T.R.A.C.K.S.

"T.R.A.C.K.S." is the thirteenth episode of the first 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 hunt for rogue businessman Ian Quinn. It is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), sharing continuity with the films of the franchise. The episode was written by Lauren LeFranc and Rafe Judkins, and directed by Paul Edwards.

"T.R.A.C.K.S."
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. episode
Episode no.Season 1
Episode 13
Directed byPaul Edwards
Written by
Produced by
Editing byPaul Trejo
Original air dateFebruary 4, 2014 (2014-02-04)
Running time43 minutes
Guest appearance(s)

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, and Elizabeth Henstridge. David Conrad returns to portray Quinn, while J. August Richards' recurring guest character Mike Peterson is revealed to be an adaptation and incarnation of Deathlok.

"T.R.A.C.K.S." originally aired on ABC on February 4, 2014, and according to Nielsen Media Research, was watched by 6.62 million viewers.

Plot

Ian Quinn makes a purchase from Cybertek Industries, and a security team of mercenaries is hired to escort it to Quinn's mansion in the Italian countryside. Wanting to apprehend Quinn after he recently revealed he is allied with the Clairvoyant, Coulson's team boards the train carrying the merchandise, posing as ordinary passengers. May goes in pursuit of the package, but their communications suddenly cut out and Coulson and Ward are attacked by the security team, who eject them from the train and stun them with a grenade containing dendrotoxin, the chemical found in night-night guns. May is also forced to abandon the train and is captured by police chief Luca Russo, who is accepting bribes from Cybertek. Simmons is stunned by another dendrotoxin grenade, and Skye and Fitz hide her in a luggage carriage before following the security team to Quinn's mansion.

May escapes Russo, who contacts Coulson and Ward and claims he was attacked by Cybertek; he meets them at the Bus but is killed by May. The three of them soon find the abandoned train, with a confused Simmons on board. Skye and Fitz activate a beacon device to alert the others, and Skye enters the mansion, going to find the Cybertek package in the basement. She discovers Mike Peterson in a hyperbaric chamber, before Quinn arrives and reveals that the merchandise is a highly advanced bionic leg, which he attaches to Mike. Mike kills the security team on the Clairvoyant's orders and then leaves, while Quinn shoots Skye twice in the stomach. Coulson's team arrive and apprehend Quinn, and they keep Skye alive temporarily in the hyperbaric chamber, rushing her to a S.H.I.E.L.D. medical facility.

In an end tag, at a playground, Mike asks the unseen Clairvoyant to let him see his son Ace, and receives a message through his eye implant saying 'Not yet'. It is revealed that the bionic leg was developed by Cybertek as part of 'Project Deathlok'.

Production

Development and writing

In January 2014, Marvel revealed that the seventeenth episode would be titled "End of the Beginning", and would be written by Lauren LeFranc and Rafe Judkins, with Paul Edwards directing.[1] Speaking to the non-linear nature of the episode, LeFranc said she and Judkins wanted to put the team on a mission together "and then see each of their perspectives on it–so that you really get to spend an act with every character, and get just a little more insight into who they are and how they approach the different situations."[2]:130

Casting
Further information: List of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. characters

In January 2014, Marvel revealed that main cast members Clark Gregg, Ming-Na Wen, Brett Dalton, Chloe Bennet, Iain De Caestecker, and Elizabeth Henstridge would star as Phil Coulson, Melinda May, Grant Ward, Skye, Leo Fitz, and Jemma Simmons, respectively.[1] It was also revealed that the guest cast for the episode would include David Conrad as Ian Quinn, Carlo Rota as Luca Russo, T. J. Ramini as Mancini, Ludwig Manukian as the Conductor, Emily Baldoni as Sofia, and a special cameo appearance by Stan Lee.[1] Manukian did not receive guest star credit in the episode. Conrad reprises his role from earlier in the series.[3]

Filming and visual effects

Filming occurred from December 3 to December 13, 2013.[2]:127 Fillmore and Western Railway was used to film the train sequences.[2]:130 FuseFX worked on Peterson's cybernetic leg being attached.[2]:131

Marvel Cinematic Universe tie-ins

Coulson reveals that Emil Blonsky / Abomination, last seen in The Incredible Hulk where he is portrayed by Tim Roth, is imprisoned in a "cryo-cell" in Alaska.[4][5]

Release

Broadcast

"T.R.A.C.K.S." was first aired in the United States on ABC on February 4, 2014.[6]

Home media

The episode, along with the rest of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s first season, was released on Blu-ray and DVD on September 9, 2014. Bonus features include behind-the-scenes featurettes, audio commentary, deleted scenes, and a blooper reel.[7] On November 20, 2014, the episode became available for streaming on Netflix.[8]

Reception

Ratings

In the United States the episode received a 2.2/6 percent share among adults between the ages of 18 and 49, meaning that it was seen by 2.2 percent of all households, and 6 percent of all of those watching television at the time of the broadcast. It was watched by 6.62 million viewers.[6]

References
  1. "Declassifying 'Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.': T.R.A.C.K.S." Marvel.com. January 15, 2014. Archived from the original on 2015-10-06. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
  2. Benjamin, Troy (July 29, 2014). Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season One Declassified. Marvel Worldwide, Inc. ISBN 978-0-7851-8998-5.
  3. "Declassifying Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Ep. 103: The Asset". Marvel.com. September 23, 2013. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved September 3, 2014.
  4. Garcia, Kevin (February 5, 2014). "See that You Take It: Secrets of SHIELD episode "TRACKS"". Observation Deck. Archived from the original on October 6, 2015. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
  5. Collura, Scott; Moro, Eric (June 10, 2008). "The Incredible Blonsky". IGN. Archived from the original on February 23, 2013. Retrieved July 8, 2008.
  6. Bibel, Sara (February 5, 2014). "Tuesday Final Ratings: 'NCIS', 'Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' & 'The Originals' Adjusted Up; 'NCIS: Los Angeles', 'The Goldbergs', 'Supernatural' & 'Trophy Wife' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Zap2it. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 5, 2014.
  7. Fowler, Matt (May 30, 2014). "Marvel's Agents of SHIELD Blu-ray And DVD Details". IGN. Archived from the original on May 30, 2014. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
  8. O'Keefe, Meghan (November 11, 2014). "Exclusive: 'Marvel's Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.' Is Coming To Netflix November 20!". Decider. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved November 16, 2014.
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