# Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D S01E08: The Well (open spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 20, 2013, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e08-the-well-open-spoilers/674316 "2013-11-20T03:43:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e08-the-well-open-spoilers/674316/61 "2013-11-21T12:23:57Z")
I’m still liking the show and agree that this was the best episode. I didn’t realize until I read this today that I must have fallen asleep a little early. I didn’t see Ward going into the room with May. I’ll have to go watch it again. I’d started to root for Ward and Skye as a couple, so I’m not sure how I feel about that. I know almost nothing about Marvel. I wonder how that affects my enjoyment. I miss a lot of allusions, but I think that might mean I’m pretty flexible when they stray from the script. ---
**Author:** ![Bakhesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@Bakhesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bakhesh)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e08-the-well-open-spoilers/674316/62 "2013-11-21T12:35:30Z")
I think this show has been steadily improving each week recently, but felt this one was a step backwards. Most of the problem was it was a Ward heavy episode, and he has all the charisma of a piece of meat. I’m not really sure where they are going relationship wise. It seemed they had set up a complicated enough Love-quadrangle (Ward likes Simmonds, Simmonds likes Fitz, Fitz likes Skye, Sky likes Ward), but now throwing a Ward/May element into it just feels too soap opera-y, and that’s not what I’m watching this show for. Also, they seem to be milking the “Why is Coulson Alive?” a bit too much. Can we get some kind of resolution on that soon? On the plus side, it was great to see Peter MacNicol, and I quite liked his Asgardian hiding on earth storyline. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e08-the-well-open-spoilers/674316/63 "2013-11-21T13:30:30Z")
[The Berserkers are drawn from actual Norse mythology (and history?).](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berserker) I’m wondering if they’ve shown up or been referenced in Thor comic books. Was there a Marvel version of Berserkers before this episode? ---
**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:** [November 21, 2013, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e08-the-well-open-spoilers/674316/64 "2013-11-21T13:37:20Z")
from the Marvel Wiki: Thor possesses physical powers superior to those of normal Asgardian gods. He has an extended lifespan augmented (although not immortal) by the Golden Apples of Idunn, immunity to conventional diseases, enhanced endurance (Thor’s Asgardian metabolism is far greater than a human), superhuman strength ([lifting 100 tons]), which increases further when he succumbs to “warrior’s madness,” a berserker rage, the mindless battle passion that increases a warriors strength tenfold. By chanting and performing an ancient ritual, Thor can also invoke the\*\* berserker rage\*\* to increase his strength. His skin and bones are several times denser than those of mortals, granting him extreme resistance to injury. …and, yes, others have gone berserk as well. And that’s not even counting the Hulk. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e08-the-well-open-spoilers/674316/65 "2013-11-21T15:07:54Z")
If the bottle was Irish whiskey, then it looks like it was [Redbreast](http://www.google.com/search?safe=active&hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1366&bih=624&q=powers+irish+whiskey&oq=powers+irish&gs_l=img.1.0.0l2j0i5j0i24l7.1279.4164.0.6551.12.10.0.2.2.0.76.689.10.10.0....0...1ac.1.32.img..0.12.700.rmqSNKZwSVw#hl=en&q=redbreast+irish+whiskey&safe=active&tbm=isch&imgdii=_). ---
**Author:** ![FlyingDragonFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c89c15/32.png) [@FlyingDragonFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingDragonFan)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e08-the-well-open-spoilers/674316/66 "2013-11-21T16:45:40Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > If the bottle was Irish whiskey, then it looks like it was [Redbreast](http://www.google.com/search?safe=active&hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1366&bih=624&q=powers+irish+whiskey&oq=powers+irish&gs_l=img.1.0.0l2j0i5j0i24l7.1279.4164.0.6551.12.10.0.2.2.0.76.689.10.10.0....0...1ac.1.32.img..0.12.700.rmqSNKZwSVw#hl=en&q=redbreast+irish+whiskey&safe=active&tbm=isch&imgdii=_). That’s exactly what the bottle looked like. Regarding the overall arc of the season so far, all I can say is, the writers know what they’re doing, and they’re doing it just for me. I realized this last night when thinking about the progress of the Coulson mystery. They clued us in to the fact that there is some sort of mystery in the pilot, with the discussion between Hill and Dr. Book. Then, over the course of the season, they’ve allowed hints of it come out bit by bit from the point of view of Coulson realizing it himself. My first thought was that they could have left out the bit with Hill and the doctor and just let us figure out that there was something going on as Coulson does. Then it occurred to me that the scene in the pilot served to prime the viewer for the mystery, preparing us for there to be something to be discovered. Without that, it would have probably taken the audience longer to realize that something is going on. We would have just been chuckling every time Phil said Tahiti is a magical place. But with the inclusion of the primer scene, by the second time he repeated that exact same phrase, we were ready to say, hey, waitaminit, what’s going on with that? Normally, I would say that I prefer as few spoilers as possible, but this is a smart decision on the part of the writers. I think it really gives a boost into following along with the mystery and trying to figure it out, and increasing the enjoyment of the story arc. I’m not one to usually think about the craft of entertainment, but this is one time where I clued into it and am that much more impressed with this show. ---
**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:** [November 21, 2013, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e08-the-well-open-spoilers/674316/67 "2013-11-21T17:53:40Z")
Thinking about this, was the battle where Randolph came to Earth supposed to be the one we saw in the beginning of the first Thor movie? ---
**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:** [November 21, 2013, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e08-the-well-open-spoilers/674316/68 "2013-11-21T18:33:15Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Thinking about this, was the battle where Randolph came to Earth supposed to be the one we saw in the beginning of the first Thor movie? That’s exactly what I assumed. Frost Giants try to invade Earth, starting in Norway, Odin recruits an army of Asgardians to defend it. Then over the centuries, Thor comes down here on occasion to buzz the locals. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e08-the-well-open-spoilers/674316/69 "2013-11-21T18:37:33Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > Not at all surprised. You don’t think she’s _in love_ with him do you? > A woman’s got needs. Her career takes her from one end of the earth to the next on any given day. There’s no predictability, no stability. Her choice of partners is limited by necessity. He’s physically fit and able and he’s available to answer her call whenever she chooses to call. > > It’s more like, “Yeah, you’ll do.” When Grant walked into her room, my wife said, “Here cums the Cavalry”. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e08-the-well-open-spoilers/674316/70 "2013-11-21T18:48:28Z")
> [@Lightnin](#): > > When Grant walked into her room, my wife said, “Here cums the Cavalry”. Damn, I wish I had thought of that. ---
**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:** [November 21, 2013, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e08-the-well-open-spoilers/674316/71 "2013-11-21T18:54:06Z")
> [@Lightnin](#): > > When Grant walked into her room, my wife said, “Here cums the Cavalry”. Thread winner. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e08-the-well-open-spoilers/674316/72 "2013-11-21T20:37:05Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Thinking about this, was the battle where Randolph came to Earth supposed to be the one we saw in the beginning of the first Thor movie? Muldoonthief said: > [@](#): > > That’s exactly what I assumed. Frost Giants try to invade Earth, starting in Norway, Odin recruits an army of Asgardians to defend it. Same here. It was a nice touch - having a direct call-out to the most recent Thor movie (the clean-up scene) and then the deeper link to the Thor mythology and the first movie being the actual backstory of the plot. I liked it. I also felt very sorry for Asgardian menial laborers. You’d think they’d let them switch jobs every hundred years or so for a bit of variation at least. Damn. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e08-the-well-open-spoilers/674316/73 "2013-11-21T21:16:35Z")
> [@Lasciel](#): > > I also felt very sorry for Asgardian menial laborers. You’d think they’d let them switch jobs every hundred years or so for a bit of variation at least. Damn. I liked his response to “Do you know Thor?” I wish it had been Simmons though, so he could say “Do _you_ know Prince Harry or Prince William?” Because no doubt someone’s asked her that. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e08-the-well-open-spoilers/674316/74 "2013-11-22T01:17:31Z")
> [@Lightnin](#): > > When Grant walked into her room, my wife said, “Here cums the Cavalry”. That night, she was the Mounted Cavalry. ---
**Author:** ![kaltkalt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bb73d2/32.png) [@kaltkalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaltkalt)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e08-the-well-open-spoilers/674316/75 "2013-11-22T06:14:08Z")
I want to like this show, and to some degree I do. But I am absolutely certain it will get cancelled. No second season. It got a whole first season b/c initial ratings were good. But those ratings have dropped off quickly. I’m never wrong about which shows will get cancelled. It’s my biggest talent. This show is dooooomed. ---
**Author:** ![deltasigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e08-the-well-open-spoilers/674316/76 "2013-11-22T07:58:46Z")
> [@kaltkalt](#): > > I want to like this show, and to some degree I do. But I am absolutely certain it will get cancelled. No second season. It got a whole first season b/c initial ratings were good. But those ratings have dropped off quickly. I’m never wrong about which shows will get cancelled. It’s my biggest talent. This show is dooooomed. Here’s what the [LA Times](http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-fi-ct-agents-of-shield-ratings-20131119,0,4566489.story) said, FWIW - > [@](#): > > Despite the ratings slide, ABC has ordered a full season of “S.H.I.E.L.D.” The show is doing well overseas, so it may already be a financial success for Disney. But the numbers probably will have to rise, or at least stabilize, for the network to go forward with a second season. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e08-the-well-open-spoilers/674316/77 "2013-11-22T10:32:33Z")
> [@epbrown01](#): > > Same issue the other direction with MU “muties” - the majority have two human parents, they span all nationalities, creeds, races, and they treat them like another race. More like the tv version of _True Blood_, mutant discrimination should be an allegory for gay, rather than the awkward attempts to make it like black racial discrimination (Mystique refusing to use her “slave name” :rolleyes:). Well in the comics the X-Men has pretty much always been an allegory for racial discrimination. Regarding the episode, for me there is only one Berserker: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/5D-9X3ooFvo/hqdefault.jpg "Clerks - Berserker") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5D-9X3ooFvo) ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e08-the-well-open-spoilers/674316/78 "2013-11-22T11:46:01Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > for me there is only one Berserker: Did he say “making fuck”? (now to click the link to see if I was right!) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e08-the-well-open-spoilers/674316/79 "2013-11-22T11:58:54Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > That night, she was the Mounted Cavalry. But if he’s hung like a horse, then she’s on top. ---
**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:** [November 22, 2013, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e08-the-well-open-spoilers/674316/80 "2013-11-22T14:35:53Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > If the bottle was Irish whiskey, then it looks like it was [Redbreast](http://www.google.com/search?safe=active&hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1366&bih=624&q=powers+irish+whiskey&oq=powers+irish&gs_l=img.1.0.0l2j0i5j0i24l7.1279.4164.0.6551.12.10.0.2.2.0.76.689.10.10.0....0...1ac.1.32.img..0.12.700.rmqSNKZwSVw#hl=en&q=redbreast+irish+whiskey&safe=active&tbm=isch&imgdii=_). Took a look at some freeze frames last night, and it turns out to be “Glencallan 18”, a [Prop Brand Whiskey](http://issprops.com/graphics/products/category/whiskey). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e08-the-well-open-spoilers/674316.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e08-the-well-open-spoilers/674316.md?page=5)