Review 522: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Season 6)

At the beginning of the season, moral of is very low in the light of Director Coulson’s departure.

Having the season comprise of only 13 episodes as opposed to the usual 22 means that showrunners, Jed Whedon, Maurissa Tancharoen & Jeffrey Bell are able to craft a more tight and concise storyline than they would be normally allowed to.

Director’s Clark Gregg, Kevin Tancharoen, Jesse Bochco, Lou Diamond Phillips, Garry A. Brown, Jennifer Phang

Of all the actors in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.s well oiled ensemble, none of them stood out more than Clark Gregg in the role of Sarge. Phil Coulson may have retired at the end of Season 5 to spend more time with his remaining limbs, but thankfully showrunners, found a way to keep Gregg on this show in a way that didn’t undermine Coulson’s arc and have him play a completely different character whose a complete polar opposite to Coulson.

By the latter half of the season, Sarge is confronted with some really dark and disturbing revelations as to why he in fact looks like Coulson. His origin tide right back into the shows 100th episode.

Another standout this season was Alphonso “Mack” Mackenzie (Henry Simmons). To see him grow into the role of the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. in the light of Coulson’s departure was joy to watch unfold over the course of the season. Mack knows that he’ll never be the Director Coulson was but that doesn’t stop him
His relationship with Elena “Yo-Yo” Rodriguez (Natalia Cordova-Buckley) continued to be a high point of the season as it has been since Season 4 as once again they show time and time again that they are willing to put their lives on the line for each other and helped to enhance each other’s arcs.

The recurring cast was also strong this season. It was a joy to see Joel Stoffer return as Enoch

In the earlier part of the season, Sarge is accompanied by this motley group of mercenaries who assist him on his campaign. This group includes Snowflake (Brooke Williams), Jaco (Winston James Francis) and Pax (Matt O’Leary). They all compliment each other superbly and each member is given a chance to shine. They seem to have been through a lot in their campaign against Izel and the Shrike, they seem to trust each but at the same time there's an awareness that Sarge puts no one ahead of what he wants.

Sadly the same can’t be said for the seasons ultimate Big Bad Izel (Karolina Wydra). Her motivation was fine, but unfortunately the showrunners did surprisingly little too expand and build on that foundation. It’s clearly stated that she wants to free her kind from her dimension but to what end.
It’s apparent that she a hatred for all living beings and while that’s interesting idea given that she’s from of dimension of non-corporeal beings it’s never developed in a way that makes the kind of sympathy for her we need.
She just never really amounted to a particularly stand out villain.
Wydra does he best with what she’s given and her sultry demeanour and 

The season arguably had more hies than lows 

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - Season 6 may not reach the spectacular heights of previous seasons, hit a few speed bumps and lost a bit of momentum towards its finale but it was still a wild ride nonetheless, 4/5.

The Anonymous Critic.