Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. may only be 10 episodes into Season 2, but so far the show has featured a diverse selection of guest stars, including Lucy Lawless, Haley Atwell, Kyle MacLachlan, Patton Oswalt and many more. Following this week’s epic midseason finale, the series is going on a hiatus until March, but production is still chugging along in the meantime, and there are already plans to bring another recognizable face on board. It’s been announced that TV veteran Blair Underwood is the latest TV star scheduled to appear on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. this season.
According to THR, Underwood has scored a recurring role as Dr. Andrew Garner, agent Melinda May’s “estranged ex-husband.” He will begin filming the episode this week, which is scheduled to be released in March. Underwood is no stranger to the world of television. He’s earned two Golden Globe nominations for his work on L.A. Law and In Treatment. His recent work includes playing Ludie Watts in the Lifetime TV movie The Trip To Bountiful and starring as the titular character in the short-lived NBC series Ironside. Although this is his first live-action comic book role, it isn’t his first time being part of a comic book project. In 2012 he voiced the Superman of Tokyo in a series of DC Nation shorts on Cartoon Network. Unlike Superman though, Garner is an original character created for the TV series, so don’t bother turning to the comic books to figure out what he’ll be like.
Melinda May isn’t known for being a sociable character, so aside from her notorious mission in Bahrain, what we know about her past doesn’t amount to much. However, May mentioned that she used to be married in the Season 1 episode “The Only Light in the Darkness.” The ex-husband was referenced again this season when Bobbi Morse asked May whether she still talked to him, to which May remained silent. It’s unclear whether Garner and May met through S.H.I.E.L.D. or outside of the clandestine organization, but obviously their marriage ended pretty badly if May is unwilling to talk about him. Granted, she doesn’t like to talk at all, but at least she’s willing to acknowledge most uncomfortable situations with at least a few words. Morse and Lance Hunter might have had a bad break-up, but May and Garner could end up taking first prize in that category.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is returning in March to its Tuesday, 9 p.m. ET timeslot after Agent Carter finishes its run. So presumably we’ll be seeing Dr. Garner in one of the first episodes of the show's return.
