SDCC 2014: Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. Getting New Allies, Enemies In Season 2
By Nick Tylwalk
Given the twists and turns that the first season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. took coming down the stretch, it’s hard to know what to expect as an encore. Friday at Marvel’s television panel at Comic-Con International (live blogged at Marvel.com), we got a small taste of what’s in store — and it includes new allies, a new “Big Bad,” and perhaps another familiar face from the pages of Avengers comics.
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The whole gang behind Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. turned out for the panel, including executive producers Jeffrey Bell, Maurissa Tancharoen and Jed Whedon, plus the entire main cast from Season 1: Ming-Na Wen (Melinda May), Elizabeth Henstridge (Jemma Simmons), Iain De Caestecker (Leo Fitz), Chloe Bennet (Skye) and the new Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. himself, Clark Gregg (Phil Coulson). Even Brett Dalton (who plays traitorous agent Grant Ward) was on hand, appropriately sporting a Hydra shirt.
With the change in status that the team experienced after the events of Captain America: The Winter Soldier spilled over into the show, Coulson’s team is going to need some help. It’s coming in the form of Lucy Lawless, confirmed as playing Isabel Hartley, a long-serving S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who always has a knife nearby. Nick Blood will play mercenary Lance Hunter, as Coulson realizes he can’t afford to be picky while hunting down Hydra.
With Bill Paxton’s maniacal John Garrett out of the picture, the show is getting a new villain as well. Reed Diamond has been cast as Daniel Whitehall, known in Marvel comics as Kraken.
Speaking of comics references, could a Mockingbird also be flying in? Attendees at the panel received a lanyard granting them Level 7 clearance and were shown both a Season 1 blooper reel and a teaser for Season 2. That second clip made reference to Bobbi Morse, the secret identity of S.H.I.E.L.D. agent-turned-Avenger Mockingbird.
Ward’s surprise turn was the subject of much discussion during the panel. Bennet broke out some geek language when she commented about how her own feelings might differ from those of her character:
"She’s been through a lot. She’s been betrayed by somebody. It’s alright. I still ship SkyeWard."
The rest of the cast had mixed feelings about the possibility of a redemption arc for Ward. They’ll have to keep guessing along with us until Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. returns on September 23.