Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is such a large ensemble (and such a growing one) that bottle episodes are tough, if not impossible. But, perhaps as a consolation prize for spending so much time out of sight on another planet, last night Jemma Simmons (Elizabeth Henstridge) got a whole off-world episode to herself.
It's set on that aforementioned other planet, and even though the alien world's lack of sun starts to get to Simmons, the blue hue that it gives "4,722 Hours" is gorgeous (and an improvement from the very-much-network-TV look of the rest of S.H.I.E.L.D.). And contained within that beauty is a heart-wrenching story about what happened to Simmons as she struggled to stay sane and alive in a place she didn't know. Last night's episode also shed light on why she's been so weird around her BFF/probable-soul-mate Fitz (Iain De Caestecker) since returning. Turns out, there was a NASA space traveler named Will (Dillon Casey) trapped on Simmons' planet—NASA was better at figuring out the portal powers of the black obelisk that swallowed Simmons than S.H.I.E.L.D., apparently—and while she was trapped there, feelings developed. (Dun. Dun. DUN!)
In the final moments, as the action shifted back to Simmons telling Fitz what happened on the blue planet, we see a broken Fitz grappling with losing Simmons while also vowing to rescue Will. It was the best emotional gut-punch Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has landed in ages—and one they ought to deliver more often.
