Agents of SHIELD returned this season and jumped into the thick of it quick. As shown in several promos for the Marvel series’ fourth season, a supernatural element has been added in the form of the Spirit of Vengeance himself-Ghost Rider. Fans were likely looking for the Johnny Blaze version of this character but Marvel went with the current incarnation Roberto “Robbie” Reyes. Instead of a flaming motorcycle, this Ghost Rider drives a modified 1969 Dodge Charger. His inclusion in Agents brings a new dynamic to the series as the team will eventually have to contend with supernatural beings. Daisy’s story of her current situation following her defection looks like it will intertwine with Robbie Reyes’ story about using his Ghost Rider powers to clean up the crime in his East Los Angeles neighborhood. An uneasy partnership could follow since their paths lead to a mutual adversary. Speaking of which, Robbie’s transformation into Ghost Rider is amazing and his fiery form is reminiscent of skeletal depictions during the Mexican holiday celebration Day of the Dead, likely due to Robbie being Mexican-American himself. As we all know from last season, the inclusion of Life Model Decoys or LMDs is apparent. Leo Fitz has the opportunity to meet one of these sophisticated robots and is both marveled and shocked by how close to lifelike it is. The element is there for something to go wrong when Fitz asked that the LMD be not revealed until it is perfect. If you know about the “Terminator” films or “I, Robot” then you can guess what may happen. Well, there’s a new director in the house and the team has been split up. Everyone works with adjusting to their new positions, some more reluctantly than others. Tension will again play a part and test the team’s integrity while they all unanimously despise the new director of SHIELD (hmm, wonder who that could be).
Gabriel Luna, best known for his leading roles as Tony Bravo on the El Rey Network action drama series Matador (2014) and Paco Contreras on ABC’s crime drama series Wicked City (2015), portrays Roberto “Robbie” Reyes, the latest person to wear the Ghost Rider mantle
Overall, Agents of SHIELD kicked their fourth season off with an interesting new dynamic and Ghost Rider who will be a game changer as his presence will bring about a darker entity into the series. Unlike Coulson and his (former) team, Ghost Rider actively kills those with dark souls leaving no room for negotiation. Plus, it will be interesting to see Fitz and Simmons try to find the science behind the supernatural. Unlike some fans who objected to this incarnation of Ghost Rider, looking for the motorcycle riding one, I was intrigued to see how he would play into this. Something had to be done in an attempt to redeem the character after the severe disappointment that was the Sony film “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance”. Hopefully, Marvel getting back the rights from Sony will assist in revitalizing the Ghost Rider character while adding a mystical twist to the technological aspect of the series.
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- Ghost Rider is ready to blaze a trail this season. Of burning souls, that is.
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- Daisy’s path will cross that of Ghost Rider as they hunt a common foe.
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- Season 4 cast (L to R): Chloe Bennet, Natalia Cordova-Buckley Ming-Na Wen (sitting), Clark Gregg, Henry Simmons, Iain De Ceastecker, Elizabeth Henstridge
Check out Ghost Rider’s introduction into Agents of SHIELD!!
And it’s the battle of FireQuake!!
