INTERVIEW: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. S6 – Jeff Ward

With Season 5 of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. just around the corner, the cast sat down to discuss their characters’ arcs and what kind of otherworldly journey audiences can expect. Jeff Ward, who plays Fitzsimmons’ grandson Deke from the future, has an especially interesting outlook considering this is only his second year on the show and Deke’s second stuck in a new world as well as in the past.

“Deke’s trying to figure out what makes this world tick so that he can take advantage of it,” the actor said about his ambitious character this season. “He’s good at manipulating his surroundings and the people around him to kind of work to his benefit.” But being a stranger in a strange land means that he can’t gain the advantage as easily as before, right? To that, Ward teased, “He’s from the future so he’s got some aces up his sleeve, I think.” Perhaps the map he took off the ship will help him acclimate in some way.

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Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. already spent some time last year letting Deke explore the new Earth he found himself on, so Ward explained that he’d be slightly less of a fish out of water this time around. “He figures stuff out quickly and then kind of takes to them maybe too quickly. He might get a little ahead of himself in terms of what he thinks something is or does or means and how he employs them,” the young man described. “It’s sort of more of a thing that rears its head at random times, because he’s smart so he’s able to figure it out. But… There are lemon moments for sure. And there are literal lemon moments.”

While Deke’s introduction last season made him out to be somewhat of a selfish being, he’s slowly grown more heroic as he grew fonder of the S.H.I.E.L.D. team. According to Ward, that progress is something that will continue. “He’s getting closer and closer to these people because they are his family. I mean, literally, and through the literal family, the extended family. So I think he has a vested interest in hopefully helping these people out.” And one person he’s especially interested in is Daisy Johnson, on whom he’s bee harboring a major crush. While the actor wouldn’t confirm a romance being in the cards, he did say, “They will definitely spend a bunch more time together and their relationship continues to grow and evolve, I think.” Finally, he added, “I hope something happens. Wouldn’t that be nice?”

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 6 premieres May 10th on ABC.