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agl03 · 5 years

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Coulson’s Fate

I know that the TV Line spoiler we were graced with this week actually upset quite a few fans within the fandom. So I wanted to do a meta on what my theories are as to what Coulson’s fate will be and what early theories as to how we will see Clark and Coulson back in the mix.

I know that some fans whom Coulson is their favorite character have really struggled with this hiatus. Clark has been hidden more than anyone else on the cast and they have gone out of their way to hide him. And I want to say this is going to continue. They did not film an entire season on total lockdown only to give away the thing they were trying to hide before the season starts. So I’m really sorry to say we’ll have to hold tight a bit longer in that respect.

I’ll start with the TV Line Spoiler:

I saw you visited the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. set. Any news on the Season 6 premiere date? Also, anything about Coulson’s return? –Jen

ABC has said nothing beyond “summer” yet for the premiere date. As for the other thing, no one I spoke to on set – where they were filming Season 6’s penultimate episode – spoke of Phil in the present tense. Take Chloe Bennet when I asked about Daisy’s state of mind when the season picks up, [REDACTED] amount of time after her mentor and father figure got dropped off in Tahiti to live out his final days. “In my mind, she has a bit more of a peace to her,” she said. “There is obviously the mourning of Coulson, but she’s also been through it all and she is genuinely stronger from it. She is not dealing with things as she has in the past. She has fully accepted her trauma and is moving forward in the most healthy way, for the first time.”

Something I really want to emphasize in this quote is that Chloe was referring to Daisy’s state of mind IN THE PREMIERE! So anything that is to come with Coulson/Clarks return will not have happened yet for her character. Nor is Chloe going to blow any of the details of Clark/Coulson’s return like this. The cast and Matt have both been clearly instructed as to what they can and can’t reveal. Even more, this isn’t a live interview (those are GOLD for picking up on clues) so sensitive and spoilery information will have been also redacted or saved for later like episode post interview after the episodes air.

Now let's dive into theory territory.

I still think we see the team completely split up as the season starts (yay theory from last season coming true not in the way I thought...again). I still maintain May, Mack, Elena, and Deke are on earth. Fitz has been Fitznapped or is trying to get home/lost in space possibly with Enoch. And Jemma, Daisy, and the B Squad are on team Space Fitz Rescue.

If Daisy is in space she might even come back after Coulson’s surprise return...or they save that for she’s been back for a hot second and he pops out of a dark corner when everyone least suspects it.

Clark is listed in IMDB for the premiere so yes, this could be a boo boo. It wouldn’t be the first time someone was listed in IMDB and then wasn’t in the episode. I think no matter what, and this is gonna suck, that the premiere is going to really hammer home “Phil Coulson is dead”, there has been far too much emphasis on this at SDCC and in a few promo pieces to not see this continue. They are going to want us to think he’s dead...so they can hit us with one heck of a plot twist later. I am fully prepared to see flashbacks to Coulson dying kind of thing.

Clark is directing the Premiere. When an actor does this that means they will be light in the Episode. So any role Clark/Coulson does play in the premiere will be limited.

In addition to being listed in 1 Clark also has doubles listed for 9, 11, 12, and 13. Again. This could be a boo boo but I doubt multiple stunt doubles would make this mistake. I also acknowledge that this could be part of some sort of really long Arrowesque flashback kind of thing where there is a totally different story going in the past that is absolutely crucial to what is going on in the present. That theory has to be on the table.

I have said over and over throughout hiatus that I have no doubt that we will see Clark/Coulson again, That is why I have been so chill with ‘spoilers’ that seem to say otherwise. However, I don’t think (at least initially) he will be the Coulson we know and love. There is always some sort of “Price to Pay” for defying death. Nor do I think he’s back because of something the team does. I think that the baddies will have done it. The how and why Coulson is back is going to be one of the most important and crucial arcs all season.

An arc such as this comes with some powerful story possibilities and common TV Tropes.

Philinda fans, I’m sorry but its gonna suck. I’d caution to be prepared for a fight to get Coulson back and patience for them to be reunited...and even more time for their relationship to get back to where it was in the finale. I would LOVE to be wrong on this. As a long-suffering and frustrated Fitzsimmons fan, I don’t wish that kind of thing on any other ship. But this is what the writers love to do with their major ships. Tear them apart and make them fight to get back to each other.

By the same token I’d be super worried if they just get back together and all is well right when he makes his surprise return.

The team facing down their former mentor and leader who is now more of a villain is a common trope. And I’m not going to lie. I’d love to see Clark get the chance to play the baddie for a bit. He would knock it out of the park. You all remind me I said that when poop hits the fan.

This would be a very powerful arc for May, facing the man she loves. Daisy her mentor and father figure who has the added surprise of coming back from space and walking into whatever has blown up when she was gone. And Mack who is still trying to find his footing as Director and having to ‘go against’ their former leader.

Think Star Trek TNG Best of Both Worlds

It opens the door for some Coulson, May, and maybe some Shield backstory should they choose that whatever the McGuffin or baddie is is tied to their past somehow.

What makes me so sure?

I wholly own that I have been wrong in the past and will be again. “They would never kill Fitz” comes to mind. But here is what I am looking at.

Clark said at the end of Season 5 he was meeting with the writers to see what they had in mind for him for Season 6. IE The writers already had a story idea for how to bring him back in some way.

Clark and his doubles being listed in IMDB.

The cast is incredibly close. We have seen cast members leave before and I saw NONE of that with Clark. IE on IG no one comments on his posts “We miss you” (yes that is the kind of stuff I pay attention too). If he was really gone from the show we would have seen more sadness from them at SDCC. Rather they were giving me the we have a secret kind of vibe.

The Lockdown. The show has had big guest stars before but never this level of lockdown. This level is to hide someone who is there nearly daily. Not a guest star who is usually done in a few episodes. The cast and crew had to get posts approved. The makeup trailer blurred out pictures. And things considered too spoilery yanked down.

Clark has been doing events with the cast and for ABC still.

I hope this offers some hope for fans who are concerned about Coulson’s return. Hang tight, it's going to get worse before it gets better because I think they are going to continue to hammer on the ��Phil Coulson is dead thing” so they can hit us with a plot twist later. For example, if the cast does go to Wondercon I doubt Clark is with them unless they use the cover of him directing the Premiere to bring him in.

There are going to be more spoilers that start to come out as the premiere gets closer that will not include Clark and Coulson. Press Releases, Synopsis’s, Cast Pics, Press, and the trailer are all things that he may be kept out of to sell the ruse “Phil Coulson is Dead”. I completely understand this is nothing but frustrating and disheartening when its your favorite character. But do not take that out of whoever gives the spoilers, the cast, crew, or other fans. This is a deliberate promo decision the show made nearly a year ago now.

Believe me, I get this pain. I was tearing my hair out last season waiting for Iain to return from filming Overlord and then for Fitz to be back on the show. And we had solid confirmation he’d be back. I’d seen pics of him on set. My frustration and “patience” was rewarded with Rewind and Fun & Games but it doesn’t change how miserable I was while I was in the dark and waiting to see him again or how much I missed Fitz/Fitzsimmons together in 1-4.

Again, I would LOVE to be wrong here but feel like they’ve come too far with hiding him to go back now.

Remember the fandom is here to support each other through this hiatus.

#aos spoilers #aos meta #coulson lives #its a theory #man it felt good to do that again

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