Agents of SHIELD Season 4 has ditched Ghost Rider (for now) in favor of another supernatural threat, AIDA. The second half of Season 4, titled LMD , will shift focus to explore how the Darkhold has turned Dr. Radcliffe’s android evil. But with Ghost Rider MIA and a strict director, how will the team move forward? Here are the five questions we want answered.
Dr. Radcliffe & AIDA’s Agenda
When Radcliffe and the team chose to give AIDA access to the Darkhold, they swore its demons couldn’t affect her. But as we’ve seen with LMD’s elsewhere in the MCU, you can never trust an android. AIDA’s intentions seemed good at first, but in the midseason finale we found out she created a decoy for Agent May, who she’s currently holding hostage.
“The big question is, ‘What is Radcliffe's motivation?’ — not so much Aida's — because he's the taskmaster in this whole scheme of changing out May for the LMD May,” Ming-Na wen told TV Line. Is [his agenda] for something good… or is he the mad scientist hoping to advance science? I don't think he went through all this trouble for s–ts and giggles!”
The Patriot’s Origins
Jeffrey Mace’s role in Agents of SHIELD Season 4 has been largely a mystery. While he revealed himself as an inhuman and believes a “team that trusts is a team that triumphs,” it’s clear he’s hiding something. Jason O’Mara, who plays Mace, told TV Line our questions about Mace will be answered very soon. Let the truth about the U.N bombing be known.
“How Mace got his powers, his whole backstory, is going to be a major part of the next batch of episodes.”
Upcoming episodes are titled "The Patriot," and "Man Behind The SHIELD," both which hint at Jeffrey Mace's origins as substitute Captain America.
Philinda?
Agent Coulson and May have always had good chemistry, but one thing or another always got in the way of a possible romance. They’ve each had their personal struggles, but they’ve remained the best of friends through it all. Agents of SHIELD Season 3 proved they are each other’s most trusted ally, but their relationship is growing in a different way this season. Unfortunately, the most romantic scenes we’ve seen so far are from May the LMD, not the real May.
Whether Coulson will figure it out remains to be seen, but this whole falling in love with an android thing could really screw things up moving forward. Fake May could be warming up to Coulson to gather intel for some sort of evil plan she has with Radcliffe or some evil entity of the Darkhold.
Quake’s Role
Quake was once the director of SHIELD in the comics, however, that promotion seems unlikely this season since she went rogue and strongly disagrees with the politics involved in SHIELD’s heroics, specifically the Sokovia Accords. She recently decided to come back to the team, but how long will it last? Will Mace eventually forgive her for the damage she’s caused? “How he legitimizes Daisy is going to be revealed as well, so there's lots to look forward to there,” O’Mara teased.
Is Ghost Rider Done?
Gabriel Luna’s abrupt exit from the series seems unlikely after his role was so well received. Though Ghost Rider’s name has been dropped from the title in favor of ‘LMD,’ it’s a safe bet he’ll return to help SHIELD when they need it, especially since Quake is back now.
Agents of SHIELD returns Jan. 10.
