Okay so things are starting to heat up in the SHIELD headquarters. There’s a new big bad Inhuman on the loose (who we’ve recently discovered has close ties with Agent May), SHIELD is getting professional competition in the form of the ATCU, Hydra is rising again, and tensions are really beginning to rise between humankind and the “enhanced.” Spoilers ahead. 

Synopsis

“Closure” lights up on a cute romantic dinner between Coulson and Rosalind. It seems that after last episode’s revelation that Hydra was deeply entrenched in the ATCU, Rosalind has been able to regain Coulson’s trust. In fact, Rosalind plans to reenter the ATCU and gather intel for the S.H.I.E.L.D. team. Her plans are cut short when she is assassinated by Ward during her dinner with Coulson.

(And the Coulsalind shippers mourned the early death of their ship.)

Rosalind’s death sends Coulson on a mission to destroy Grant Ward. As he searches for a former weakness in his former S.H.I.E.L.D.-mate, he asks his current team to give all the details they have on their former friend and colleague. It’s a little bit painful to watch; it’s obvious that even though it’s been years since Ward came out as Hydra, they’ve never really come to terms with it.

Once Coulson gets the intel he needs, he takes Hunter and Bobbi on a secret mission to gain the leverage they need against Grant: his brother, Thomas. Almost at the same time, Hydra takes Fitz and Simmons prisoner (totally called that). Malick is looking to open the portal and he needs help from our favourite science duo.

Grant’s brother isn’t too fond of him (methinks it’s because Grant tossed said brother down a well) and agrees to help Coulson and team track down Hydra. He gets Grant on the phone long enough for Bobbi to trace Ward’s location, and when Grant realises his brother has betrayed him, shit really starts to hit the fan.

Malick has Fitz and Simmons separated, and Fitz is unable to listen to Jemma’s screams without begging his captors to spare her. He agrees to open the portal for Hydra, and he is joined by a team, led by Ward, tasked with bringing the Inhuman back through.

It’s not only Hydra that jumps through the portal, however. Just before it closes, Coulson makes it through, landing with a blow to the head.

Where We’re Headed

Next week’s midseason finale promises to bring us some of the biggest shocks of the season. We have Grant and Coulson in the same location, which promises to be explosive, especially after the death of Rosalind. Speaking of Ward, I find it interesting that Grant threatens to slice Fitz open from lip to navel but say he’ll never harm Simmons. Is there something we don’t know about Grant’s connection to Simmons? The only other person he’s even mildly protective of is his brother, so I’m curious: is Grant manipulating Jemma or is there more to their relationship than we know about?

Also up next week: the likely return of Will. Now that Fitz has gone through the portal, will he keep his promise to Jemma and bring Will back to her? Will we learn more about Will’s history? Namely: is Jemma right to trust him?

Start stockpiling your zen. Next week’s episode will likely destroy it.

-The Collectress

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