Spoilers for AoS 1x17, 3x22, 5x14, 4x15
The twists on Agents of Shield hit SO HARD omg, and one of the main reasons for that is the diversions they utilize.
Like I never in a million years would’ve seen that Ward twist coming, (most people didn’t) especially after how betrayed he seemed when it was revealed that Skye was still in communication with the rising tide. They make it seem like “oh yeah, that’s the twist, Skye is the one who’s most likely to secretly work against everyone for a little while, but she’s not doing that anymore so that’s solved” and then Grant kills Hand and stabs everyone in the back and it’s insane.
I thought that the whole Necklace Of Death storyline was leading up to Yo-Yo’s death, and that passing it around and different people wearing the jacket was just another huge diversion to make us think that it was going to be someone besides her. It was her necklace. I was absolutely certain it would be her. I NEVER would’ve thought it would be LINCOLN.
We thought it was an evil fear-dimension doppelgänger of Fitz, only to find out he was never there and it was all Fitz. They really make you think it has something to do with the fear dimension, because that’s the main conflict, right? No.
AND OF COURSE WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT SELF CONTROL. OMG. Maybe other people saw this part coming, but I never considered that one of Fitzsimmons would also be an LMD. I got literal chills when they discovered that their friends were replaced. That’s what I was focused on. And then they reveal that one of them was replaced. (Also, I just have to say the acting in that episode is absolutely phenomenal)
The writers are just so good at distracting you with other elements of the story, just so that they can completely catch you off guard with new, even more insane twists.
To add to the 1x17 twist: a few episodes prior to it, May was the suspicious one. Who is she working for? What does she really want? Not even Coulson trusted her. And the you have the conversation between May and Ward DURING 1x17 "Playing us the whole time... playing me." The whole thing was to make it look like she might be a traitor. Only for the writers to say "Sike! Gothca!" and pull the rug from under our feet.
