Wondering why Agent Simmons made that extremely unnerving decision on last night’s episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.? So are we – and here are four possible explanations that we’ve come up with.
1) Simmons is totally not Simmons
This is by far the most devastating potential explanation for Simmons’ strange statement – that she needs to return to the alien world that the Monolith swept her off to. But hey, we’ve seen Angel, and we aren’t fools. It is impossible to discount the possibility that Simmons’ body has been taken over by some…thing from Planet Wherever, leaving nothing of Jemma Simmons behind.
So what does this faux-Simmons want? It may be attempting to pull a simple E.T. and go home – or it may have an alternative interest in reviving the Kree Monolith. Perhaps the devious stone is why it came to Earth in the first place.
Or it may have an alternative interest in reviving the Kree Monolith. Perhaps the devious stone is why it came to Earth in the first place. After all, there are still swarms of unanswered questions about the Monolith (its unexplained threat to Inhumans being the most salient) and the odds must be at least 50/50 that such an enormous MacGuffin serves more than just one trans-galactic purpose.
And probably not a very nice one.
Of course, we can’t raise the idea of body-snatching without acknowledging the possibility the Skrulls might be involved. It’s not terribly likely that Simmons is a Skrull, even if she is not herself; Marvel’s infamous shape-shifting aliens have not yet made an appearance in the Cinematic Universe, and their introduction would have consequences far beyond Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
But let’s face it: The show is already dealing with alien crap on a weekly basis. We’d be remiss in dismissing the idea entirely.
2) Simmons is Simmons… but not completely Simmons
Brushing aside the fact that we really, really, really don’t want Simmons to become the flesh puppet of an evil creature, we think there is ammo for a slightly different explanation.
After all, Simmons seemed to be very much herself (albeit a terrified version) as she ran from the unknown creature back on Planet Wherever. She also apparently took real comfort in Fitz’s presence when she returned, even when Fitz was asleep, and there was no need for a foreign presence to “perform” for him. So what could be up?
There may be a clue in the stimuli which are so distressing to Simmons. She seems to react mostly to electronic sounds – the buzzing of lights, the harsh ring of Daisy’s phone. Perhaps Simmons’ time on Planet Wherever has left her infected with an alien presence sensitive to human technology, but not one that has taken her over entirely.
This other presence in Simmons’ body might be what is compelling her sudden wanderlust. Perhaps it wants to return to the nice, peaceful Planet Wherever, with it’s lovely sandstorms and eternal twilight. Perhaps Simmons is being manipulated by this presence, but is not being controlled by it – and hey, maybe it can even be politely reasoned with!
3) Simmons wants to fix herself
It’s also possible that there is no seditious explanation for Simmons’ fragile state. Her depression, her distance, and even her sensitivity to electric noise might really just be the result of severe trauma – it might be, in as much as it can be, fairly normal.
But what if Simmons doesn’t think so? What if Simmons believes that she can’t recover on her own, and needs to return to Planet Wherever to confront whatever is wrong with her, be it physically or emotionally? Her desire to resurrect the Monolith could be the intergalactic equivalent of Fitz’s struggles last season – an overwhelming desire for normalcy leading them both down dark mental pathways.
Of course, Simmons could be right. But from a logical standpoint, it’s hard to imagine what material benefit could be earned from desert-like alien world patrolled by an evil, alien… something.
Which leads us to our last explanation.
4) We really can’t guess just yet
If there’s one thing Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. knows how to do, it’s change up its own game. Circumstances evolve with each successive episode, and new information makes old assumptions obsolete within minutes.
So maybe Simmons wants to return to Planet Wherever for a good reason. Maybe she saw a vision of the future, or really meant to check out that less-horrible looking ridge of rocks over there. Maybe she made a hair appointment, or left a sock behind.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. will let us know – all in its own good time.