Aida looms large and secrets lie waiting in the synopsis for the winter return of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 4×09.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. will be back for its next “pod” of story on Jan. 10. ABC is remaining secretive on the major points of season 4’s next adventure, but a few salient points are terrifyingly clear.
“On the heels of their encounter with Ghost Rider, their strangest phenomenon yet, the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. suddenly find themselves up against a myriad of new and ongoing threats,” the network says of the upcoming story.
“The anti-Inhuman Watchdogs are gaining political influence with Senator Nadeer, and uniting behind a mysterious benefactor. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to the team, Aida has kidnapped Agent May and replaced her with a Life Model Decoy. Aida’s evil plans for May and the team remain a mystery.”
But at least part of the robot’s plans are suggested in the synopsis for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 4×09, titled “Broken Promises.”
“Coulson is unaware of a dark secret May is hiding, even as the two grow closer,” ABC says. Meanwhile, “Aida is determined to find the Darkhold.”
The real Agent May was last seen in the winter finale, drugged and unconscious, and caught in Aida’s ambiguous clutches. Her identical Life Model Decoy, however, is picking up right where May left off — sharing a long-delayed bottle of wine with Coulson that indicates a distinct shift in their relationship.
It looks like “Broken Promises” will carry on with the “Oh, God! Oh, God! So awkward!” plotline of Coulson finding potential romance with a robot. But as Aida seeks the Darkhold in pursuit of her own dark designs, could the OG LMD tip her hand to the deception unfolding right beneath S.H.I.E.L.D.’s nose?
We really hope so.
In addition to Aida’s amok-running, it looks like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 4×09 will shift its focus to the sprouting mystery of Senator Nadeer and her Inhuman brother. Parminder Nagra is listed among the episode’s guest stars, as is Manish Dayal, who was probably the poor guy stuck in that chrysalis.
Of course, the question of Robbie Reyes and Ghost Rider will continue to linger through Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Showrunners Maurissa Tancharoen and Jed Whedon have been predictably equivocating on the subject.) But it certainly seems like the the LMD storyline will keep our agents (and their decoys) plenty busy for the winter segment of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 4.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 4×09, “Broken Promises,” airs Tuesday, Jan. 10 at 10 p.m. on ABC.