Superpowers may seem like a gift to many, as they can be used to protect the innocent, take down the baddies, “privatize world peace,” and heal the sick. “However, for some, the life of a superhero isn’t all that glamorous, seeing that most villains seek to end the existence of their arch-nemesis – and in some comic book timelines, that actually happens.

The timeline for “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” became quite complex throughout its run, covering multiple storylines that dovetailed with each other, featuring some characters who would die only to return, and jumping across space and time on numerous occasions. With that in mind, here’s a breakdown of the major events that became cornerstones of the show, explained in simple terms even a S.H.I.E.L.D. rookie agent could understand.

It is this dynamic, established with a familiar snarky wit, that has allowed the characters to grow increasingly complex. Here is a group who are stuck with each other, but would also die with each other, as they hide out in underground bunkers or their perpetually clocked spy plane. Even in a world where there is always a “solve”, actions have real and lasting consequences, and guilt is a recurrent motivation – exactly the dynamic that Buffy mined so well.

Given the “mind prison” concept, this could have been a far more surreal episode, as seen across many shows which have delivered trippier descents into a character’s mind (even 19 years later, Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s “Restless” remains hard to beat for its artistry). But while “Inescapable” doesn’t push too hard into visual trickery, there are still some well-executed transitions within the surreal mindscape Fitz and Simmons occupy here, especially Fitz climbing after Jemma’s seven-year-old self into her childhood bedroom.

Fortunately, the series has not lost its edge; in fact it feels much tighter, like a season 4 “pod” from the Ghost Rider days that most remember fondly. Roles have shifted and the scope has broadened, but the rebuilding of the SHIELD organization feels like a logical next step in a story that allows this strong ensemble cast to really highlight each character’s evolution.

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