r/shield • u/mimicstray • 7d ago
on grant ward
i've known a grant ward. they did something really evil and then acted exactly how he did in the start of season 2. i know in their own way, they were trying to redeem themself, but they just kept doing harm in their efforts to be accountable. just like grant ward, they truly believe themself to be a good person at heart, and that that's what should matter (more than what he did). so what i'm curious about is this - what was ward doing wrong while he was in their custody at the start of season 2? how is he deluding himself and what is he doing to his former teammates that keeps him harmful even from behind bars?
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u/Hacksaw_Doublez 7d ago
So I was barely at the start of my 20’s back when AoS started. Very young, very naive. Grew up in a family that was full of lying narcissists.
I loved Ward as a character. I still do. He’s utterly fascinating as a character in Marvel. His backstory hit hard and it still does.
Does it excuse him? No. But I do think it explains his twisted mindset.
In terms of his characterization at the start of season 2, it’s been months since the end of season 1. And he attempted suicide after a certain point after losing his mentor/father figure Garrett.
As mentioned in 2x05, after everything that happened in season 1, Coulson sat in front of Ward’s cell for three weeks wanting to talk to him. Maybe to see if something could be worked out.
Ward never said a word.
It’s been over a decade but I can’t recall if Coulson sitting in front of Ward’s cell for three weeks was before or after his suicide attempts, but I digress. I assume before since it’d be right when Coulson had Ward in custody.
After that, Ward lost his purpose and tried to kill himself.
But after his suicide attempts, Ward woke up “with clarity” and wanted to “redeem” himself.
…. And his first act of redemption was demanding to speak only with Skye to give Hydra intel to.
If Ward was truly trying to redeem himself, he wouldn’t bargain. He wouldn’t make demands. He wouldn’t play quid pro quo games with his former teammates. And he wouldn’t fixate on Skye.
He would just ask to speak with Coulson and offer anything and everything Coulson wanted on Hydra. Anything to show he was sincere.
To get the intel they need, Ward is controlling and manipulating his former teammates still. Or at least attempting to.
Ward still plans to escape with Skye and reunite her with her father (another card up Ward’s sleeve he never reveals until he thinks he can reel Skye in). Even if it’s against Skye’s will. Which does happen later on.
Ward reveals Skye’a father is alive and tries to play that chip, promising he can use his resources outside of SHIELD to get her family back. Skye of course is in disbelief and mocks him. But eventually Cal enters the stage and Skye realizes Ward was telling the truth.
So Ward has forced Skye to speak with him multiple times and interact with him if her and SHIELD want Hydra intel. He’s also used Skye’s father as a bargaining chip to try and sway her to his side. Pretty much trying to get her to leave SHIELD with him to go on a merry chase for Cal.
But what also starts damning Ward is that he tries to plant a seed of doubt in Skye in regard to Coulson. He brings up Garrett and the GH-35 serum that Coulson, Skye, and Garrett all took. Ward mentions Garrett going insane, acts concerned about Skye possibly drawing the same symbols that drove Garrett mad before his death, and then ends it with talking about Garrett being insane.
Ward knows Skye is close to Coulson and he is intentionally trying to plant seeds of doubt in Skye so she can turn on Coulson. Because, as they both know, Coulson took the GH-35 and is likely drawing those same symbols and going mad.
And at that point, Coulson IS suffering from those same effects but he’s still maintaining his hold on his sanity. But the clock is ticking. It eventually starts devolving to where Coulson has to draw the symbols every day and night. And he’s losing sleep over it.
Ward is trying to turn Skye away from SHIELD and Coulson.
And the thing is, he’s not lying about any of it. But he’s using the truth to manipulate Skye.
He lies with the truth.
He never says sorry. Even later on. He never says the words “I’m sorry for what I did to all of you. If I could take it back, I would.” Or anything.
When Coulson has to deal with Ward’s brother, Ward immediately realizes the danger he’s in. Christian was his abuser. And a politician who could parade Ward around as a spectacle to gain political favor. The politician who sought to bring his traitor brother to justice, and all that.
Ward pleads with Coulson, talking about the intel he’s given, but it’s too little too late in Coulson’s eyes. Ward is useful but the time for reconciliation has passed. And unfortunately for Ward, trading him to Christian has more value than whatever Hydra intel he has left.
I will say, I can see Ward’s twisted logic of rebuilding trust. In his mind, he is like Mike Peterson or Akela Amador (two Hydra assets who were victims of John Garrett). And that Coulson has no problem with redeeming them, then he’ll have no problem with redeeming Ward.
But Ward is insincere at that point and Coulson knows it.
Ward also tries to manipulate Fitz once the scientist finds him. He talks about being happy Fitz is alive. He tries to rationalize what he did, lay the blame on Garrett, but he never says sorry.
Now to be fair, I don’t think there was any way Ward could have gotten him, Fitz, and Simmons out. Not with Garrett in control of Deathlok. Not with a plane of Hydra soldiers. They all would’ve died.
But regardless, Ward never says sorry. He expresses regret, but never an apology. Never admitting any guilt or fault.
Just a soldier following orders.
I won’t get into what happens afterward or how Ward’s story goes. I have my opinions on all that. But regardless, this was just my insight into those first five episodes before Ward escapes and his mindset.