Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 3 episode 12, “The Inside Man,” will be a challenge for the Secret Warriors. The Absorbing Man, Carl ‘Crusher’ Creel, is back and after Phil Coulson. Grant Ward, now Hive, is still hiding out in Hydra’s headquarters, but will finally put his new powers on display. Two scenes released by Marvel show Lincoln going toe-to-toe with Crusher Creel, and Hive taking control of an inhuman. The episode 12 synopsis confirms there is a “unexpected” traitor on team S.H.I.E.L.D, but who is it?
Ever since the midseason finale, we’ve been wondering about the extent of Hive’s powers. It appears Season 3 episode 11, “Bouncing Back,” was mainly a set-up for Tuesday night’s big reveal. From the released scene, it looks like Hive has the ability to take control of other inhuman’s powers. Hydra brings Lucio, an inhuman who can induce paralysis with just a stare, into Hive’s living quarters. Lucio takes off his glasses and immediately subdues the guards. He tries to do the same to Hive, but does not succeed. Instead, part of Hive’s inside parasites break out of his body and inhabit Lucio’s. When Malick brought Lucio to see Hive, he said, “See if you can get through to him.” Apparently, Malick meant this literally. If Hive can control every inhuman’s powers, Hydra’s inhuman army will be ready in no time and S.H.I.E.L.D. will have way too much on their plate. We know Hive is unaffected by inhuman powers, but his abilities may go farther than simply controlling inhumans. Can he take on other inhuman powers and use them himself?
Carl “Crusher” Creel, known as Absorbing Man, first appeared in S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 2. He can take on the form and properties of any material he touches, and as an ex-boxer he’s highly skilled in hand-to-hand combat. Once Phil Coulson spots Creel, he calls in May but she knows she can't fight Creel alone. She asks Lincoln to go back up Coulson. Lincoln immediately blasts him with electricity, but Creel quickly turns into tar, a material Lincoln’s powers cannot penetrate. May comes through and knocks the back of Creel’s head with a metal bar. As soon as he reforms, Lincoln puts him down with an electric beam. Lincoln relentlessly shocks him as May is screaming at him to stop.
In the last episode, S.H.I.E.L.D. came across a speedster they want to join the Secret Warriors, but Yo-Yo Rodriguez, known as Slingshot, isn’t particularly interested. However, it seemed like Mack and Yo-Yo have a budding romance going on, so maybe she’ll be back in a few episodes.
Fitz and Jemma are back on good terms, so there won't be such an awkward vibe among team anymore. Coulson now has a high-tech hand that looks like it's real, and the President has assigned him to work with the new head of the ATCU (Advanced Threat Containment Unit), General Glenn Talbot, to help defeat Hydra. The two don’t particularly get along, but the President assures Coulson he has full control over Talbot, the public face of the new S.H.I.E.L.D.
There’s still no word on the whereabouts of May’s ex-inhuman husband, Dash. Will he learn to control his powers and join the Secret Warriors? His powers could prove to be useful against Hydra’s evil inhuman army. Lash’s abilities allow him to track down inhumans unworthy of their powers.
“The Inside Man” Synopsis:
Coulson and General Talbot are forced to team up and attend a worldwide symposium on Inhumans, where they suspect Malick has an inside man. As the S.H.I.E.L.D. team gets closer to the truth, an unexpected traitor is revealed.
What other inhumans will Daisy find to join the Secret Warriors? Find out March 15 on ABC at 9:00 p.m.
