Agents of SHIELD recap, Season 4, Episode 6, “The Good Samaritan”, Aired November 1, 2016.
I know this episode was called “The Good Samaritan” but it should have been called the “Legend of Robbie Reyes.” This is without a doubt, the best episode of the season. It should also be said that this entire season so far has been pretty amazing. Ghost Rider, the ghosts, the dark vibes and Coulson’s snark are really doing it for us guys and we think we know why.
Since the Ward and the Hydra/Hive stories ended last season, SHIELD has transformed into the best version of itself. We do still wish that they could bring Dalton back in some way because he’s just plain awesome but the story is really thriving without Ward and Hydra’s reign of terror. Those were great seasons too, it’s just that this new dark and gritty version of the show is so, so good.
So here is what we find out in S4, E6, “The Good Samaritan”:
Robbie’s brother is in a wheelchair and and knew that it was an accident involving the 5 Street gang but we didn’t really see how it all went down, until this episode. Gabe finds Robbie taking Uncle Eli’s car out to race and Gabe tags along. As the brothers cruise down the road, they are attacked by the gang. It’s a powerful scene and so well done. You see the panic on Gabe’s face and the sorrow and guilt in Robbie’s eyes just moments before the car next to them opens fire. The car flips and Robbie is ejected. The part with him flying through the air in slow motion was EPIC and so sad.
Gabe is pinned in the flipped car and a “good samaritan” pulls him out and then checks on Robbie. But that’s not really how it went down and that’s not just some good samaritan, it’s Johnny Blaze (one of the previous incarnations of Ghost Rider)! Right before he died, Robbie begged for someone to save his brother and the Devil answered his calls. Johnny Blaze gave Robbie life and the Ghost Rider curse before riding off on his cycle.
Robbie had spent so much time trying to hide his literal demons from Gabe but when he was trapped in an “inescapable” containment unit with Daisy and Gabe, Robbie could not keep the Ghost Rider under wraps. Everyone learned a little something in those moments. Gabe learned the truth about his bro, the new Director learned why you don’t mess with the Devil, and everyone on the jet learned that you can’t cage Ghost Rider. He busted out and it was awesome.
But that’s not all! Remember when we found out that Robbie and Gabe’s accident was a “hit” ordered by an unknown person. Well, turns out it was for Uncle Eli not Robbie and it was ordered by the crazy ghost lady, Lucy’s husband. Why? BECAUSE ELI IS THE BAD GUY! Way to make an already great season even better! This episode was a huge game changer and the revelation will test Robbie’s alliances to his uncle, to SHIELD and to Daisy in the episodes to come, making it the season’s best yet.
Seriously, so good. The episode was top notch but this whole show has been, ever since they have started to move on from the Inhuman story line. It’s still very present because of the Watchdog threat but it’s no longer the focus and neither is the Ghost Rider stuff (although it was in this episode). Ghost Rider and the Watchdog stories are balanced out with the evil book/ghost lady story and the internal troubles of the new S.H.I.E.L.D. and it all just works f*cking beautifully.
Well done Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. team! We think this is the best episode and season yet!
What did you think of the episode? Do you agree that it’s the best of the season? Hit the comments!
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Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. airs Tuesday at 10/9(c) on ABC.
(Image: ABC/Eric McCandless)
