“A Life Earned” is episode four of season five of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
In the previous episode, “A Life Spent”, Coulson and the others had discovered a transmission that was apparently coming from the surface of the Earth. Or, rather, one of the remnants. Tess said that this was impossible, as she insisted that it was impossible to live on the surface of the planet. It was, in fact, where they sent people to die. This was then proved by a scene showing Zev – who, using some tactics that Mac certainly did not look like he approved of, was set up by Yo-yo to appear guilty and save their lives – being shown on the surface. Where, oddly, he did not die due to there being no air – and did not appear to be in less than 1G – but appeared to be attacked by something. The surface as portrayed was highly unrealistic, unless there’s an explanation forthcoming.
Daisy had gone to rescue Simmons from Kasius, against Deke’s advice. Deke wanted to play the long game to rescue her. Daisy was captured by Kasius, thanks to Deke betraying her. Is this just Deke looking out for himself? Or is he playing a different game in order to get Daisy close to Simmons? Deke is still not showing whether he is going to be a Loveable Rogue or a foe.
The episode starts with Kasius having some blood taken from Daisy. Kasius says that he rescued humanity, but that it cost him. He had a vision for humanity, but they kept clinging to fairytales, such as Quake and a myth that S.H.I.E.L.D would return from the past to save them. Kasius finds it interesting that Daisy has appeared at the same time as another woman with no mark on her wrist and a very unusual skill set – Simmons. Perhaps Kasius did realise that there was something odd about Simmons. Kasius wants to know how many others there are too. He is also planning to sell Daisy – as was seen in the previous episode, he sells Inhumans to the highest bidder – and Kasius believes he will finally have enough money to leave Earth. If Daisy does not help Kasius, he will disfigure Simmons.
All the trawler flights have been grounded, so Coulson and the others can’t follow up on the transmission they detected. They are also worried about Daisy. Grill tells them about an auction that’s going to happen, and that they also need to crush more ore to sell. Grill wants Mac to rough up someone who owes him a lot of tokens. Grill’s previous enforcer, Zev, is now dead – and Mac is a big, intimidating-looking guy. Mac is not happy about this and is worried that they are going to lose themselves.
Daisy has been fitted with one of the implants that block Inhuman powers and Kasius wants her to perform for her potential bidders. Kasius is also worried that other people have come from the past. He does not know how many people were prophesised to come from the past – partly because Kasius had everyone killed who knew it. Kasius wants Deke to look out to see if there are any others. Deke does not tell Kasius the truth that he already knows the others exist. Kasius also has an Inhuman who can read minds, and questions Daisy and Simmons in front of him. Given that Simmons cannot hear anything, getting their stories straight might be difficult.
Coulson wants to head down to Level 35 and, when they find Deke, the latter does not tell the entire truth about Daisy. However, when Deke hears the recording that Coulson made of the transmission from the surface, he becomes genuinely interested in getting there.
Kasius’ plans, or some of them, are learned, and the post-logo scene has a surprise.