Out of the Past

Episode Summary & Review

Summary

It was just another average morning on July 22, 1955, when Agent Phil Coulson realized the importance of that day in the S.H.I.E.L.D. history books. With a chip on his shoulder and a genre bending glitch in his system, he’d set into motion a chain of events that would hopefully preserve the timeline as we know it and ensure those pesky chronicoms get the ending they deserve. What could go wrong?

Our Take

The black and white noir gimmick is a fun change of pace, and Coulson’s hardboiled narration mostly lands, even if the joke wears thin before the hour is up. It’s lighter on plot than the first three episodes, functioning more as a stylish detour with a few real revelations tucked at the end. Worth watching for the vibe, just don’t expect the season to move much.