# Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D S02E21 S02E22 - S.O.S. Parts 1 and 2

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s02e21-s02e22-s-o-s-parts-1-and-2/719899>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [May 13, 2015, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s02e21-s02e22-s-o-s-parts-1-and-2/719899 "2015-05-13T00:08:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 5

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**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s02e21-s02e22-s-o-s-parts-1-and-2/719899/81 "2015-05-14T15:30:42Z")

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> [@muldoonthief](#):
>
> So I don’t know if you’re joking or not, but it did appear to be a completely different actor playing Cal after the serum finally took effect. Not Bruce Campbell though.

I’m with you: I wondered why [Tim DeKay](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0215229/) was suddenly playing Cal.

Then, when Cal’s features settled down, I spent some time thinking that Kyle MacLachlan and Tim DeKay could play brothers.

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**Author:** ![Reluctant\_A](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@Reluctant\_A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reluctant_A)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s02e21-s02e22-s-o-s-parts-1-and-2/719899/82 "2015-05-14T16:57:12Z")

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> [@Little\_Nemo](#):
>
> A trope is a trope  
> Don’t mope, don’t mope  
> We’re sure to spot it on the Dope  
> So I just hope  
> That you learn to cope  
> With its use by Joss Whedon

I just want to know why nobody ever cries “waif” when May is whipping somebody’s butt? And she’s smaller than Skye is!

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**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s02e21-s02e22-s-o-s-parts-1-and-2/719899/83 "2015-05-14T17:03:19Z")

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> [@Reluctant\_A](#):
>
> I just want to know why nobody ever cries “waif” when May is whipping somebody’s butt? And she’s smaller than Skye is!

Of course, yes, there’s a little waif-fu going on there, but…'cause \*no-one \*thinks she looks like a innocent little girl. You _expect_ her to be a bad-ass.

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**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s02e21-s02e22-s-o-s-parts-1-and-2/719899/84 "2015-05-14T17:04:23Z")

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> [@Little\_Nemo](#):
>
> A trope is a trope  
> Don’t mope, don’t mope  
> We’re sure to spot it on the Dope  
> So I just hope  
> That you learn to cope  
> With its use by Joss Whedon

Love it!

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**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s02e21-s02e22-s-o-s-parts-1-and-2/719899/85 "2015-05-14T17:30:49Z")

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> [@DrDeth](#):
>
> Of course, yes, there’s a little waif-fu going on there, but…'cause \*no-one \*thinks she looks like a innocent little girl. You _expect_ her to be a bad-ass.

There are two issues being conflated:

- Waif-fu: smaller folks, usually women, taking out much bigger fighters they normally couldn’t IRL. Yes this happens all over comics, Whedon shows, TV and movies in general when it suits the plot.

- How the actors come across: Palicki/Bobbi and Wen/May both present themselves as tough, physical figures, regardless of their size. When Skye is fighting and they are using body doubles, she now looks like a badass fighter. But when she is just walking around, she doesn’t seem to have that in-shape grace that both Palicki and Wen have. Maybe she has a black belt or something in real life, but when they pull back and show her walking with other people, she doesn’t appear to have that athleticism I see in others.

When I notice it, it is a bit distracting, like right after a shot where she is a fighting badass. The switchback to Chloe Bennett from stunt double seems much more jarring. Happened a number of times on Buffy (SMG was no super-athlete, either) but I wrote that off to low budgets…

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**Author:** ![emarkp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3be4f8/32.png) [@emarkp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emarkp)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s02e21-s02e22-s-o-s-parts-1-and-2/719899/86 "2015-05-14T17:39:36Z")

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> [@Reluctant\_A](#):
>
> So, basically, by that criteria, any woman cast in an action scene in Hollywood _but_ Adrianne Palicki is a “waif”?

Pretty much. One thing I enjoyed about Agent Carter is that her fighting style worked more by leverage and cleverness. Much more realistic for an actual human. However, now that Skye is InHuman there’s less of a problem when she directly blocks attacks, etc. I’ve never bought May’s baddassery anyway (thought her fight against 33 was one of the highlights of the season, partially because I could actually believe it).

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**Author:** ![Nauplius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nauplius/32/51_2.png) [@Nauplius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nauplius)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s02e21-s02e22-s-o-s-parts-1-and-2/719899/87 "2015-05-14T18:26:52Z")

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> [@obfusciatrist](#):
>
> Another arm lopped off for the supercut.
> 
> I know they started doing that in Phase 2. I wonder if it’ll end with Ant Man or just be a thing now.

This whole losing a hand thing was an homage to Empire Strikes back which was the second act of the Star Wars trilogy. It should end when phase 2 is done and not become a thing.

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**Author:** ![Albert\_Rose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Albert\_Rose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Albert_Rose)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s02e21-s02e22-s-o-s-parts-1-and-2/719899/88 "2015-05-14T23:49:00Z")

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> [@DrDeth](#):
>
> But just the opposite. I’d like the main team to be Coulson, May, Fitz, Simmons, etc- with no supers and _no one character hogging all the screen time._
> 
> [Snip]
> 
> Look, I know some posters like Skye and want supers- so all I want is for them to have their perfect show. “Skye and her band of Inhumans”.

I like Skye and her waif-fu. I would very much like to see a separate show featuring her and some Marvels, leaving **S.H.I.E.L.D.** to be what you suggest - Coulson, May, Fitz, etc. The non-powered characters are intruiging enough to carry the show.

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**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s02e21-s02e22-s-o-s-parts-1-and-2/719899/89 "2015-05-15T00:02:17Z")

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I would have liked it better if pipe-impalement had seemed less random, i.e. Fitz notices that Gordon fights with a predictable pattern; someone takes a swing at him, Gordon teleports behind that person and counterattacks… Then, realizing this, Fitz deliberately extends the pipe behind him when he sees Gordon disappear. Then a triumphant “Got you!”

Gordon didn’t seem otherwise to have a problem avoiding landing on solid objects.

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**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s02e21-s02e22-s-o-s-parts-1-and-2/719899/90 "2015-05-15T00:06:59Z")

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Would quantum entanglement even allow him to teleport into something? What happened to his force field? Guess it wasn’t really a force field because he could have protected himself even while trapped within the room. It originally sure looked like he could project a force field around himself.

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**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:** [May 15, 2015, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s02e21-s02e22-s-o-s-parts-1-and-2/719899/91 "2015-05-15T00:31:23Z")

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My fan-wank is that the room was too small and too cluttered for the force-field to work. In any case, he appeared too close to Fitz for the field to have saved him.

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**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s02e21-s02e22-s-o-s-parts-1-and-2/719899/92 "2015-05-15T01:09:48Z")

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Also, Fitz had placed his ipads of somethingsomethingQuantumPhysics! around the room specifically to mess with Gordon’s powers.

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**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s02e21-s02e22-s-o-s-parts-1-and-2/719899/93 "2015-05-15T02:57:59Z")

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> [@Albert\_Rose](#):
>
> I like Skye and her waif-fu. I would very much like to see a separate show featuring her and some Marvels, leaving **S.H.I.E.L.D.** to be what you suggest - Coulson, May, Fitz, etc. The non-powered characters are intruiging enough to carry the show.

Thank you!😃

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**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s02e21-s02e22-s-o-s-parts-1-and-2/719899/94 "2015-05-15T02:59:02Z")

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> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#):
>
> I would have liked it better if pipe-impalement had seemed less random, i.e. Fitz notices that Gordon fights with a predictable pattern; someone takes a swing at him, Gordon teleports behind that person and counterattacks… Then, realizing this, Fitz deliberately extends the pipe behind him when he sees Gordon disappear. Then a triumphant “Got you!”
> 
> Gordon didn’t seem otherwise to have a problem avoiding landing on solid objects.

The show is rather careful not to let the Good Guys kill someone on purpose too often. And Fitz isnt a killer.

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**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:** [May 15, 2015, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s02e21-s02e22-s-o-s-parts-1-and-2/719899/95 "2015-05-15T05:26:03Z")

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> [@DrDeth](#):
>
> The show is rather careful not to let the Good Guys kill someone on purpose too often. And Fitz isnt a killer.

I agree. They made the point recently that Fitz chose not to kill Ward, even though he had good reasons to do so. Having him then turn around and intentionally kill Gordon right after that would trivialize his character.

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**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s02e21-s02e22-s-o-s-parts-1-and-2/719899/96 "2015-05-15T06:12:55Z")

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> [@DrDeth](#):
>
> The show is rather careful not to let the Good Guys kill someone on purpose too often. And Fitz isnt a killer.

…I nearly bailed on season 1 because Ward kept killing people. Was relieved to find out he was actually a bad guy!

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**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s02e21-s02e22-s-o-s-parts-1-and-2/719899/97 "2015-05-15T10:05:51Z")

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> [@obfusciatrist](#):
>
> Another arm lopped off for the supercut.
> 
> I know they started doing that in Phase 2. I wonder if it’ll end with Ant Man or just be a thing now.

> [@Nauplius](#):
>
> This whole losing a hand thing was an homage to Empire Strikes back which was the second act of the Star Wars trilogy. It should end when phase 2 is done and not become a thing.

I mentioned this is another Thread and no one seemed to deem it worth commenting on or piggybacking upon:  
It really seems odd to me that _Ant-Man_ is considered Phase 2 when it comes immediately after an Avengers movie. Phase 1 is nice and clear cut: the films that lead up the first Avengers film + the first Avengers film. Then Phase 2 starts with the first film to follow the first Avengers film and the subsequent films that lead up to the second Avengers film …and then one extra film after the second Avengers film. Why wouldn’t _Ant-Man_ be counted as the first film of Phase 3?

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**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\
**Post date:** [May 15, 2015, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s02e21-s02e22-s-o-s-parts-1-and-2/719899/98 "2015-05-15T12:42:20Z")

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The Phases were how Marvel planned the movies, not how they released. _Ant-Man_ was supposed to have released earlier, but had… issues.

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**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:** [May 15, 2015, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s02e21-s02e22-s-o-s-parts-1-and-2/719899/99 "2015-05-15T13:38:08Z")

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Which still won’t change the fact that it will be the Phase 2 movie that stinks. 😉

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**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:** [May 15, 2015, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-s02e21-s02e22-s-o-s-parts-1-and-2/719899/100 "2015-05-15T14:12:52Z")

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It’s not like the Phases are doctrine, just consider it phase 2 and when you buy the DVD to have the whole MCU on a shelf, just stick it before Avengers 2

Unless they reference Ultron, then stick it after and consider it Phase 3

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