Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: The Dirty Half Dozen

"The Dirty Half Dozen" is the nineteenth episode of the second 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 infiltrate a Hydra base to rescue two of their kidnapped allies. It is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), sharing continuity with the films of the franchise. The episode was written by Brent Fletcher and Drew Z. Greenberg, and directed by Kevin Tancharoen. Clark Gregg reprises his role as Coulson from the film series, and is joined by series regulars Ming-Na Wen, Brett Dalton, Chloe Bennet, Iain De Caestecker, Elizabeth Henstridge, Nick Blood, and Adrianne Palicki. Recurring guest stars Luke Mitchell and J. August Richards portray Lincoln Campbell and Deathlok, the kidnapped allies, while Henry Goodman and Cobie Smulders reprise their roles of Dr. List and Maria Hill from the films in a tie-in with Avengers: Age of Ultron; the episode includes easter eggs and plot threads leading into the opening scene of that film. The episode also features two significant sequences, a one-take fight scene that Bennet broke her arm filming, and the dramatic destruction of a plane which was realised through visual effects and CGI. "The Dirty Half Dozen" originally aired on ABC on April 28, 2015, and, according to Nielsen Media Research, was watched by 7.24 million viewers within a week of its release. The episode received positive reviews, with critics praising Tancharoen's choreography and direction of the fight sequences (particularly the one-take fight), and generally feeling positive about the film tie-in as well. It was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for its visual effects.