Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: The Things We Bury

"The Things We Bury" is the eighth 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 search for a hidden alien city, and discover secrets about their enemies. It is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), sharing continuity with the films of the franchise. The episode was written by DJ Doyle and directed by Milan Cheylov. Clark Gregg reprises his role as Coulson from the film series, and is joined by principal cast members Ming-Na Wen, Brett Dalton, Chloe Bennet, Iain De Caestecker, Elizabeth Henstridge, and Nick Blood. Hayley Atwell reprises her role from other MCU projects in flashbacks with connections to the television series Agent Carter and the films Captain America: The First Avenger and Captain America: The Winter Soldier. "The Things We Bury" originally aired on ABC on November 18, 2014, and according to Nielsen Media Research, was watched by 4.58 million viewers. The episode received a mostly positive critical response, with the episode's flashback sequences, and the performance of MacLachlan, praised, but an issue of 'over-crowding' of storylines was frequently brought up by critics.