Josh recaps Season 3 Episode 16 of Agents of SHIELD , titled Paradise Lost , where we get some insight into Gideon Malick’s past! Following the recap, both Josh and Violet provide their reviews of the episode.
- Her thoughts on Agents of SHIELD‘s Season 3, Paradise Lost
- His thoughts on Agents of SHIELD‘s Season 3 Paradise Lost
Agents of SHIELD Recap: Malick Gets a Back Story
This Agents of SHIELD episode, Season 3 Episode 16, titled Paradise Lost, focuses on Malick’s storyline, and we learn a bit more about his past. We first see that Malick lost his father, and he and his brother plan to continue his father’s work.
The two argue though, as Malick’s brother, Nathaniel, wants to visit Whitehall, who is in prison. Gideon says their father didn’t believe in Whitehall’s HYDRA, but they resolve to visit him anyway.
So they visit him, and during their visit, he tries to get the two of them to see his side, rather than their father’s. Then a bomb is dropped on the brothers—Whitehall hints that their father might have cheated his way out of the ceremonies held that sent people through the portal. He even tells them where to look—his copy of the book Paradise Lost.
The two children return home and find that their father used notched stones to cheat his way out of the ceremony. Both children seem upset and vow to uphold the tradition, without the cheating their father did.
Then a ceremony is held, and we see that Gideon has cheated like his father, and Nathaniel is chosen. We also learn that Hive is Gideon’s brother.
Malick in the Present
So in the present, we have Malick returning to his massive mansion where his daughter Stephanie tells him about a “pleasant” surprise. Ward/Hive has come to visit! Malick is clearly not so happy to hear this. Hive tells Malick that he plans to finally reveal his true self.
Meanwhile, Malick has a conversation with his daughter. He tells her that he has seen his own death, (which was last episode when he was touched by Charlie). Stephanie, his daughter, tries to reassure him, but he is convinced Hive is going to kill him at the ceremony that night. Stephanie tells her father to try to remember that Hive needs him, but Gideon is still not convinced.
The ceremony begins that night at Malick’s. Hive makes his entrance, and shows his true visage to the group. Later, Stephanie shows Malick a gift that Hive gave to her. It is a copy of Paradise Lost. Malick tells Stephanie he doesn’t doubt Hive any longer.
Then we see Hive talking with Malick, about how he is afraid to make sacrifices. Stephanie tells Hive to do what he has to do, and he tells Malick that he needs a Malick by his side. He kisses Stephanie, and she is consumed by Hive. Hive tells the distraught Malick that he now understands sacrifice.
Coulson, meanwhile, is concerned about Hive. He feels like Ward still walking around is like being haunted by his killing of Ward. May tries to tell him it was the right decision killing Ward, but Coulson is having a hard time accepting it .
Meanwhile, Daisy, Fitz and Simmons look into Ward/Hive’s victims. They seem to agree that Ward is the result of being possessed and coming back from the portal.
The team decides to investigate some labs that had been emptied out. But Lincoln and Daisy head to meet with an Inhuman who used to live in Afterlife. On the way, Daisy asks Lincoln about this Inhuman, and Lincoln tells her that the Inhuman was ranting about an Inhuman that could come back from the dead, which caused Jiaying to banish him.
When they get to the Inhuman’s area, we find he is a bit angry with Lincoln and all of the Inhumans, and Lincoln says it is a result of him never getting the terrigen mist himself. Daisy tries to approach the Inhuman, but winds up stepping on one of the mines this guy has buried around his property. She is able to use her powers to neutralize it briefly so she can step away from it. She then uses her powers to activate all of the mines, which stuns the Inhuman, knocking him over. Lincoln and Daisy then apprehend the guy.
Lincoln and this Inhuman, James, catch up. Lincoln tells James he is with SHIELD now, and that Jiaying is dead. He also tells James he has a terrigen crystal for him if he can help with finding Hive. James shows them a Kree orb, which Lincoln swipes from James.
On their way out, Lincoln tells Daisy about the accident he had before he got his powers. He had nearly killed his then girlfriend. Daisy then tells Lincoln about the vision she had, where a member of the team will die.
Mack, meanwhile, learns Giyera is at the lab they are investigating, and hatch a plan to capture him. The team gathers what intel they can at the lab, and lure Giyera into a trap, where May is able to take him down.
Aboard the plane, Mack interrogates Giyera, but he is remaining quiet. He eventually makes an escape, and takes control of the plane. May sends a distress signal to Daisy and Lincoln who are on the way back. She gets freaked out, saying that everyone is on that plane that Giyera has taken. Lincoln says that they need to get the Secret Warriors in action.
Agents of SHIELD – Paradise Lost: His Review
This was an interesting episode of Agents of SHIELD. It was very Malick focused, and we learned much more about him, as the coward he is. Sure it is hard to put your life on the line in this weird ceremony, but if you’re signing up to be evil then that’s a part of the consequences!
Hive has a weird sense of retribution though. I am interested to learn more about what exactly he wants. So far he just seems to be trying to control Malick and eat people. What is his end game?
As for Daisy’s vision, I am nervous to see if someone does die. Right now, I really like the team, and I don’t really want to lose anyone. Hopefully it is a death that can be “cheated.”
I was wondering if I am blanking on who the Secret Warriors within the show were. I don’t remember them from what I can recall. I will have to see on tonight’s episode who they are.
Agents of SHIELD – Paradise Lost: Her Review
Oh interesting, we get a Malick backstory. Wasn’t expecting that, but it is nice to know what his background is. However, it doesn’t make me empathetic toward him at all, if that was the goal, especially after the double cross with his brother. Speaking of which, if there was ever anyone who should not have been chosen in that ceremony, it should have been the two brothers. Even if they both were under the impression that the notched rock had been removed, I would still error on the side of not choosing a notched rock from that bag for the rest of my life, just out of paranoia!
We also got to find out what Malick seemed so afraid of at the end of last episode, and that was because the vision he saw when the homeless man, Charles, touched him last episode was of his own death – at the hand of Ward/Hive. Although it was Malick’s daughter that Ward killed, rather than Malick himself, I’m pretty sure that doesn’t let Malick off the hook. As we learned last episode, time is a 4th dimension that cannot be changed. It’s only a matter of time before Malick is killed in the way he saw in his vision. The same goes for the vision that Daisy saw of one of the SHIELD members’ death in space. Well, that is, unless the show decides the break its own rules, or bend them in some way through the use of powers. I think it’s also a possibility that the person in space may not even be a SHIELD member, and they just happen to have taken a jacket with the SHIELD emblem, or that the jacket was somehow left there.
Oh, and was anyone else grossed out when Ward/Hive kissed Malick’s daughter? I mean, since he’s essentially Malick’s brother (well, has his memories at least, along with the memories of everyone else that he’s ever possessed), that means he was making out with his own niece. Ew. Also, I’m a little upset that we didn’t get to see his true face, only the meeting attendees did. Maybe they’re saving it for a big reveal later on?
And finally, we come down to calling in the Secret Warriors. Who do these Secret Warriors consist of? I’m guessing Elena from Colombia, and probably Joey, since they’re both on “reserve,” but who else? Guess we’ll soon find out!
