Agents of SHIELD - Face My Enemy

Strictly Come Spying.

The alien writing that has been haunting Agent Coulson since 'Tahiti' appears on the back of a religious painting which miraculously survives a fire in a church. Coulson and May head to a fundraising party to view (and steal) the painting, but they are not the only ones after it.

'Face My Enemy' manages to combine the arc plot with strong character moments for Coulson, May and Fitz (take notes, Doctor Who.) It has some fun with Coulson and May's undercover personae (the normally taciturn May becomes a social dynamo in a glittering dress) and the banter between Mac, Hunter and Triplett, while setting the latter against Fitz's social awkwardness and the former against the issue of Coulson's sanity and May's unwillingness to be her boss's executioner.

The pay off of the episode allows Coulson to be sharp, May to be badass, and Fitz to struggle past his troubles to be amazing again, as well as pulling him into the core team, possibly more than he was in Season 1. Triplett is still a bit edged out in favour of dropping references to Hunt's nightmare ex-wife for the second week running (which I don't need spoilers to spot as more than just a throwaway), but overall the series is dealing with most of my reservations as well as holding onto its trademark sassy swagger. In some ways it seems more comfortable this season; it may be that the loss of the big SHIELD organisation, forcing the team to deal with similar situations as a much greater challenge has allowed the writers to focus on the core drama instead of having to invent reasons not to call in a SWAT team.