Producer: ABC Studios
Writer: Brent Fletcher
Director: Kate Woods
Featuring: Chloe Bennet, Nick Blood, Iaian De Caestecker, Clark Gregg, Elizabeth Henstridge, Luke Michell, Adrianne Palicki, Henry Simmons, Constance Zimmer, Brett Dalton, Powers Boothe, Blair Underwood, Ming Na-Wen
Release Date: USA: OUT NOW! UK: Early 2016 (Channel 4) (Hopefully)

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 3 Episode 9 Closure proves that a Marvel program need not be on Netflix to be great. From start to finish the episode is mesmerising and over too fast. The title refers to ex-S.H.I.E.L.D.-now Hydra agent Grant Ward (Brett Dalton), who desperately wants to hurt and kill Director Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg).

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 3 Episode 9 Closure sets the tone at the start with Coulson and Advanced Threat Containment Unit Director Rosalind Price (Constance Zimmer) sharing a burger. The scene is peaceful and fun, like a roller coaster being pulled to its apex. Price chides Coulson for not knowing what Tinder is. “You know I have a flying car, right?” Coulson says. “Yeah, from the ‘60s,” Price responds.

Ward launches the coaster’s descent in a powerful scene that shocks both Coulson and the audience. Coulson snaps and from that point on the coaster never stops falling and we never catch our breath. Now it’s the S.H.I.E.L.D. director that needs closure by killing Ward.

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 3 Episode 9 ‘Closure’ is a deadly cat-and-mouse game where the advantage slips back and forth between sides. The action is intense and everyone’s emotions are running high.

Rarely does a modern network television approach the quality of its programming rivals like Netflix or HBO. Kudos, therefore, to both Marvel and ABC for raising the bar so high and meeting the new kids on the block head on.

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is like a great roller coaster; you will want to go on this ride again and again.

 

Reviewer: Joe Lovece
Reviews Editor: Steve Hooker