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"The only thing you gave us that didn't pan out was that word. You said he mentioned 'absolution.' Any idea what he meant?"
"He thinks he's the savior."
Phil Coulson and Daisy Johnson

Absolution is the twenty-first episode of the third season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the fourth episode of the Fallen Agent pod.

Synopsis[]

It's a showdown a season in the making as S.H.I.E.L.D. takes on Hive, and when his master plan is finally revealed, the team must spring into action. Who will live and who will die?

Plot[]

Absolution Team Shot

Daisy Johnson awakes from a disturbing dream where she and Phil Coulson are trapped in a Containment Module on another planet, desperately hoping to escape.

Jemma Simmons notices that Johnson has awakened and approaches her Containment Module, hoping that Johnson has new information that she can divulge about Hive and his plans. Glenn Talbot attempts to get the necessary kill codes to stop the missile's launch sequence through Andaz, but Andaz believes in proper protocol; Leo Fitz creates a green screen background to impersonate the General so that Walter Thomas releases the codes to Coulson who approaches him from the S.H.I.E.L.D. SUV with the proper ATCU credentials.

Meanwhile, R. Giyera assures Hive that if a S.H.I.E.L.D. aircraft approach their location, even cloaked, it will be detected. However, Melinda May proves him wrong by using the Quinjet as a submarine. Aboard the Quinjet also are Alphonso Mackenzie, Lincoln Campbell, and Yo-Yo Rodriguez; all with a solemn mood, such that Campbell gives Mackenzie the kill-switch to their Nanothermite Vests if the Inhumans lose control of themselves. Infiltrating Hive's location, May and Campbell electronically patch themselves into Hive's computers, and, as Coulson reads the kill codes to Fitz, with only seconds to spare, stop the missile's launch. Hive swears to show S.H.I.E.L.D. his rage as he commands Holden Radcliffe to take two Primitives with him to reset the launch.

Rodriguez and Mackenzie grow closer as she tells him to hurry with his work; Campbell and May bond over the fact that their lovers were affected by Hive. Everyone knows that Hive seeks them for thwarting his plans.

In the Playground, Coulson stares at the Theta Brain-Wave Frequency Machine as he wonders how he can get Johnson to remember what "Absolution" means. He gives her an update on their progress, but Johnson has a harder view on herself than Coulson does, citing that she, like Grant Ward, is nothing more than a brainwashed criminal. Coulson dismisses her as having withdrawal from her addiction.

Hive is lured by Campbell into Mackenzie's trap, a giant Theta Brain-Wave Frequency Machine, to pull forward all of the different personalities in the dark Inhuman that he has absorbed over the millennia. Hive is freed from the torture when Mackenzie, Rodriguez, and Campbell flee, but the memories of his past hosts still flood his consciousness. Giyera and Hellfire arrive to help, but Hive's speech is an incoherent mess of quotes from hosts past and present. Hellfire realizes that something is seriously wrong when Hive nonsensically addresses Jemma Simmons as if he were Will Daniels telling to her to run, and Giyera attempts to get the dark Inhuman to focus. Fixating on Ward's memories, Hive finally manages to get his mind under enough control to give Giyera and Hellfire a coherent order: disconnect the warhead, since there is no hope of launching the missile now.

Absolution Hive Captured

May, seeking the warhead, frees Radcliffe from the Primitives while Rodriguez frees the hostages from the conquered missile silo. However, as Giyera takes the warhead and flees, Hive confronts the agents; he is captured in a Containment Module full of Suspension Gel.

Upon return to base, Mackenzie defies the security protocols and tells Johnson that Hive is their prisoner as he forgives and hugs her; this allows Johnson her emotional release as she cries. The two talk about how unsafe it is to have Hive at the Playground.

Absolution Virus

After Simmons and Fitz plan a romantic vacation, Fitz goes to assure that the base is sealed against Hive loyalists. Fitz realizes what "Absolution" is - the releasing of the Absolution Virus in the Playground - and O'Brien is among those changed when Hellfire activates the trap; they turn into Primitives.

The Primitives free Hive from captivity and he wants the Zephyr One; the aircraft has high altitude capability enough to launch the warhead to make all Humans into Primitives or Inhumans.

Johnson escapes her Containment Module and goes to confront Hive. She begs him to sway her again.

Cast[]

Main Cast:

Guest Stars:

Appearances[]

Locations[]

Events[]

Items[]

Vehicles[]

Sentient Species[]

Organizations[]

Mentioned[]

Trivia[]

Commencement

Frank Moran, Noelle Mabry and Ralph Lammie, Jr. appear in Absolution

Videos[]

References[]

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The Marvel Cinematic Universe Wiki has a collection of images and media related to Absolution.

External Links[]

Season One Pilot0-8-4The AssetEye-SpyGirl in the Flower DressFZZTThe HubThe WellRepairsThe BridgeThe Magical PlaceSeedsT.R.A.C.K.S.T.A.H.I.T.I.Yes MenEnd of the BeginningTurn, Turn, TurnProvidenceThe Only Light in the DarknessNothing PersonalRagtagBeginning of the End
Season Two ShadowsHeavy is the HeadMaking Friends and Influencing PeopleFace My EnemyA Hen in the Wolf HouseA Fractured HouseThe Writing on the WallThe Things We Bury...Ye Who Enter HereWhat They BecomeAftershocksWho You Really AreOne of UsLove in the Time of HYDRAOne Door ClosesAfterlifeMelindaThe Frenemy of My EnemyThe Dirty Half Dozen ScarsS.O.S. Part OneS.O.S. Part Two
Season Three Laws of NaturePurpose in the MachineA Wanted (Inhu)manDevils You Know4,722 HoursAmong Us Hide...Chaos TheoryMany Heads, One TaleClosureMavethBouncing BackThe Inside ManParting ShotWatchdogsSpacetimeParadise LostThe TeamThe SingularityFailed ExperimentsEmancipationAbsolutionAscension
Season Four The GhostMeet the New BossUprisingLet Me Stand Next to Your FireLockupThe Good SamaritanDeals With Our DevilsThe Laws of Inferno DynamicsBroken PromisesThe PatriotWake UpHot Potato SoupBOOMThe Man Behind the ShieldSelf ControlWhat If...Identity and ChangeNo RegretsAll the Madame's MenFarewell, Cruel World!The ReturnWorld's End
Season Five Orientation Part OneOrientation Part TwoA Life SpentA Life EarnedRewindFun & GamesTogether or Not at AllThe Last DayBest Laid PlansPast LifeAll the Comforts of HomeThe Real DealPrincipiaThe Devil ComplexRise and ShineInside VoicesThe HoneymoonAll Roads Lead...Option TwoThe One Who Will Save Us AllThe Force of GravityThe End
Season Six Missing PiecesWindow of OpportunityFear and Loathing on the Planet of KitsonCode YellowThe Other ThingInescapableToldjaCollision Course Part OneCollision Course Part TwoLeapFrom the AshesThe SignNew Life
Season Seven The New DealKnow Your OnionsAlien Commies from the Future!Out of the PastA Trout in the MilkAdapt or DieThe Totally Excellent Adventures of Mack and the DAfter, BeforeAs I Have Always BeenStolenBrand New DayThe End is at HandWhat We're Fighting For
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