Check out Josh’s recap of Season 4 Episode 12 of Agents of SHIELD, titled Hot Potato Soup, which has the Agent Koenigs back in action, helping to protect the Darkhold! Also, check out our thoughts on the episode!
- His thoughts on Hot Potato Soup, Episode 412 of Agents of SHIELD
- Her thoughts on Agents of SHIELD, Season 4 Episode 12: Hot Potato Soup
On this episode of Agents of SHIELD, an old SHIELD friend/agent pops up. Or maybe I should say friends–Agent Koenig shows up. Both Billy and Sam are spouting various 80s movie lines while moving around on their motorized Segway things. But their movie references are cut short, when one of the Koenigs is grabbed by some miscreants. The other Koenig calls up Coulson informing him of the Koenig-napping.
We find out that the reason for the Koenig-napping is that Radcliffe thinks that this Koenig, which turns out to be Billy, knows where the Darkhold is. Senator Nadeer decided to use some of her Watchdog agents along with a Russian friend to capture the Koenig and get him to talk. Koenig informs his abductors that he is strong-willed and won’t give up the information, no matter what happens. We see that Radcliffe is feigning being captured as well, probably hoping to get Billy to tell him where the Darkhold is. Koenig admits to Radcliffe that he probably won’t be able to withstand the torture, or whatever is to come, though.
The angry Russian mentioned earlier comes in the room, who seems to think that he is the “Superior Man,” referring to how hard he has worked to become who he is now. He uses Vodka as an analogy to describe how the old way of drinking it–without any added flavor and just using an onion to enhance the flavor–as the superior way to drink vodka. He then segues into telling Koenig that he will get the information he needs, “piece by piece” if he has to. The Russian gets pretty amped up, breaking his vial of vodka, and is about to take out Koenig’s eye when Radcliffe breaks his cover, and tells the Russian that he doesn’t want anyone to get hurt, so he will use other means to get the information.
As for the rest of SHIELD, Fitz has been working on figuring out what Radcliffe’s plans are, where Koenig is, and what this Robo-Cliffe knows about Radcliffe. This Radcliffe isn’t giving any information to Fitz though, and Mack thinks some brute force might be the way to go. The coding in Radcliffe so far has proved too much for Fitz to unscramble, Robo-Cliffe is having some fun mocking Fitz because of it, going so far to say that Radcliffe knew Fitz’s father. This seems to really mess with Fitz, as apparently Fitz’s father was not a good guy, and that has really stuck with Fitz his whole life. Fitz gets so riled up, he has to shut off Robo-cliffe.
We learn a bit about Fitz’s childhood, as Simmons and Mack talk about what is going on with Fitz. Simmons explains that Fitz’s father was a big downer on Fitz, and then was out of the picture when Fitz was 10. Simmons and Fitz then have a talk, and Simmons tries to calm Fitz down. Simmons says a line, “you are more than your programming” which makes Fitz have an epiphany as to how he can solve his problem. Fitz heads back to Robo-cliffe, right before Mack is about to destroy it, and Fitz tells him to stop. Fitz digs into Robo-Cliffe, and realizes something–this robot has its own functional brain. Then Robo-Cliffe makes a reference to “brains” meaning more than one, and it dawns on Simmons–May is another LMD.
Meanwhile, Sam has been picked up by SHIELD, and drools over Daisy, seemingly enthralled that she is Quake. Daisy tries to explain that they already knew each other before she was Quake, and is the same person, but that doesn’t seem to make Koenig drool any less. But doing her computer hackery all the while, she finds some information on the men who kidnapped Billy.
But back to the point of this episode. Radcliffe has been using his technology to search Billy’s head for the location of the Darkhold, but hasn’t found any information, other than Billy seemingly not knowing where it is. This is explained by Sam to Coulson–two of them had a switcheroo with the Darkhold–Billy gave it to Sam, who then gave it to LT, another Koenig. So, Coulson and the team decide to find this LT.
So, Coulson, May and Daisy head to a stand-up comedy place, where they are greeted by another Koenig. Not LT, but Thurston, who seems to be a big conspiracy theorist. LT then comes and shuts down Thurston’s rants in a forceful way. Oh yeah, LT is a Koenig girl, rather than boy. Coulson and LT have a chat about where the Darkhold is, and it turns out that the Koenig’s “Operation: Hot Potato” put the Darkhold back in Billy’s hand last, and that Billy likely put it into a SHIELD facility known as the Labyrinth. So the Koenigs and SHIELD head to this labyrinth to try to get the Darkhold before Radcliffe can.
Back to the submarine that Koenig is being held on, Radcliffe also came to the conclusion that the Darkhold is in the Labyrinth, but the Russian isn’t convinced and thinks torture should be done to verify the information is correct. Radcliffe has AIDA step into help, and the Russian at first is disgusted by the robot, but then seems impressed when Radcliffe explains he made the robot with his own hands.
Coulson and LMD May wind up at the Labyrinth, where they have some romantic vibes going off, but LT returns with the Darkhold. Coulson hasn’t been warned about May yet, and LT hands the Darkhold to May. May then pulls a gun on Coulson, and Coulson is flabbergasted. Daisy shows up though, and takes May out with her abilities, having learned what May really is. The Russians show up with Billy as a hostage, and want to trade him for the Darkhold. Coulson seems to agree, but just as the Darkhold is passed to the Russian, Quake uses her ability to push it back away. A fight ensues, but Quake is taken out by a stun baton for a while, so things aren’t going well.
Billy managed to get the Darkhold in hand, but finds LMD May, and gives the book to her for safe keeping. Unfortunately this puts the Darkhold in Racliffe’s hands, and Radcliffe takes off. LMD May asks to come along, but Radcliffe cold-heartedly refuses.
Back at base, the Robo-Cliffe has been destroyed, and the May one has been figuratively “put on ice” given they don’t have the real Agent May.
Meanwhile, the Russian decides to tell Radcliffe what he wants–and that is to take down Coulson, since he seems to be at the center of every supernatural event that has been going on since The Avengers basically.
His Thoughts on Agents of SHIELD, Season 4 Episode 12: Hot Potato Soup
Well finally, team SHIELD figured out that May was an LMD. I was hoping it would have been in a more interesting way. After all, how did May keep her robotic injury a secret? Did she never wear a t-shirt, or tank top the entire time she was broken? It seems like it should have been noticed by someone.
It was nice to see the Koenigs again. Patton Oswald is a pretty funny guy, so I enjoy seeing his comical character(s) on the show.
Seeing a bit of Fitz’s backstory was pretty interesting as well. I am curious that with the show opening up the story about his father, if the father will be making an appearance at some point. It seems to me like it would, as it seems something strange to bring up without actually getting some firsthand look at the person being reference.
Coulson probably feels pretty heart-broken over the betrayal of LMD May. I am sure he understands that this was a machine, but at the same time, it has to be tough seeing her face flirting with him, and being his friend, and then suddenly pull a gun on him, and threaten to shoot him to try to get the Darkhold back. One crazy theory I have about this episode that could be interesting is that if the real May was killed, and this LMD May was reprogrammed to take May’s place on the team. I don’t think that will play out here, but it is one way it could.
Another way I could see this play out is LMD May is reprogrammed to help the team, and then does a self-sacrificing thing to save the team, thus redeeming herself for Coulson. I see this being the more likely situation, as I think the show is going to want to continue the “will they/won’t they” bit with May and Coulson. Unless of course, Ming-Na Wen is ready to part ways with the show, and both the real May dies, then LMD May has to make a sacrifice as well and there are no Mays left! Dun, dun dun!
Anyway, we will see what Radcliffe is up to with the Darkhold next episode. Coulson is going to have to figure out something fast, as a lot of damage could be done quickly with the Darkhold it seems.
Her Thoughts on Agents of SHIELD, Season 4 Episode 12: Hot Potato Soup
I knew something was going to happen between Coulson and LMD May before Coulson found out that she was an LMD, even though I was hoping it wouldn’t happen, but I’m pretty sure we could all see things heading that way. At least it was only a brief kiss and nothing more. But that is still a devastating blow. The real May would have wanted to be there for her kiss with Coulson, and Coulson probably isn’t sure about his feelings anymore, since it’s been an LMD May for a good bit of time. On the other hand, they have known each other for awhile, but I feel like this could be a setback to Philinda. Will Coulson reveal the kiss to the real May? How will that go? And when will we get the real May back anyway. Hopefully soon. I like Agents of SHIELD so much more when May is around.
The other highlight of the episode was the return of Patton Oswald! Always a pleasure to see him on the show, especially with all this various personalities.
I’m enjoying how Agents of SHIELD is a continuing story that keeps me interested from week to week. I’ll definitely keep tuning in, because I want to know what happens next!
Scenes from Agents of SHIELD, Season 4 Episode 13: BOOM
Preview of Season 4 Episode 13 of Agents of SHIELD
