- "He kidnapped her. And then he replaced her. For weeks, we lived with an android impostor right next to us. I drank with her, chatting it up. She was spying on us on Radcliffe's behalf."
- ―Phil Coulson to Agnes Kitsworth[src]
The Replacement of Melinda May was an offensive strike orchestrated by Holden Radcliffe in his quest to steal the Darkhold from S.H.I.E.L.D. by replacing Melinda May with her Life-Model Decoy.
Background[]
Rescue from the Interdimensional Void[]
- "I hear you're on your way to personally escort Aida. Why?"
"Well, no one knows what she can do. And she saw the Darkhold." - ―Holden Radcliffe and Melinda May[src]
When Phil Coulson, Leo Fitz, and Robbie Reyes were trapped in an interdimensional space between Earth and Hell, Melinda May was insistent that the key to rescuing them was in the Darkhold. She showed the book to Holden Radcliffe, who upon skimming for a few seconds, stopped reading the book, saying it was too much for the human brain handle. His android Aida was then tasked with reading the book, upon which she learned the means to create an Inter-Dimensional Gate to save Coulson and Fitz, and later Reyes, from being pulled into Hell.[1]
However, the brief moment of scanning the book was enough to corrupt Radcliffe and, upon hearing May was going to retrieve Aida to help against Eli Morrow, gave Aida a specific command called Sunset Protocol.[2]
Replacement[]
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Melinda May is kept sedated at the Radcliffe Residence
- "You're not May."
"Why would you say that?"
"Because there's some things you can't fake. He switched you, didn't he?" - ―Phil Coulson and Melinda May LMD[src]
Upon arriving, Melinda May was completely unaware of Aida's intentions. May informed Aida that Jeffrey Mace had requested her and Holden Radcliffe's assistance to defeat Eli Morrow. However, catching her off guard, the Life-Model Decoy was able to drug and knock out May.[3] While unconscious, Aida kept the agent drugged as she programmed the Melinda May LMD with May's memories, so it would believe that it was the genuine Melinda May, and the two androids went to aid in stopping Morrow.[2]
Aftermath[]
Infiltration into S.H.I.E.L.D[]
- "I assure you, the real Melinda May is fine. She's safe and healthy... and under my protection."
- ―Holden Radcliffe LMD to Melinda May LMD[src]
Agent Nathan B. Nathanson was sent to Radcliffe's residence to collect items, and discovered an unconscious Melinda May, only to be killed by Aida seconds later.[3]
Melinda May LMD blends in with S.H.I.E.L.D. unaware of her true nature
The May LMD was initially unaware of her programming and thought of herself as the real May, but was set to grab the Darkhold for Radcliffe once the opportunity presented itself. Meanwhile, in order to keep May passive, Radcliffe and Aida worked on improving the Framework to keep her mind occupied from trying to escape the simulation and waking up.[2]
Unbeknownst to her, she was used by Radcliffe to keep eyes on what happened in the Playground. When Jeffrey Mace planned to get rid of the Darkhold, Radcliffe programmed Aida to infiltrate the S.H.I.E.L.D. facility to get it. During this event, Aida managed to briefly get the book by deactivating May LMD. But she was stopped by Alphonso Mackenzie who beheaded the android.[4]
True Nature[]
May LMD discovers she is an android
- "Forget duty and honor and simply take what you want. You are who you are."
- ―Holden Radcliffe LMD to Melinda May LMD[src]
May LMD's true nature was exposed to her after the unsuccessful assassination attempt on Mace. LMD May noticed that under her wounded skin there were cables and metallic pieces.[5] She got dressed and hid her wounds, and then went to a meeting with Jeffrey Mace, Glenn Talbot, Phil Coulson, Daisy Johnson and Jemma Simmons to discuss what to do with Ellen Nadeer, who was cooperating with the Watchdogs. The team decided that while Johnson went to a hearing at the United States Capitol, Coulson and Yo-Yo Rodriguez would infiltrate Nadeer's office to find evidence that would expose her. Distressed, LMD May talked to Fitz about Aida to try to decipher how she was an android, since she believed she was the real May and was unaware of the replacement.
May LMD talks to Simmons and starts suspecting that she may be the spy
When the infiltration into Ellen Nadeer's office failed since Nadeer was aware of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s plans, LMD May realized they had a mole in the base. While Simmons thought someone was using Aida's beheaded head to spy on them, LMD May started to get suspicious that she was being used to spy on her friends. At the Radcliffe Residence, Holden Radcliffe was impressed that LMD May had become aware of her nature and asked how, he then told her that she was not the real Melinda May, who was unconscious and heavily sedated. LMD May then threatened to tell Coulson of Radcliffe's agenda but he replied that she was unable to do it since she was programmed for a specific mission, and she could not comment on her real nature until the mission was completed. Before their discussion continued, a team of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents led by Coulson, Simmons and Leo Fitz arrived and arrested Radcliffe after Fitz realized that the reason Aida had tried to steal the Darkhold was because she was programmed to do it.[2] However, they had not arrested the real Holden Radcliffe who created a LMD version of himself as a decoy in case S.H.I.E.L.D. discovered his plans and had reunited with the leader of the Watchdogs, the Superior.[6]
Uncovering the Truth[]
May LMD holds a gun at Coulson
- "Hey. We'll find her. I promise."
- ―Daisy Johnson to Phil Coulson[src]
When Billy Koenig was kidnapped in an attempt to learn of the location of the Darkhold by the Watchdogs, Phil Coulson, "Melinda May", LT Koenig and other S.H.I.E.L.D. agents went to the Labyrinth to secure the book. However, due to her programming LMD May grabbed the book and threatened Coulson by pointing a gun at him. Coulson realized she was not the real May, before he could do something, Quake who had been alerted of "May"'s true nature by Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons attacked her, taking her down. During the battle, LMD May managed to take the book from Billy Koenig and gave it to Holden Radcliffe who had just arrived. LMD May asked Radcliffe to take her with him but he refused to do it, saying that she had fulfilled her purpose and was of no use.[6] Afterwards, LMD May was deactivated and kept at the Playground while Coulson and the others looked for the real May to bring her home.[7]
Unexpected Sacrifice[]
Melinda May's LMD confronts Coulson LMD
Eventually, Aida captured Phil Coulson, Leo Fitz, Jeffrey Mace and Alphonso Mackenzie and trapped them inside the Framework while replacing them with LMDs versions of themselves who were sent to the Playground to lure all Inhumans S.H.I.E.L.D. knew of to execute them.[8] Phil Coulson LMD activated Melinda May LMD so she could help them, however, he did not count with May LMD's programming, which was to believe she was the real Melinda May, unlike Coulson and the rest, who were aware of their nature and their programming was made to kill anyone who opposed them. Since her mission to retrieve the Darkhold had been accomplished, May LMD was able to be free and decide on her own. When Daisy Johnson and Jemma Simmons attempted to escape the base to save their friends, May LMD let them go since she was programmed to be like real May, who would always take care of Coulson and the others. When she was confronted by Coulson LMD, she told them that she had the desire to let the S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents escape because that was her own wish, to protect Coulson, to which Coulson LMD said was good. May LMD told him that he was not the real Coulson and then activated a bomb that the LMDs had originally planted in the base, allowing Johnson, Simmons Piper, James Davis and Prince to escape.[9] May LMD's sacrifice ultimately fullfilled her desires to keep Coulson and the rest safe, since Johnson and Simmons managed to rescue the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents from the Framework and defeat Aida and the Watchdogs.[10][11]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 4.07: Deals With Our Devils
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 4.11: Wake Up
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 4.08: The Laws of Inferno Dynamics
- ↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 4.09: Broken Promises
- ↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 4.10: The Patriot
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 4.12: Hot Potato Soup
- ↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 4.13: BOOM
- ↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 4.14: The Man Behind the Shield
- ↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 4.15: Self Control
- ↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 4.20: Farewell, Cruel World!
- ↑ Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: 4.22: World's End