction of the series is about to shift dramatically.



A lot of folks made the connection between the Diviner/Obelisk and the Inhumans, given the notion of a hidden city on Earth, related to the Kree, and a lineage of humans with Kree DNA and potential to become something more.  The only doubt was whether or not the MCU would introduce the Inhumans so much earlier than the plans for the film a few years from now, and whether or not they would do so on Agents of SHIELD.  That question has been firmly answered.  Even if the city under Puerto Rico is not Attilan, per se, it’s still a location related to the Inhumans.
That Skye has turned out to be the MCU version of Daisy Johnson (aka Quake) reveals that the series has been something of an adaptation of Secret Warriors, a mini-series of comics from a few years ago.  And that lines up with The Doctor’s portrayal, since Daisy’s father is Calvin Zebo (aka Mister Hyde).  It’s unclear who Raina might turn out to be, since there wasn’t a solid look at her Inhuman form, but her change and Skye/Daisy’s transformation into Quake made it very clear that the Obelisks contain the basis for the Terrigen Mist.  As the promos say, it’s all connected!



With the revelation that there are plenty of other Inhumans and Diviners out there on Earth, it’s pretty clear that the series is going to explore that side of the MCU in the second half of this season.  What’s tantalizing is the possibility that this is how Agents of SHIELD is going to overlap with Avengers: Age of Ultron.  How does one explain characters like Quicksilver and The Scarlet Witch if they can’t introduce mutants to the MCU?  Well, I think we just saw the answer to that question.  In the MCU, mutants have been replaced with Inhumans, which conveniently connects to Guardians of the Galaxy as well.  Clearly this has all been worked out ahead of time.
I continue to preach the message that this justifies the slower start to the series as a whole, because these moments of revelation mean a lot more when you know the characters for who they were before the changes.  Not only that, but with every new connection to the larger MCU, it’s clear that Agents of SHIELD was struggling with coming out of the gate a little earlier than ideal.  On the other hand, if Marvel Studios and their corporate masters are using Agents of SHIELD to flesh out the bigger picture and give context to the films, then live ratings may be moot.  Again, it’s the long game; if Marvel Studios is smart, they will find ways to connect the new Netflix shows in the MCU to Agents of SHIELD, so they can take advantage of the cross-pollination.



I don’t want to forget to give credit where it’s due when it comes to the rest of the ongoing storylines.  Fitz seems more himself than he’s been in a long time, and while it’s clear that the journey isn’t over in his recovery, he may be finding his place.  To that end, having Mac around instead of Tripp might turn out to be the best outcome.  And as satisfying as it was to see Skye drill Ward without a moment’s hesitation, it’s good to know that he will still be out there as a recurring thorn in the team’s side.