Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. S1E9 - "Repairs" Recap

In Batsville, Utah, a woman attempts to buy some things at a store and the shopkeeper gives her a hard time, apparently blaming her for someone's death. She was in charge of a lab that blew up, killing the man's friend. The man is attacked by cans flying off shelves and eventually, a whole shelf falls on him. He is able to get out of the store, but then the gasoline begins leaking from the petrol pumps and he is killed in an explosion while the woman stays inside, highly distraught.

May gets dressed in her hotel room and Ward emerges from the bathroom, glistening from his shower. Thank you for that. Ward suggests they take separate routes to work to avoid being caught but May leaves without saying anything. He doesn't seem bothered by it, though. Clearly this relationship is purely physical.

Coulson debriefs the team on their new assignment, which is of course the possible telekinetic we just saw. Her name is Hannah Hutchins. When the team reaches Hannah's place, there is a mob gathering outside. They throw things, shout at her, and suddenly a police car inexplicably drives up, nearly hitting one of the men that had been particularly vicious. May makes the decision to shoot her with a tranquilliser to keep things from escalating further.

FitzSimmons use Fitz's bots to scope out the factory where the accident took place. They then decide they want to pull pranks on Skye, as they were never able to do so at the academy as a result of graduating early. Back on the Bus, Hannah has been placed in the holding room. Coulson and May head in to speak with her. She tells them that she was not angry at the people who were in the mob and that she feels guilty, blaming herself for the accident and the deaths they caused.

When FitzSimmons learn that Skye does not know the meaning behind May's nickname, "The Cavalry," they decide to take that opportunity to prank her by spinning some long tale of her taking out hundreds of armed men all on her own, whilst riding in on a horse, naturally. Fitz also yells at her for touching a hologram, which Simmons high-fives him for. Back in the holding cell, Hannah says that there was a loose bolt that she had had replaced, and checked multiple times, but clearly she must have missed something otherwise the accident would have happened. When Coulson tells her that they believe she has acquired some sort of telekinetic ability, she insists that she isn't the one causing the accidents surrounding her. She believes god is punishing her and that she is being haunted by demons.

Skye wants to talk to Hannah, but Coulson tells her it's too dangerous. But when she demonstrates a strong understanding of Hannah's behaviour and motivations, Coulson appears intrigued by her ability to understand her, though he doesn't change his mind. Also, an object that was apparently glued down in Coulson's office falls over. Strange.

Skye then talks with Ward, who dispels the false story FitzSimmons told her about May. It turns out it was only 20 trained assassins and she had just one pistol and no horse was involved. There was a "gifted individual" who established a cult and May had to save the followers. Also, Ward's knife goes missing. More strangeness happens as Hannah hears banging and pleads for forgiveness and to be left alone.

Simmons learns that the explosion tore open a portal to a hell-like dimension and she is then attacked by  a spectral figure who disappears from the lab before Coulson comes in. He smashes the power which forces May to land the plane. The man is some sort of ghost of Tobias, one of the factory workers, but the team won't make that connection just yet. Also, Fitz has been locked into a supply closet. He manages to get out but finds Ward's missing knife from earlier was used to jam the door shut. He is then reunited with Ward and Skye.

Coulson tries to radio out for help but Tobias smashes that, too. Skye speaks with Hannah from the other side of the door. Hannah asks Skye if she believes in god and Skye says she doesn't. When Hannah says that god is punishing her and that she deserves it, Skye tells her that she doesn't. Skye shares the fact that some nuns tried to scare her and other children with stories like that when she was growing up. She said the only thing that seemed to ring true was that "god is love, that thing that holds us together." She says that god would forgive a mistake and May listens in on the conversation before stepping in to say that she'll stand guard now while Skye will go help Coulson.

Simmons says that she believes the world is an alien one, similar to the portals seen in Thor: The Dark World (oh how we love the crossovers!) FitzSimmons end up locked up (together this time) while Ward fights Tobias, when Tobias isn't too busy disappearing. He manages to knock Ward out and put him in the locked space with FitzSimmons.

Coulson tells Skye the real version of May's "Cavalry" origins. They were the "welcome wagon" for a gifted individual but it went south. She didn't have a gun and neither did the rest of the team. Many were killed by May. A civilian girl and some agents were being held by the followers (cult members) of this gifted individual. She took it upon herself to get them out and she went in and crossed off the enemy force. She didn't say how but the only person she lost in there was herself. Before then, she was quiet and warm, fearless in a different way, getting in trouble, pulling pranks... much like Skye. But after walking out of that building, it was like that part of her was gone. She wouldn't share with Coulson what happened. The two of them are then locked in by Tobias who demands to either be let into the cage or for her to be let out.

Fitz radios May to tell her that Tobias is disappearing and each time he returns, a little less of him seems present. When May learns that he is after Hannah, she decides to lure him away from the Bus and the team. She takes Hannah off the Bus and leads her out into the woods, saying she is going to "fix the problem."

Coulson and Skye manage to make contact with a freshly woken up Ward and FitzSimmons using a communicator. May tells Hannah that she doesn't mean to scare her but just needs to use her as bait to lure this guy out and "away from my people." May tells her she will do whatever she has to. FitzSimmons are able to advise Coulson and Skye on how to blow their way out and they're all able to get free. They're able to piece together the fact that this non-corporeal threat is Tobias Ford. When a previously set up prank involving a mop goes off, leading Simmons to call Fitz childish, Skye begins to piece things together.

Tobias shows up at the barn and May beings to get into one hell of a brawl with him. Skye realises that Tobias had filed complaints when nothing was wrong just to get Hannah's attention. He wanted to spend time with her and in his own messed up way, he is trying to protect Hannah because he "likes" her. FitzSimmons deploy some trackers to find May and Hannah. Hannah begs Tobias to stop fighting and May tells him they believe he's trapped between two worlds. He believes he is being dragged to hell for what he did. He confesses to Hannah that he would loosen a few bolts and then she would visit; "it was the best part of my day." He tells her he was trying to protect her and atone for his sins. She tells him only god can forgive him. May tells him clinging to this life is hell and he is dragging Hannah down with her. May tells him to let go if he truly cares for Hannah. He finally does and then he disappears one last time.

The team arrives right as this is happening and Coulson asks May what she said to him. She replies, "The same words you said to me in Bahrain." Back on the Bus, Skye tells Coulson that May is not a lost cause and that if anyone can bring her around, it's him. Coulson then tells Skye that she knows what makes people tick, as demonstrated by her being a friend to Hannah, wanting to get into May's head, and figuring Tobias out without even trying. He basically tells her that she has great potential with that particular ability.

Skye then heads to the cockpit and asks May if she can keep her company. May doesn't respond, but they sit together and it's clear there's a better understanding between the two characters.

Finally, we see the team gathered around playing Scrabble. Ward is annoyed when Simmons uses her "Britishness" to do well and use an obscure word, "aglet." Fitz comes in with cream on both his hand and face and the team laughs at him. He tries to figure out who did it but none of the people present will take credit for it. In the cockpit, we see May listening in on the conversation and smirk. May's got jokes, people!


Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. airs on Tuesdays on ABC at 8PM.