Caution: Spoilers ahead for Agents of SHIELD

Vision's head after Tony Stark used it to power his android creation. As the Avengers awkwardly begin to contemplate that letting Vision go and taking the Mind Stone off the board might be better than universe-wide slaughter, the ever-idealistic Steve Rogers chimes in with a line that would haunt him throughout the next two films: "we don't trade lives." Vision later claps the same quote back at Cap after saving his life in Wakanda.

In Agents of SHIELD's final season, the team are fighting through time against the Chronicoms - an advanced race of cyborgs looking to resettle on Earth after their own planet's destruction. Since the Chronicoms have no intention of sparing the native population, they must erase SHIELD from history in order to achieve their aim. In "As I Always Have Been," SHIELD believe they've dealt with their Chronicom problem, but a time drive malfunction leaves them in a vicious recurring loop, careering closer to complete atomic erasure. After some murder mystery shenanigans, it becomes clear that the answer lies inside Enoch, SHIELD's loyal Chronicom ally. The very thing keeping Enoch alive can get the Zephyr safely back home.

Related: Agents of SHIELD’s Terminator Reference Could Hint At Enoch’s Death

Similarly to the Avengers in Infinity War, the team face the dilemma of whether to sacrifice one android life for the greater good. Unlike the Avengers, Enoch simply rips the component out of himself and hands it over, taking agency of the situation and making the choice to save his friends at the cost of his own existence.

Vision in Avengers Infinity War

This single, devastating act creates a fascinating parallel with Avengers: Endgame, both Natasha and Stark make the ultimate sacrifice to ensure Thanos is defeated, and this highlights how badly the situation escalates. Rogers goes from refusing to trade anyone to losing two of his closest friends. The situation is less grave in Agents of SHIELD, with only the team at stake, rather than half of all existence. This makes the sacrifice both more personal and more costly, but it's interesting that there's no "we don't trade lives" moment preceding Enoch's death.

The comparison also touches upon the topic of robotic sentience. In Avengers: Infinity War, there's a sense that Vision might be an acceptable sacrifice because he's a synthetic creation made by one of the team. By refusing the offer, Steve places Vision on equal with the human of the Avengers. In Agents of SHIELD, the dynamic is flipped. Season 7 has shown how SHIELD so often overlook Enoch or take him for granted, whereas the Chronicom has always considered the humans his equals, despite their vastly inferior strength and intelligence. Perhaps this is why Enoch finds himself taking matters into his own hands.

Enoch's sacrifice raises a key question about Vision in Avengers: Infinity War. Vision himself is incapable of destroying the Mind Stone for whatever reason. Only Scarlet Witch has that level of power. But if Vision was able to destroy his own Mind Stone, as Enoch was able to rip out his own heart, would he have taken the choice out of Rogers' hands? Given how nobly Vision begs Wanda to do the deed for him, he almost certainly would, and this demonstrates how, just like Enoch, Vision adopts the more human characteristics of those around him the longer he spends in their company.

More: When Fitz Will Return In Agents of SHIELD Season 7

Agents of SHIELD continues with "Stolen" July 29th on ABC.

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