# Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D S01E05: Girl in the Flower Dress **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 23, 2013, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e05-girl-in-the-flower-dress/671994 "2013-10-23T02:02:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e05-girl-in-the-flower-dress/671994/21 "2013-10-24T02:10:52Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > Where did the name “centipede” come from? Did they mention it in the pilot episode? Yeah, not!Luke Cage’s powers came from an implant on his arm that was shaped like a centipede. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e05-girl-in-the-flower-dress/671994/22 "2013-10-24T02:32:37Z")
> [@MaxTheVool](#): > > Where did the name “centipede” come from? Did they mention it in the pilot episode? And was the bit at the end with the guy in prison a call-out to some obvious Marvel character? The guy in the prison may be old-time SHIELD foe The Fixer, who has a mental-powered ally named Mentallo. Boy, that Stan Lee sure could name 'em. Or it could be characters created for the show, since Luke Cage wasn’t Luke Cage and Sunfire wasn’t Sunfire. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e05-girl-in-the-flower-dress/671994/23 "2013-10-24T02:40:47Z")
I wouldn’t assume a guy named The Clairavoyant necessarily has psychic powers, any more than I’d assume Mai knows how to ride a horse, just because people call her The Cavalry. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e05-girl-in-the-flower-dress/671994/24 "2013-10-24T03:37:35Z")
I think revealing Skye’s secret, and exposing her dodgy behaviour in a logical and realistic way, instead of artificially extending it for the sake of “the rules of TV story arcs,” is what makes the show distinctive, and is probably a very Whedonesque thing to do (I don’t watch enough Whedon stuff to know). ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e05-girl-in-the-flower-dress/671994/25 "2013-10-24T03:50:13Z")
> [@pricciar](#): > > Finally, we’ve made some headway with a character! Skye is looking for something other than a noble quest for data. The search for her parents is bound to be something that crosses over the entire run of the show, or at the very least this season. I suspect it will lead to painting SHIELD as not entirely a force for good (sections of SHIELD not under Fury’s direct control, I imagine). SHIELD’s good name has already been thrown into question this episode in their treatment of Scorch, and the fact that they keep an Index of other super powered beings they try to control. Heh. People are only getting this now? I saw this as a major theme in the first episode. While I think SHIELD is intended to be worthy of respect in this series, it’s also clear that many of the villains have reasonable motivations on their own - and their methods are effectively mirrors of SHIELD. In ever single episode, SHIELD is shown as using the same kinds of tools (be it deceit, authority, electronic intrusion, or physical violence) as their enemies. In the end, it’s not at all clear that SHIELD is necessarily doing more good than harm. If Coulson’s team has a point, it seems to be _saving the world from SHIELD itself_. It’s been very clear for a while now that SHIELD has a tendency of assumer it has a morality license. So it lies, cheats and steals while treating everyone like dicks… and then is surprised when people retaliate. Coulson seems to spend half his time cleaning up after SHIELD. Which might be Fury’s intention behind-the-scenes: he pretty clearly doesn’t like bullshit and draws his line in the sand at the exact point of saving the world, and no farther. > [@Grumman](#): > > Extremis seems to cause paranoia. This is not a good trait in a drug that also causes flamethrower hands. It was somewhat unclear as to whether or not the Extremis/Gamma/SuperSoldier/CrazyPants serum was what they actually gave him, or whether they used a really small dose or a limited version to test his powers out without blowing him up. The evil BadGuys did confirm several things this episode: they may be using Rising Tide, but definitely a separate group. Second, they aren’t impossibly powerful. They’ve got some money and ruthlessness, but their methods so far are decidedly small-potatoes by Marvel standards. Also, I liked Skye’s boytoy a heckuva lot more than her. It was pretty clear he knew, or suspected at some point, that he might be doing something wrong, but that he gave into a very human temptation to do this one tiny insignificant thing because he wanted another very good thing. (Namely, tapping that like a Mountain for Lightning Bolt). All his hopes, dreams and ideals were on one side. And SHIELD was on the other. ---
**Author:** ![magnusblitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@magnusblitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magnusblitz)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e05-girl-in-the-flower-dress/671994/26 "2013-10-24T05:37:57Z")
I don’t think he was intended to be a Sunfire ripoff. The only thing they have in common are male, asian, and fire powers (which are already pretty genetic). He didn’t show the ability to fly, Japanese isn’t Chinese, etc. As noted in the other thread, there’s also a (very minor) 616 character who’s Asian (last name “Ng”) named Scorch, so… I was a bit surprised they just offed him so unceremoniously. I mean, not that he didn’t deserve it… but just very interesting compared to, say, Man of Steel. I’m glad the “you’re a traitor!” stuff in the previews wasn’t a Red Herring. I guess Skye gets a pass since she’s searching for her parents (and makes me wonder if Coulson has an ulterior motive in recruiting her) but I still don’t really like her. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e05-girl-in-the-flower-dress/671994/27 "2013-10-24T05:41:57Z")
> [@magnusblitz](#): > > (and makes me wonder if Coulson has an ulterior motive in recruiting her) but I still don’t really like her. Maybe Coulson had some sort of vision… ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e05-girl-in-the-flower-dress/671994/28 "2013-10-24T06:12:17Z")
One aspect of this it is could raise their respect for Skye’s ability. Up to now, they all thought they had caught Skye and forced her to join Shield. Now they have to realize Skye deliberately set up her own capture as a means of infiltrating Shield. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e05-girl-in-the-flower-dress/671994/29 "2013-10-24T07:20:30Z")
I’m out. I’m done with this show until I hear some amazing buzz online about a plot point or something (likely late in the season if at all). Maybe they’ll retool it if the ratings plummet. This show is just way too hokey for me. I haven’t watched fluff like this since MacGyver and A-Team filled afternoons growing up in the 80s. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e05-girl-in-the-flower-dress/671994/30 "2013-10-24T08:36:04Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > I’m out. I’m done with this show until I hear some amazing buzz online about a plot point or something (likely late in the season if at all). Maybe they’ll retool it if the ratings plummet. > > This show is just way too hokey for me. I haven’t watched fluff like this since MacGyver and A-Team filled afternoons growing up in the 80s. I’m still giving it a chance but the show definitely needs to grow a beard pretty soon. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e05-girl-in-the-flower-dress/671994/31 "2013-10-24T12:14:59Z")
Is Scorch a recurring Marvel character? And who was the guy in prison that Flower-Dress-Girl was talking to? ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e05-girl-in-the-flower-dress/671994/32 "2013-10-24T12:25:22Z")
> [@pricciar](#): > > - What adult plays battleship anymore? And calls it a wargame, no less? Someone needs to teach Ward ASL or at least Warhammer. > [@](#): > > And, who didn’t see them playing a game coming with the super serious words that started that scene off? I feel like that exact scene with a different game has been in another Whedon show. Maybe all of them. > [@](#): > > - Reyna is awesome. The best bad guy yet. “Beginning to think you’re bad luck.” I think that actress did an incredibly great job this episode. She really kicked it up a notch as the episode wore on. Yeah, she started out kinda meh, but I agree, she seemed to get better as the episode wore on. > [@](#): > > - “How long is this going to take?” “Done” Perfection. It’s scenes like that one that give me hope for Chemistry between Skye and Ward. (Dramatic/Comedic Chemistry, not Romantic Chemistry, though that’s gotta be headed our way eventually, I’d imagine.) Overall… eh… Decent, but very predictable episode. Glad we’re getting to the root of the Skye mystery, and setting up some decent recurring bad guys, I hope. I like the pace of the revelations, and have hope that it won’t take 7 seasons to find out the answers to all the mysteries. Although, I think it’s maybe time for just one episode without mention of/hints about Coulson’s resurrection. (“I used to drink coffee, but then I was impaled by an Asgardian… I used to put my pants on left leg first, but then I died for 8 minutes…”) So… in two weeks is episode 6. Is it time for the (spoiler for another Whedon show)This show’s “Man on the Street”? That would be nice. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e05-girl-in-the-flower-dress/671994/33 "2013-10-24T14:20:06Z")
> [@Albert\_Rose](#): > > Wild-ass theory: Skye’s parents are Richard and Mary Parker, and she is Peter’s sister. I’m sure there are plenty of legal issues with that, so maybe someone can come up with a better WAG for her parents. Coulson and one of his international spy ladies? Roger Ebert’s [Law of Economy of Characters](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=361247) suggests that Skye’s parents have already been introduced, or will be later in some unrelated role. Except the Law of Economy of Characters is more about a movie where a story has to be told in 2 hours. You don’t have time or opportunity to develop characters like you could in a long running series. The story of Skye’s parents could conceivably be slowly developed into a story arc set in the 3rd season or something along those lines. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e05-girl-in-the-flower-dress/671994/34 "2013-10-24T14:42:39Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I’m still giving it a chance but the show definitely needs to grow a beard pretty soon. Well, they killed a guy. More than the A-Team ever did. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e05-girl-in-the-flower-dress/671994/35 "2013-10-24T17:00:51Z")
Why did the hot scientist have to die.:mad: They finally show some skin and as payoff, they pop hot scientist lady? ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e05-girl-in-the-flower-dress/671994/36 "2013-10-24T17:35:41Z")
> [@gonzoron](#): > > And calls it a wargame, no less? I thought he called it a board game, but I may have heard it wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e05-girl-in-the-flower-dress/671994/37 "2013-10-24T17:43:13Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Why did the hot scientist have to die.:mad: > > They finally show some skin and as payoff, they pop hot scientist lady? She had to die to show that the new female badass is so badass she not only doesn’t care about the test subjects, but her co-workers as well. It’s a new level in self-absorbedness that shows us there is no one nowhere who can trust her. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e05-girl-in-the-flower-dress/671994/38 "2013-10-24T17:50:49Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I thought he called it a board game, but I may have heard it wrong. That’s what I heard, too. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e05-girl-in-the-flower-dress/671994/39 "2013-10-24T18:32:41Z")
He said war game. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2013, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e05-girl-in-the-flower-dress/671994/40 "2013-10-24T18:36:13Z")
Just checked the version on the abc website - sounds like board games, and the close caption said “board games”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e05-girl-in-the-flower-dress/671994.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e05-girl-in-the-flower-dress/671994.md?page=3)