# Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D S01E19: The Only Light in the Darkness (open spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 23, 2014, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e19-the-only-light-in-the-darkness-open-spoilers/686730 "2014-04-23T02:01:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e19-the-only-light-in-the-darkness-open-spoilers/686730/81 "2014-04-27T03:31:58Z")
Not a single thing about this episode made any sense at all unless you use comic book logic. It was fascinating in a way. The writers obviously said, “the hell with fanwanking - it’s all visuals from here on out.” I don’t know why but the most delightfully idiotic insanity of the hundreds of tiny moments was Ward’s face. He got off the Hub somehow and flew a jet for hours and hours from wherever the hell the Hub might be to the wilderness of Ontario - way more than 500 miles from any point in Pennsylvania, BTW - and left his facial wounds open without even a band-aid so he could be picturesquely patched up in the secret base. ---
**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:** [April 27, 2014, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e19-the-only-light-in-the-darkness-open-spoilers/686730/82 "2014-04-27T04:02:12Z")
> [@randwill](#): > > The whole lie detector thing made no sense. He insisted that everyone take it before they would be allowed to LEAVE the base. It would have made more sense to make everyone take it before they could ENTER the base. Not really. Once Koenig opened the door, the secret of the base was exposed. So he wasn’t going to turn anyone away. The question wasn’t whether he trusted people enough to let them in; it was whether he trusted them enough to let them back out afterwards. I will admit it made no sense that he allowed a cellphone inside the base. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e19-the-only-light-in-the-darkness-open-spoilers/686730/83 "2014-04-27T16:48:26Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Not really. Once Koenig opened the door, the secret of the base was exposed. So he wasn’t going to turn anyone away. The question wasn’t whether he trusted people enough to let them in; it was whether he trusted them enough to let them back out afterwards. > > I will admit it made no sense that he allowed a cellphone inside the base. You let them in, and then you confine them at gunpoint - separately! - until they prove their loyalty. You don’t let them wander around looking at everything and giving them a chance to kill you for a day or two first. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e19-the-only-light-in-the-darkness-open-spoilers/686730/84 "2014-04-27T18:37:34Z")
So is Marvel basically saying Ward is a better agent than Black Widow? They’ve already alluded to it once with Garrett saying he hasn’t seen anyone “with scores like that since Romanov”, and now they show this wicked lie detector that Fury made so tough “even Romonov couldn’t beat it”. So now we have someone who has scores and combat skills arguably better than the apparent best, and now better spy kills than the apparent best. ---
**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:** [April 27, 2014, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e19-the-only-light-in-the-darkness-open-spoilers/686730/85 "2014-04-27T18:39:24Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > You let them in, and then you confine them at gunpoint - separately! - until they prove their loyalty. You don’t let them wander around looking at everything and giving them a chance to kill you for a day or two first. I think it was implied they couldn’t walk around freely. That was the point about the lanyards. As for separating them, it was like a game of Werewolf. Koenig knew the majority of them were loyal - but he didn’t know if all of them were loyal. So the safest way to keep any secret Hydra agents from committing any shenanigans was to keep everyone together in a group. The Hydra sleepers wouldn’t want to break cover in front of the loyalists. ---
**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:** [April 27, 2014, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e19-the-only-light-in-the-darkness-open-spoilers/686730/86 "2014-04-27T18:44:50Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > So is Marvel basically saying Ward is a better agent than Black Widow? > > They’ve already alluded to it once with Garrett saying he hasn’t seen anyone “with scores like that since Romanov”, and now they show this wicked lie detector that Fury made so tough “even Romonov couldn’t beat it”. > > So now we have someone who has scores and combat skills arguably better than the apparent best, and now better spy kills than the apparent best. I don’t think so. They said Ward had the best scores “since Romanov” not “he had the best scores ever”. That pretty much means his scores were lower than Romanov’s. And the script carefully kept it ambiguous about whether or not Romanov had beaten the lie detector. As for Ward’s hand-to-hand combat skills, hasn’t he acknowledged that May is better than him? (Admittedly, we can’t trust everything he’s said.) ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e19-the-only-light-in-the-darkness-open-spoilers/686730/87 "2014-04-27T18:51:18Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I think it was implied they couldn’t walk around freely. That was the point about the lanyards. As for separating them, it was like a game of Werewolf. Koenig knew the majority of them were loyal - but he didn’t know if all of them were loyal. So the safest way to keep any secret Hydra agents from committing any shenanigans was to keep everyone together in a group. The Hydra sleepers wouldn’t want to break cover in front of the loyalists. No, the safest way is to segregate where they can’t do any harm or learn anything of benefit and then interrogate them in a way that a six-year-old wouldn’t find insulting. Or else Fury is a complete idiot, because he designed a lie detector that is known in advance to be susceptible to confusion because of pain and then builds no safeguards about pain into it. ---
**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:** [April 27, 2014, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e19-the-only-light-in-the-darkness-open-spoilers/686730/88 "2014-04-27T18:54:16Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I don’t think so. They said Ward had the best scores “since Romanov” not “he had the best scores ever”. That pretty much means his scores were lower than Romanov’s. And, IIRC, it was only _“the best espionage scores since Romanov”._ So when it comes to, say, pistol marksmanship – that’s probably a whole 'nother thing. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2014, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e19-the-only-light-in-the-darkness-open-spoilers/686730/89 "2014-04-27T18:55:10Z")
If the test results are inconclusive because of pain, then I would consider the results inconclusive until the subject is no longer in pain. Sorry, no lanyard for you. ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e19-the-only-light-in-the-darkness-open-spoilers/686730/90 "2014-04-28T20:25:48Z")
I’m holding out hope that Koenig took action after his lie-detector test session with Ward, somehow communicating the events and his suspicions to Coulson or May. Otherwise, he was enjoyable, but kinda worthless. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e19-the-only-light-in-the-darkness-open-spoilers/686730/91 "2014-04-28T20:39:59Z")
> [@Geek\_Mecha](#): > > I’m holding out hope that Koenig took action after his lie-detector test session with Ward, somehow communicating the events and his suspicions to Coulson or May. Otherwise, he was enjoyable, but kinda worthless. I would’ve paid good money for Koenig to have taken Ward apart in the control room and left him (Ward) a quivering mass of broken bones in the corner. Not because I dislike the heel turn of Ward - but because I would like it for Koenig not to have been a pushover red-shirt. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e19-the-only-light-in-the-darkness-open-spoilers/686730/92 "2014-04-28T20:43:56Z")
I looked up Koenig and he has a long history with Fury. He was active with the Howling Commandos, I believe. Obviously it’s not the exact same character; he wasn’t frozen in ice. It’s a shame they introduced him and killed him right away. He could have survived, that’s for sure. Or maybe he was an easter egg. Maybe Sif will visit Valhalla, kick some ass and bring Koenig and Hill back. 🙂 Anyhoo, Ward is exposed. He stole the Bus and Skye. Can’t explain that away with a few bruises and a sliver up your fingernail. ETA: Agree 100% with **simster**. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e19-the-only-light-in-the-darkness-open-spoilers/686730/93 "2014-04-28T21:35:10Z")
> [@simster](#): > > I would’ve paid good money for Koenig to have taken Ward apart in the control room and left him (Ward) a quivering mass of broken bones in the corner. > > Not because I dislike the heel turn of Ward - but because I would like it for Koenig not to have been a pushover red-shirt. I hear you, but how long has the guy been sitting playing video games in a bunker? That’s bound to take the edge off the best of agents. ---
**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:** [April 28, 2014, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e19-the-only-light-in-the-darkness-open-spoilers/686730/94 "2014-04-28T21:38:17Z")
Uncertain readings…uncertain readings…think he’s HYDRA…pull gun on him…uncertain readings…_slightly_ steadier readings that are still wildly off-norm…here’s your lanyard. Koenig got what he deserved, the silly red shirt. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e19-the-only-light-in-the-darkness-open-spoilers/686730/95 "2014-04-28T21:53:12Z")
He believed in love, dammit! ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e19-the-only-light-in-the-darkness-open-spoilers/686730/96 "2014-04-28T22:04:11Z")
A redshirt is a nobody. It’s disrespectful and lame to bring in an established name from the comics and redshirt them. Agent Joe Blow died. Big deal. ---
**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:** [April 28, 2014, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e19-the-only-light-in-the-darkness-open-spoilers/686730/97 "2014-04-28T22:51:27Z")
This is Marvel. They kill everybody. (Including Wolverine, according to sources. I wonder how long that will last.) ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e19-the-only-light-in-the-darkness-open-spoilers/686730/98 "2014-04-28T22:56:04Z")
Disrespectful? that’s hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![iftheresaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ecae2f/32.png) [@iftheresaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iftheresaway)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2014, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e19-the-only-light-in-the-darkness-open-spoilers/686730/99 "2014-04-29T04:03:14Z")
Ok, I have completely different perspective on Koenig. He’s a high-level agent, he knows that shit has hit the fan everywhere, and he knows that trust is paramount at this point. I think the lie detector had him pretty convinced that award was Hydra – but the Skye lie at the end was plausible enough that he couldn’t just take Ward out without the rest of the team thinking HE was Hydra. Rewatch the scene where he tells Skye to get the satellite data, and the way he talks to Ward about it. He’s clearly goading Ward into revealing himself. I think he was hoping May would save him, but willing to die to keep a Hydra double-agent from having Coulson’s trust. ---
**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:** [April 29, 2014, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e19-the-only-light-in-the-darkness-open-spoilers/686730/100 "2014-04-29T13:02:02Z")
> [@iftheresaway](#): > > Ok, I have completely different perspective on Koenig. He’s a high-level agent, he knows that shit has hit the fan everywhere, and he knows that trust is paramount at this point. I think the lie detector had him pretty convinced that award was Hydra – but the Skye lie at the end was plausible enough that he couldn’t just take Ward out without the rest of the team thinking HE was Hydra. Rewatch the scene where he tells Skye to get the satellite data, and the way he talks to Ward about it. He’s clearly goading Ward into revealing himself. I think he was hoping May would save him, but willing to die to keep a Hydra double-agent from having Coulson’s trust. I completely disagree. Koenig was barely competent, which is why he was put in an out of the way, low probability bunker for months or years. You don’t put your top people in the emergency bunkers. And you don’t cast Patton Oswalt as a top, highly capable SHIELD agent either. Frankly, in my “every TV show exists in the same universe” theory, I’m fairly certain Agent Koenig is actually [the wizard Golgath](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gs2VYL-3RI). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e19-the-only-light-in-the-darkness-open-spoilers/686730.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s01e19-the-only-light-in-the-darkness-open-spoilers/686730.md?page=6)