One Door Closes has very strong sense of déjà vu, between the flashbacks to the day SHIELD fell and the events of the present as the ‘Real’ SHIELD makes its move against Coulson’s team.

The flashbacks mainly revolve around Bobbi, Mack, Gonzales and Hartley (Lucy Lawless reprising her role) on the day SHIELD fell and how they banded together to take back the ship that ‘Real’ SHIELD uses in the present. It goes a long way to make the characters who are positioned as the antagonists more sympathetic. Granted, they’re still shitbags who are hassling our team so it’s not THAT effective but it’s nice to see how they met. I wonder what is on the ship that was deemed dangerous enough for Fury to order Bobbi to sink it and if it will be used in the near future.

Back at The Homestead, tensions are high between Fitz and Simmons and I’m still backing Fitz all the way. Simmons has been out of bloody order ever since she got back from HYDRA, though she‘s clearly grown as an agent when she effortlessly outsmarts Bobbi and incapacitates her. Coulson confronts Mack as Bobbi returns and the shit hits the fan and ‘Real’ SHIELD storms the base, capturing everyone except May. Ming-Na Wen is on top form this episode, wearing both her badass cap as she fights Bobbi and her Mom hat as she warns Skye and stays behind and gets captured so she can look after FitzSimmons. She helps Coulson escape via a secret elevator even he didn’t seem to know about too!

Meanwhile, in the house that Banner built, Skye is struggling with her isolation but soon gets an unexpected visitor in the shape of Gordon. This is the first real, prolonged, interaction we’ve seen from him and he’s quite the emissary of his people. He breaks the ice with humour, stresses the gravity of the situation that Skye finds herself in but doesn’t force the issue, only offers a hand if she requires it. Once the ‘Real’ SHIELD head to The Retreat and in spite of Bobbi’s orders to only use Icers, Agent Tomas “Dickbag” Calderon packs a real piece.

This dickish plan goes awry as he fires on Skye and she focuses her powers into a shockwave that destroys the forest around them and knocks back Bobbi and Calderon, the latter getting skewered with a shard of tree for his troubles. Gordon pops in when Skye calls to him and takes her, presumably, to the Inhumans haven.

Stinger shows Coulson holed up in some seaside bar (is he literally in Tahiti!?) when Hunter rolls up and signs a napkin, finally accepting Coulson’s job offer.

One Door Closes should feel like the darkest chapter for the team since HYDRA but it doesn’t and that feels weird. Maybe ‘Real’ Shield isn’t REALLY a threat or maybe because we have other threats that are far cooler to contend with coming. Either way, it’s a pretty good episode and we’ll see where Skye went and what the fate of the team is in Afterlife.

Coulson and May share the spotlight for most of the episode, with Clark Gregg and Ming-Na Wen obviously having a ton of fun with old-school spy shenanigans. Fun cover stories, dancing, laser grids, the works! They even have cuff-links and sparkly dresses! Coulson and May are having fun but also taking time to talk about Coulson’s worsening condition and how he wants to be killed if he becomes like Garrett. It shows the connection these two share and their close friendship. The usually affable Coulson is dead serious with his wishes and the usually pragmatic May shows concern and compassion for her friend. It’s a nice change of pace.

Ming-Na Wen has lots of butt-kicking to do towards the end of the episode that is simply astonishing to watch. General Talbot swipes the painting from under the team’s noses but offers to let them have a look at it. May goes to check it out and see if the offer is legit but finds the freshly brainwashed Agent 33 and Sunil Bakshi from Hydra, the latter impersonating Talbot thanks to a Photostatic Veil, the digital face swap gadget Black Widow used in The Winter Soldier. May gets knocked out and replaced by 33 with another Veil. Slyness ensues but Coulson catches on and socks 33 in the jaw, just as May breaks free. Thus ensues a three minute long brawl between two Agent Mays, 33 in a slinky dress and the real May in nothing but a lace slip. To quote another Whedon property: “I’ll be in my bunk.”

The fight is very impress though! Between slight CGI work, stunt doubles and the most impressive fight choreography I’ve seen since last season’s finale, it’s an absolute delight to watch. It’s quick, brutal and ends on a fantastic finisher.

Fitz also gets plenty of development. He’s made a new friend but is still struggling with team dynamics but when the Bus is compromised, he collars Hunter to be his hands as they rewire the plane before it explodes thanks to a Hydra virus. Hunter later buys him a beer and Hunter, Mack and Fitz share some bro-bonding time, Fitz opening up about his unrequited feelings for Simmons. It’s a great moment which brings Fitz back into the fold and even show that Hunter can be a good guy when not being insufferable to the others. The newer characters have been doing a great job and I’m glad to see them helping Fitz while the Season 1 guys are busy with their own shit.

Next week sees the introduction of a new character that everyone is excited to see so we’ll see what happends when you put A Hen in the Wolf House.