As opposed to The Flash this week, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. remains on form with an emotionally powerful episode with action, drama and emotional investment.

In the fallout of escaping the Framework, we see most of the cast in some form of emotional turmoil or another. Except Coulson and May, who are half-flirting, half-catching up on events while fighting Robo-Russians. Because Iain De Caestecker and Mallory Jansen can carry the traumatic emotions no problem. We also see Yo-Yo’s reaction to Mack staying in the Framework and she’s PISSED. So much so that the fiery latina fucks herself by diving into the Framework and awaking strapped to a gurney in a fiery room. Good job!

But yeah, the main focus of the episode is with Fitz and Ophelia/AIDA because they’re both fucked up! Fitz is struggling with dealing with all the bad stuff he did in the Framework as well as Ophelia being a super-creeper who can’t control her emotions and it’s just not his day when Simmons nails him with an Icer. Poor sod can’t catch a break but you feel for him every step of the way and that’s a testament to good writing and a good actor.

Ophelia/AIDA is also killing it; figuratively and literally. From playing an emotionless Life Model Decoy for most of the season, we get to see Mallory Jansen practically explode with emotion, running from delightfully happy, frightened beyond logic, a pretty cool Big-Damn-Hero moment and then seething with rage. It’s a fantastic showcase for her acting ability and for the freshly Inhuman Ophelia. She showcases teleportation, lightning generation and healing so I have to wonder what other tricks she has up her sleeves heading into next week’s finale.

With an enemy that powerful, as well as a possible army of Robo-Russians, the Team is on the backfoot with little to no back-up but miracles come from the most unexpected places and, within the demolished SHIELD base, the Darkhold portal ignites and Ghost Rider returns. Fuck. Yes.

Come back next week for what promises to be an explosive finale as magic, technology and superpowers collide in World’s End!

I was all ready to write this off as kind of a filler episode but I genuinely enjoyed BOOM, mostly because of John Pyper-Ferguson, Mallory Jansen and Jason O’Mara.

Jeffrey Mace has gone from powerhouse to house cat and this episode really plays with that as he’s blocked at every avenue to be more of a player in SHIELD. Jason plays Mace as likeable at the best of times but playing him as a kicked puppy makes you really feel for him and he gets his shot to be the hero… Only to be captured by The Superior. Should make for an interesting conversation in the next episode.

Speaking of interesting, we meet AIDA’s inspiration; Agnes Kitsworth. Mallory Jansen gets to unclench and use her natural Aussie accent for a change. It’s subtle but distinct enough from AIDA’s monotone non-descript accent that makes Agnes feel unique. Her backstory is tragic and she doesn’t last the episode but it was cool to see Mallory emote for a change (like when Brent Spiner got to emote as Data on TNG).

We also see Senator Nadeer bow out after a cunning(?) plan by the Russians to see if she’s Inhuman which results in Head Watchdog, Terrance Shockley (I think this is the first time we’ve heard his name, right?), becoming an Inhuman bomb. Kind of reminds me of Nitro in a way, which is ironic since Nadeer’s office is within the Stamford Wing, thus alluding to the comic book Civil War. John Pyper-Ferguson gets to do something other than glower in the background. Hell, I think he’s pretty cool when he’s getting used to his powers.

We finish the episode as Agnes dies within Radcliffe’s new ‘Framework’ world as May is visibly distressed. Is she adapting to the new world already? I guess we’ll have to find out next time!

BOOM is a solid and entertaining episode that kept good pace and didn’t stick with one plot for too long, giving a lot of the supporting cast room to breath. Next week we go on a mission to rescue The Man Behind the Shield.