Know Your Onions
"Know Your Onions" | |
---|---|
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. episode | |
Episode no. | Season 7 Episode 2 |
Directed by | Eric Laneuville |
Written by | Craig Titley |
Produced by | |
Cinematography by | Kyle Jewell |
Editing by | Dexter Adriano |
Original air date | June 3, 2020 |
Running time | 42 minutes |
Guest appearances | |
| |
"Know Your Onions" is the second episode of the
"Know Your Onions" originally aired on ABC on June 3, 2020, and was watched by 1.50 million viewers. The episode received less positive reviews than the previous one, with critics highlighting several contrivances in the story and the disappointing end to the episode's central dilemma of whether to defeat Hydra or allow S.H.I.E.L.D. to be formed.
Plot
Following the events of "
Once they are within communication range, Johnson tries to tell Shaw to kill Malick to prevent Hydra's rise in the future, but Mack orders him not to. Shaw ultimately spares Malick's life just as a group of Chronicoms attack them. The S.H.I.E.L.D. agents fight them off while Koenig and Enoch find Malick so the former can convince him not to make the delivery. Malick shoots his boss in the arm and leaves with a Hydra agent, securing their future as the Chronicoms are forced to leave due to a closing time window. Due to Zephyr One's time drive, the agents unexpectedly jump through time in order to follow the Chronicoms, leaving Enoch behind. Despite this, a recovering Koenig hires him to become his new bartender in exchange for information on how he, his speakeasy, and his descendants will go on to help S.H.I.E.L.D. in the future.
Production
Development
After the sixth season finale of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. aired in August 2019, showrunners Jed Whedon, Maurissa Tancharoen, and Jeffrey Bell revealed that the seventh season would feature the team trying to save the world from invasion by the Chronicoms. They use time travel to do this, allowing the season to explore the history of S.H.I.E.L.D., beginning in 1930s New York prior to the formation of S.H.I.E.L.D.[3][4] Later that month, one of the season's episodes was revealed to be titled "Know Your Onions" and written by Craig Titley.[5] It was confirmed to be the second episode of the season in May 2020, when Eric Laneuville was revealed to have directed it.[6]
Writing
The episode picks up from the end of the season premiere, which set up a twist where the characters have to save
Titley used an online dictionary that had phrases from the 1920s and 1930s to help with the dialogue in the episode. Regarding the phrase "know your onions", it made Titley laugh, and he thought it "sounded like what was happening in the story".[12]: 8:46 Regarding the erratic nature of Melinda May, Titley said the writers knew she would be hypersensitive to emotions as revealed later in the season but they "didn't want to come out of the gate with that" and make it a process, so she is shown in her "adjustment phase", having a colder personality than usual. This was justified because much of May's interaction was with the Chronicom Enoch, who does not exhibit emotions for her to read.[12]: 16:24
Casting
With the season renewal, main cast members
Guest stars in the episode include
Design
Like the season premiere, "Know Your Onions" again features a Film noir-styled title card to reflect the 1930s setting.[1][2] Costume designer Whitney Galitz called Deke's costume in the episode the most complicated, eventually giving him a brown leather jacket that Galitz and Ward felt was perfect for the character. The jacket was vintage, and Galitz thought it would work for this episode and the previous, unaware that Ward would have stunt sequences in this episode. As such, Galitz reached out to a leather worker to create a replica that Ward could wear during his stunts.[12]: 39:45
Marvel Cinematic Universe tie-ins
The vial of green liquid that Malick is tasked with delivering for Hydra in the episode is revealed to be part of the formula for the super soldier serum created by German scientist
Release
"Know Your Onions" was first aired in the United States on ABC on June 3, 2020.[6]
Reception
Ratings
In the United States the episode received a 0.3 percent share among adults between the ages of 18 and 49, meaning that it was seen by 0.3 percent of all households in that demographic. It was watched by 1.50 million viewers.[20] Both metrics were roughly even with the previous episode's ratings share and viewership performance.[21] Within a week of release, "Know Your Onions" was watch by 2.53 million viewers.[22]
Critical response
Reviewing the episode for The A.V. Club, Alex McLevy gave it a "B−", describing it as "entertaining but somewhat messy". He felt Koenig and Enoch had the best dialogue of the episode, and also felt the scenes Shaw and Mack on the train with Malick were effective. McLevy would have liked the season to explore the 1930s setting more rather than the quick wrap-up in this episode which led to several "large elements falling apart". These included Simmons finding some of the super soldier serum on the Hydra agent's shoe, and Johnson telling Shaw to kill Malick which McLevy felt was out of character for her. On that point, he concluded that "the whole moral dilemma of whether to protect Malick or take him down felt forced and clunky, with one side the obvious right choice."[23] Michael Ahr at Den of Geek gave the episode 3.5 out of 5 stars, also feeling that Johnson's choice was out of character but praising the MCU connections, action sequences, and time travel elements. Ahr felt those points made up for the episode's "moral and psychological conundrums" that made the episode less exciting than others, along with the train scenes which he felt were repetitive.[24] Both McLevy and Ahr noted that the scenes with May and Yo-Yo appeared to be setting up future stories for them and hoped that those would not be dragged out much longer.[23][24]
Writing for
References
- ^ a b Cardona, Ian (May 28, 2020). "Agents of SHIELD's Season 7 Title Card Is the Perfect Throwback". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on May 28, 2020. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
- ^ a b Mack, Mike (June 3, 2020). "TV Recap – "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." Season 7, Episode 2 – "Know Your Onions"". Laughing Place. Archived from the original on June 5, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
- ^ Agard, Chancellor (August 2, 2019). "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. bosses explain what those twists mean for the final season". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on August 3, 2019. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
- ^ Mitovich, Matt Webb (August 2, 2019). "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. EPs Break Down Those Trippy Season-Ending Twists, How Final Season Will Tap Into History". TVLine. Archived from the original on August 3, 2019. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
- ^ "Marvel's Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D." Writers Guild of America West. Archived from the original on August 25, 2019. Retrieved August 25, 2019. Episodes with a credit date in 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f "(#702) "Know Your Onions"". The Futon Critic. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
- ^ Patten, Dominic (May 27, 2020). "'Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.' EPs Talk Tonight's Final Season Debut, More Marvel, Time Travel, Hydra & How It All Ends". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 28, 2020. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
- ^ Radish, Christina (June 3, 2020). "Clark Gregg on 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Final Season and Closing This Chapter of the MCU". Collider. Archived from the original on June 3, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
- ^ Singh, Olivia (May 31, 2020). "Darren Barnet opens up about the 'unorthodox' way he landed his pivotal role on Marvel's 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' and his character's 'interesting arc'". Insider. Archived from the original on July 9, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
- ^ Kile, Meredith B. (June 3, 2020). "'Agents of SHIELD' Star Jeff Ward on Time Travel, Deke & Daisy and the Final Season's Hydra Twist (Exclusive)". Entertainment Tonight. Archived from the original on June 5, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
- ComicBook.com. Archivedfrom the original on June 5, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
- ^ a b c Henstridge, Elizabeth (August 19, 2020). Live with Lil! Agents of SHIELD 702 [Catch Up!]. Retrieved August 21, 2020 – via YouTube.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie; Petski, Denise (November 16, 2018). "'Marvel's Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D' Renewed For Season 7 By ABC". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 16, 2018. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
- ^ Mitovich, Matt Webb (April 14, 2020). "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Gets Final Season Premiere Date". TVLine. Archived from the original on April 14, 2020. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
- ^ a b Coburn, Wesley (June 4, 2020). "Agents of SHIELD season 7, episode 2 review: Know Your Onions". Bam! Smack! Pow!. Archived from the original on July 10, 2020.
- ^ Harjo, Noetta (June 24, 2020). "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Recap (S07E05): A Trout in the Milk". Geek Girl Authority. Archived from the original on July 17, 2020. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
- ^ ComicBook.com. Archivedfrom the original on May 28, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
- ^ "(#701) "The New Deal"". The Futon Critic. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
- ComicBook.com. Archivedfrom the original on June 5, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
- Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the originalon June 4, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- ^ Thorne, Will (June 4, 2020). "TV Ratings: 'Up' and 'Agents of SHIELD' Lead ABC to Wednesday Win". Variety. Archived from the original on June 4, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
- ^ Pucci, Douglas (June 19, 2020). "Live+7 Weekly Ratings: 'Snowpiercer' is Top Scripted Telecast Among Raw Adults 18-49 Gains for Second Consecutive Week". Programming Insider. Archived from the original on June 20, 2020. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
- ^ a b McLevy, Alex (June 3, 2020). "Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. delivers the goods while our heroes deliver bootleg liquor". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on June 4, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
- ^ a b Ahr, Michael (June 3, 2020). "Agents of SHIELD Season 7 Episode 2 Review: Know Your Onions". Den of Geek. Archived from the original on June 5, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
- Syfy Wire. Archivedfrom the original on June 4, 2020. Retrieved July 9, 2020.
- ^ Schick, Michal (June 3, 2020). "'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' season 7, episode 2 review: The uncertainty principle". Hypable. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
External links
- "Know Your Onions" at ABC[dead link]
- "Know Your Onions" at IMDb