The Good Samaritan (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.)

"The Good Samaritan" is the sixth episode of the fourth season of the American television series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., based on the Marvel Comics organization S.H.I.E.L.D. (Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division), revolving around the character of Phil Coulson and his team of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents as they race to find Eli Morrow while his nephew Robbie Reyes reveals how he became the Ghost Rider. It is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), sharing continuity with the films of the franchise. The episode was written by Jeffrey Bell, and directed by Billy Gierhart.

Clark Gregg reprises his role as Coulson from the film series, and is joined by series regulars Ming-Na Wen, Chloe Bennet, Iain De Caestecker, Elizabeth Henstridge, and Henry Simmons. Recurring guest stars Gabriel Luna and José Zúñiga portray Reyes and Morrow, respectively, both in present day and in flashbacks to tell the origin story of the former.

"The Good Samaritan" originally aired on ABC on November 1, 2016, and according to Nielsen Media Research, was watched by 4.57 million viewers within a week of its release.

Plot

Mace sends Simmons on a secret assignment, then takes a team to board Coulson's plane and arrest Reyes and Johnson. The pair hide with a newly picked up Gabe, where Robbie explains that he and Gabe sneaked out to race in Morrow's car, but they were attacked by the Locos. Gabe was paralyzed and Robbie was killed. Robbie promised an unknown voice that he would seek vengeance if given a second chance, and was resurrected by another Ghost Rider passing Robbie his power. Mace finds the fugitives, but is overpowered by the Ghost Rider. He agrees to use Robbie against Lucy, and Fitz tracks her to an abandoned Roxxon power plant. May takes and hides the Darkhold while Robbie destroys Lucy, after the latter reveals that Morrow craves the Darkhold's power himself—his own experiments created the ghosts, and Joseph had ordered the hit on Morrow's car to stop him. Morrow now uses an improved version of the Momentum machine to gain the power to create matter. Robbie, Fitz, and Coulson disappear.

Production

Development

In October 2016, Marvel revealed that the sixth episode of the season would be titled "The Good Samaritan", and would tell the origin story of Robbie Reyes / Ghost Rider, a recurring character in the season.^[1] The episode is written by executive producer Jeffrey Bell, with Billy Gierhart directing.^[1]

Casting

In October 2016, Marvel confirmed that main cast members Clark Gregg as Phil Coulson, Ming-Na Wen as Melinda May, Chloe Bennet as Daisy Johnson / Quake, Iain De Caestecker as Leo Fitz, Elizabeth Henstridge as Jemma Simmons, Henry Simmons as Alphonso "Mack" MacKenzie, and John Hannah as Holden Radcliffe would be starring in the episode.^[1]

Also revealed was the guest cast for the episode, including Jason O'Mara as Director Jeffrey Mace, Gabriel Luna as Robbie Reyes, Lorenzo James Henrie as Gabe Reyes, Maximilian Osinski as Agent Davis, Patrick Cavanaugh as Burrows, Jose Zuniga as Eli Morrow, Kerr Smith as Joseph Bauer, Lili Birdsell as Lucy Bauer, Dan Donohue as Frederick, Ward Roberts as Hugo, Usman Ally as Vincent and Shaun Clay as Tac Agent Wilder.^[1] O'Mara, Luna, Henrie, Osinski, Cavanaugh, Zuniga, Smith, Birdsell, Donohue, Roberts, and Ally reprise their roles from earlier in the series.^[2][3][4]

Release

"The Good Samaritan" was first aired in the United States on ABC on November 1, 2016.^[1]

Reception

Ratings

In the United States the episode received a 0.8/3 percent share among adults between the ages of 18 and 49, meaning that it was seen by 0.8 percent of all households, and 3 percent of all of those watching television at the time of the broadcast. It was watched by 2.43 million viewers.^[5] Within a week of its release, "The Good Samaritan" had been watched by 4.57 million U.S. viewers.^[6]

References

External links

• "The Good Samaritan" at ABC
• "The Good Samaritan" at the Internet Movie Database
• "The Good Samaritan" at TV.com