Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Brett Dalton is Agent Grant Ward

[neddac]

I get the impression that Ward will be our "guide" character. The pilot probably starts with him on his first day in the "X-Files" section (or whatever it'll be called) of SHIELD, getting introduced to everybody.

And he's probably the "square-jawed hero" of the series.

That makes a LOT of sense. Great post. (Genuinely!) I'd love that. A torn Ward is a trigger happy Ward.

 

[neddac]

That makes a LOT of sense. Great post. (Genuinely!) I'd love that. A torn Ward is a trigger happy Ward.

ha, I just realise that your post is months old.

I woudl still like the Hydra side of things to be prodominently from Wards point of view

 

[Dark Raven]

That's a silly statement anyway
If one of them wasn't Hydra, that would strain credibility to me

That's what I've thought. I think it makes it a more interesting show now. How many other shows have been this daring to make one of their main characters a villain all along?

 

[neddac]

That's what I've thought. I think it makes it a more interesting show now. How many other shows have been this daring to make one of their main characters a villain all along?

Heroes, Sopranos, Breaking Bad....

 

[hopeless]

Technically Dexter but thats probably just me!

 

[Mysteryman]

Technically Dexter but thats probably just me!

Not just you.
Dexter fits .

 

[Dark Raven]

Heroes, Sopranos, Breaking Bad....

Different situations though.

Breaking Bad was the journey of a relatively decent chemistry teacher to the dark side, who became more and more okay with his morally corrupt actions which he felt were necessary because of his own trapped situation from which he felt he couldn't escape. It wasn't that there was a twist revealing him to be bad all along but he was pretending to be good, like Ward.

And who are you talking about with Heroes? Nathan? He died and Sylar took his place, so it wasn't that Nathan either was revealed to be bad all along and there was a sudden twist. Or do you mean Mohinder? He was corrupted by his power.

I'm not talking about TV shows which show a person's journey from the light to the darkness. I'm talking about ones where there is a complete 180 degree turn and it's revealed that the character was a villain all along and fooling the other characters.

Even with Dexter, the thing is that he was a serial killer they employed. He might've been fooling his colleagues and often living in denial of his true nature until it eventually had no choice but to come out. It's not like Dexter was ever Steve McGarrett from Hawaii Five-0 who was portrayed as a genuinely good man and then there was a sudden twist to reveal he was a villain all along.

 

[Loki882]

Dammit Ward. Now you might actually get interesting. Also, you finally at least partially justified that "he's the best since Romanoff" line from a few episodes back.

 

[Huddsy]

That's a silly statement anyway
If one of them wasn't Hydra, that would strain credibility to me

I agree. It makes it 100000X more interesting. It's bold and fun.

If it's a triple agent thing, I might be unimpressed. This way it feels real and now sunshine and rainbows.

 

[Pond]

How many other shows have been this daring to make one of their main characters a villain all along?

Dollhouse. I wonder who the executive producer of that show was...

 

[Dark Raven]

Dammit Ward. Now you might actually get interesting. Also, you finally at least partially justified that "he's the best since Romanoff" line from a few episodes back.

I think, according to an interview I read, that that line was in there deliberately but wasn't meant in a positive way as in Ward is a really good spy, but that he's a really bad and deceptive spy who has done some really questionable things in his past and can't really be trusted.

Dollhouse. I wonder who the executive producer of that show was...

And that proves my point. Whedon has done certain things with his shows before that break the mould. If this is just yet another undercover mission as like most other shows, it will be really boring. Yes, people did get to know and perhaps like Ward as he was one of the main characters, but this was set up precisely for that reason to pull people in (if indeed he is a villain).

 

[ares834]

I agree. It makes it 100000X more interesting. It's bold and fun.

If it's a triple agent thing, I might be unimpressed. This way it feels real and now sunshine and rainbows.

Agreed. If they go all triple agent on us I'm going to be extremely disappointed.

 

[Eddie]

I don't think he'll be a triple agent at this point. I do think they may pull a Bucky, however. It's possible some brainwashing is involved.

 

[Joeyjojo72]

Brainwashing slash mind control is the most obvious scenario right now.

 

[Dark Raven]

In case this hasn't been posted, here's an interview with Brett Dalton on his new role in AOS:

http://marvel.com/news/tv/2014/4/8/...nt_wards_new_role_in_marvels_agents_of_shield.

EXCLUSIVE: Brett Dalton on Agent Ward's New Role in Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

SPOILER WARNING: We here at Marvel.com strongly suggest you watch the latest episode of “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” “Turn, Turn, Turn,” before reading further. If you haven’t yet, don't read further. But if you have, read on to learn more about the episode’s shocking events and betrayals!

After the events of tonight’s “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” fans learned that Coulson’s team has harbored a traitor all along with Agent Grant Ward.

Secretly a member of Hydra working for the Clairvoyant, uncovered as Agent John Garrett (Bill Paxton), Ward revealed himself in the final moments of the latest episode by gunning down Agent Victoria Hand.

While you’re still reeling from Ward’s turn to the dark side, we spoke with actor Brett Dalton for the EXCLUSIVE first interview on his character’s shocking new role in the series. Read on to find out how the writers first let Dalton in on the upcoming twist, his relationship with Garrett and much more, and don’t miss an all-new episode of “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” at a special time, 9:00 p.m. ET on ABC, to see how the story continues!

Marvel.com: When did you learn that your character was going to go to the dark side?

Brett Dalton: When we were shooting “Yes Men.” It was a Friday night and [we were filming a] kind of brutal fight between May, and I thought, “Wow, there’s quite a few people on set for a Friday night, watching a fight scene.” Usually they don’t do that.

And then afterwards [Executive Producer] Maurissa [Tancharoen], who is clearly the designated mother of the entire set, was like, “Hey, you’re doing such a great job, the writers just wanted to talk to you after when you were done.” And I didn’t really think anything of it, and she was like, “It’s all good, don’t worry about it, but we just wanted a few [minutes] when you wrap.” [Then] I'm thinking the entire time, holy crap, they're gonna kill me off. I better enjoy this scene then because my days are numbered at this point. And you know I’m on a Joss Whedon show, so from the very beginning I’m not unaware of the fact that my position on the team was not a guarantee.

"Then I'm thinking the entire time, holy crap, they're gonna kill me off."

So there I was, I have not felt that way since middle school probably, being called into the principal’s office. It took me a really long time to get dressed because [of] the whole thing. I remember stalling as much as I could, and I walked in and sat down on the couch and there were all the writers there and I thought, “oh my god.” I was kind of in shock, kind of like, “give it to me doc, tell me the results what do we got here.” Then they proceeded to let me in on what their plan for my character had been all along. I don’t think anyone knew who the Clairvoyant was, so they told me first, “Well, Garrett is the clairvoyant and Garrett is your supervising officer and you trained under him so that makes you also part of Hydra.” And I think I just sat there with my jaw open for the next 20 minutes, and they just did all of the talking because I couldn’t say anything. It was a huge turn. I didn’t see any of that coming, so I was just shock for about the next day. Then it sank in and I started to think wow, what a cool opportunity. Because the Ward I thought I was going to be playing for the next few seasons, the whole thing just changed. Now I think what I was given was just a huge opportunity to play somebody who is more complex, more interesting, more dangerous, scarier in a way that Ward wasn’t. I get to play two different characters in a way.

Sixteen and a half episodes of a guy who is very trustworthy and rolled up his sleeves and did all the heavy lifting and didn’t really question authority. You know, a by-the-book risk assessor, and yet here I am. The last five episodes and I get to play somebody who I really think just has a troubled past. It’s so juicy [and] it’s so much more complex than the character I was before that.

I mean, I think it fulfilled a promise of his past. We got from the very beginning, [when] he’s talking to Coulson about how he has a troubled past and the whole revelation that he doesn’t play well with others. The Berserker episode, we get bits and pieces of this troubled past. This delivers on it in an interesting way that nobody sees coming.

Marvel.com: When you found out that this was all happening, were you ultimately glad that you didn’t know this was coming when you were doing the first 15 episodes? Do you think you would have been inclined to tip your hand if you had known?

Brett Dalton: Yes, yes I was very glad I did not know it. I don’t think there was any way I could of gotten that same amount of earnestness in that character. I think the temptation would have been to absolutely tip your hand prior to [this episode]. And TV is about the slow burn. [In] TV we have 22 episodes to tell the story, and I would of absolutely tried to give away too much too quickly. So I’m very happy that it developed as it did.

I’m not used to doing mystery either, because usually I’m doing plays, I’m doing things that are more or less a set story that you have two hours to tell, [where] there’s a beginning, middle and an end and you have a really big rehearsal process. So this whole TV thing is kind of a big opportunity for me to learn a whole [new] way to tell a story.

Marvel.com: Yeah, and what makes it so perfect like you say is that you played Ward so earnestly in those first 15 episodes that his turn came as an even greater shock. But which has been more fun for you? To play the good guy, or the bad guy?

Brett Dalton: Oh man, so much more fun to play the bad guy. So much more fun. Plus my scenes [are with] Bill Paxton, who I think just has more fun in general on set than I typically do. Sometimes I kind of just act [with my] nose to the ground and [just] do it. And this whole thing has just opened up a kind of levity to it, a kind of, I won’t even say freedom--I’d say fun is the right word. There’s a real joy to it, and it’s great.


Marvel.com: Now Ward, despite his allegiance to Garrett, and therefore Hydra, has developed some personal attachments inside the team. How will those relationships impact him now that he’s back with Garrett?

Brett Dalton: Yeah, try as he might to keep those things in check, I think his feelings--or certain feelings--might have crept up and surprised him. When you’re living, eating, and on missions with people, you become part of that family unit. I think that it probably gets harder and harder to turn that off. I mean I couldn’t imagine doing that myself. Being an embedded spy has to be one of the most difficult jobs I could imagine. Because you have to wear one mask, and not forget about your job, your duty, at the same time. You have to let your guard down in a way, because they need to trust you. But it’s a false sense of letting your guard down. But my loyalty to Garrett wins out. So I have to follow his orders and I have to make some difficult decisions.

Marvel.com: How would you describe Ward’s relationship with Garrett, and how does Ward view Garrett?

Brett Dalton: I think Garrett offered him a [purpose]. He’s someone that’s always felt [like he was overlooked], and he’s somebody who doesn’t always know what to say but is eager to speak, [yet] doesn’t feel like anybody’s listening or anybody cares.

 

[Whiskey Tango]

Thanks, for some reason that page wouldn't open for me last night. Still won't, in fact.

 

[Dark Raven]

No problem.

That interview pretty much confirms that Garrett is the Clairvoyant and that Ward is in fact a villain, not a triple agent.

 

[cph9fa]

No problem.

That interview pretty much confirms that Garrett is the Clairvoyant and that Ward is in fact a villain, not a triple agent.

That's just what an undercover agent would say!

Seriously though, I've started to question the rogue undercover theory after that interview, but I still want it to be true.

 

[Norrin Parker]

So many of my friends were pissed about Ward. I for real did not know people liked his character, he's so boring and bland. I think him being a HYDRA agent is perfect now he can actually be a character.

 

[Dark Raven]

Maybe the actor is bland and boring in real life, but at least they can pass that off now as part of his cover and he can get to do something more interesting.

 

[Loki882]

Actually, if this was his plan all along, then he did a damn good job of it.

-Coulson likes "special projects." Act like you have some personal demons to gain his sympathy.

-May the badass is perhaps the biggest threat to your plan, sleep with her. She seems to have deeper feelings for him that he does for her.

-Befriend Fitz and Simmons.

-Skye, the newest recruit who doesn't particularly like SHIELD anyway. Well, he helped train her and she's got romantic feelings for him. This might make her easier to manipulate, maybe even recruit into HYDRA. That's less likely now with them being exposed, but it may have been the initial plan.

-Also, Coulson mentions the Cellist to Ward on a mission. A few episodes later, Raina uses to Cellist to try and manipulate Coulson. Foreshadowing, I think so.

 

[Dark Raven]

Actually, if this was his plan all along, then he did a damn good job of it.

-Coulson likes "special projects." Act like you have some personal demons to gain his sympathy.

-May the badass is perhaps the biggest threat to your plan, sleep with her. She seems to have deeper feelings for him that he does for her.

-Befriend Fitz and Simmons.

-Skye, the newest recruit who doesn't particularly like SHIELD anyway. Well, he helped train her and she's got romantic feelings for him. This might make her easier to manipulate, maybe even recruit into HYDRA. That's less likely now with them being exposed, but it may have been the initial plan.

-Also, Coulson mentions the Cellist to Ward on a mission. A few episodes later, Raina uses to Cellist to try and manipulate Coulson. Foreshadowing, I think so.

I am hoping it was Ward's plan. It was be so dull if he only recently decided to go undercover or he is being manipulated. I don't see why he HAS to be good. Just because people got to know him as good? But it was all a cover anyway.

I think the show will be far more interesting if he is a genuine villain. It actually gives more structure as well to other things that have happened in the first season, because they weren't simply random and unconnected but orchestrated/ manipulated by Ward. If he is just undercover, then the majority of the first season remains mediocre. If he was a villain all along, then some of the stuff we've seen is cleverer than we thought. Now why do people still want to adhere to the first option?

 

[Ghostcrow13]

I am hoping it was Ward's plan. It was be so dull if he only recently decided to go undercover or he is being manipulated. I don't see why he HAS to be good. Just because people got to know him as good? But it was all a cover anyway.

I think the show will be far more interesting if he is a genuine villain. It actually gives more structure as well to other things that have happened in the first season, because they weren't simply random and unconnected but orchestrated/ manipulated by Ward. If he is just undercover, then the majority of the first season remains mediocre. If he was a villain all along, then some of the stuff we've seen is cleverer than we thought. Now why do people still want to adhere to the first option?

He's got to be Hydra, the writers said if you look back through the episodes there are signs. Well that wouldn't make sense if he was not Hydra.

 

[Destructus86]

Still not convinced he's Hydra. I think he's something else entirely. He's working for someone else. He never said Hail Hydra...if he WAS Hydra I feel the writers would have had him say it just before killing Hand.

 

[cph9fa]

If Ward really was assigned to the team as a Hydra agent, then he probably wasn't one of May's hand-picked members(*). Especially if Garrett is actually the one responsible for Ward's being on the team (I don't recall -- was this confirmed in-show?).

If this is the case, then May would've seen Ward as an unknown on the team (along with Skye). Don't forget that she was the one who initiated the relationship with Ward, not the other way around. She probably wanted to keep a close eye on him.

(*) Its true that, in addition to Fitz/Simmons, she mentions picking someone capable of taking Coulson down if needed. I initially took this as referring to Ward, but in hindsight, she's more likely referring to herself.

EDIT:
I just thought of something else that's funny/ironic in hindsight. In the pilot episode, Coulson injects Ward with a "truth serum" (QNB-T16) to gain Skye's trust. A few episodes later, Ward claims that there was no truth serum and that it was all staged, but Coulson doesn't confirm or deny it... We never saw what that interrogation actually looked like.