'Agents of SHIELD' Season 7 Episode 2: Melinda May is malfunctioning and no one knows the reason behind it

It is quite unclear if May is still recuperating from the trauma she experienced or whether this had anything to do with her time in Izel's world where he fended off strange creatures
(IMDb)
(IMDb)

Spoilers for 'Agents of SHIELD' Season 7 Episode 2 'Know Your Onions'

It was quite evident from the season opener that Melinda May (Ming-Na Wen) was not in her elements. The aftermath of the events of Season 6 clearly had its effects on her and it showed in the final minutes of the 'The New Deal'. However, the more alarming news that she will be on the mend for some more time comes in the second episode. The Chronicom healing pod may have healed May of her wounds following her fight with Sarge (Clark Gregg), but there was no doubt that her sense of being human was missing.

It does come across like May has woken up as a cold machine and has zero emotions coursing through. Instead of taking time to recollect her thoughts, she suits up to help the team in 1931. Despite Enoch's requests, she bluntly disregards them and prepares to head out. This leads to a scrimmage between the two and May is all set to land a fatal blow before being stopped by LMD Coulson. There is hardly a flutter or a change in expression when she sees Coulson, Daisy, Simmons and Yo-Yo. Her first words to Coulson are "You're not Sarge," and he affirms he isn't. "You're not Coulson, either," she states very matter-of-factly. "Well, yes and no," he replies. "Aren't you at all surprised? I mean, I was dead." Without any hint of emotion, she says, "You still are," and walks off. 

Simmons also explains later that May was not normal after the latter lets herself be seated and gets back on the recovery pod. "Agent May is clearly malfunctioning," Enoch opined. "She wanted to be on the mission, and didn't appreciate my advice." At the moment, it is quite unclear if May is still recuperating from the trauma she experienced or whether this had anything to do with her time in Izel's world where he fended off strange creatures. For now, May has been a minor part of the storyline. Only time will tell how the character arc pans out this final season. What are your thoughts on May's behavior?

'Agents of SHIELD' Season 7 airs Wednesdays 10 pm ET on abc.

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