If you’re an Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. fan who skipped Agent Carter, you may be wondering, “Who is Agent Daniel Sousa?”
The promo trailer for the upcoming episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., titled “Alien Commies From The Future!,” features Sousa (played by Enver Gjokaj).
So to understand what his appearance might mean for this season, let’s run through his character history.
Who is Agent Daniel Sousa?
Agent Daniel Sousa first appeared in Season One of the ABC show Agent Carter, a series focused on the life of Peggy Carter following Captain America: The First Avenger (you should definitely watch Agent Carter if you haven’t yet).
A World War II veteran who lost a leg in the war, Sousa is an agent of the Strategic Scientific Reserve (SSR) where he worked alongside Peggy. Sousa is an honest, hardworking agent who resents the pity he gets for his disability and often butts heads with some of his brasher colleagues.
Although he was initially suspicious of Peggy because of her involvement with Howard Stark, who was under investigation by the SSR, they eventually became allies and friends. Sousa was pivotal in stopping Doctor Johann Fennhoff, a member of the Soviet espionage agency Leviathan which stole weapons from Howard Stark and set him up.
Season One ended with the suggestion that a romantic relationship may be brewing between Agents Carter and Sousa. At the start of Season Two, however, it’s revealed Sousa was transferred to run the SSR Los Angeles office and is seeing another woman.
The two are reunited in Los Angeles when Peggy is sent to help work a case and by the finale, they begin a romantic relationship. That’s the last we see of Sousa as the show was canceled after its second season.
Whether he and Peggy end up together is a bit murky. The film Captain America: The Winter Soldier does establish that Peggy Carter married a World War II vet who had been saved by Captain America.
So for a while, it made sense that she could’ve been referring to Sousa, who the show seemed to be setting up as her “end game.” However, then the movie Endgame seemed to discount that theory as Captain America ultimately ended up traveling back in time to be with Peggy.
Whether Steve Rogers’ time-traveling created a new timeline, or he was Peggy’s unnamed husband all along, changes depending on who you ask. Directors Joe and Anthony Russo believe it created a new timeline, while screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely say the unnamed husband was always meant to be Steve. Unfortunately, between the show’s early cancellation and MCU continuity inconsistencies, Peggy Carter and Daniel Sousa never had a real chance at happily ever after.
What could his appearance mean?
Agent Daniel Sousa will appear in episode 3 of this season and in the teaser trailer Daisy refers to Sousa as “Peggy Carter’s old partner.”
Although the decade this episode takes place hasn’t been confirmed, the clip appears to have a 50s vibe. Coulson also references Area 51, which was built in 1955.
If the episode does indeed take place in the 50s, that sets it after the Agent Carter series. At that point, Sousa could be working as an agent of the newly created S.H.I.E.L.D. or be with another government agency related to the site.
So why would his path cross with the modern S.H.I.E.L.D team? Sousa could either be working with the team that has the weapon the Chronicoms are attempting to steal OR he was sent to investigate it.
Viewers will have to wait until episode 3 to learn more about Sousa’s role in this season.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. airs on Wednesdays on ABC.