| "What They Become" | |
|---|---|
| Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. episode | |
 The introduction of the Inhumans to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the final scene of the episode was praised for being groundbreaking, while criticized for being insignificant to non-comic book fans.[citation needed] | |
| Episode no. | Season 2 Episode 10 |
| Directed by | Michael Zinberg |
| Written by | Jeffrey Bell |
| Cinematography by | Feliks Parnell |
| Editing by |
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| Original air date | December 9, 2014 |
| Running time | 43 minutes |
| Guest appearances | |
"What They Become" is the tenth 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., it follows Phil Coulson and his team of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents as they race to destroy an ancient Kree city before Hydra can get to it and unlock a potentially extinction-level event. It is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and acknowledges the franchise's films. The episode was written by Jeffrey Bell, and directed by Michael Zinberg.
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. The episode introduces the Inhumans to the MCU, and reveals that principal character Skye (Bennet) is actually comics character Daisy Johnson, while guest character "The Doctor" (Kyle MacLachlan) is Calvin Zabo.
"What They Become" originally aired on ABC on December 9, 2014, and according to Nielsen Media Research, was watched by 5.29 million viewers. The episode received a positive critical response, with the performance of guest star Kyle MacLachlan praised, and the introduction of the Inhumans, along with the character reveals, highlighted as groundbreaking and exciting, though also potentially confusing or insignificant to non-comic book fans.