Fans of classic mythology, or those who have taken literature classes, will recognize that the hero's journey is one of our most beloved stories. Readers and audience love to see someone down on their luck rise above their challenges to become a true hero. Along the way, the hero encounters a lot of similar character types, which is true, even in modern science fiction, fantasy, and superhero stories like Agents Of SHIELD.
While the names academics have given to these character types, or archetypes, might change over the years, there is an agreed-upon dozen popularized by Carl Jung, and additional types popularized by Joseph Campbell. There are, of course, well-known types like 'the hero' and 'the villain,' but there are also 'mentors,' 'allies,' 'companions,' and even 'shapeshifters.' Agents Of SHIELD manages to fill all of those roles over the course of its seven seasons.
The Warrior/Hero/Orphan: Daisy Johnson
When examining a hero's journey, there has to be a hero at the center of the story. When Agents Of SHIELD first premiered, a lot of Marvel fans might have thought that hero would end up being Coulson. The series, however, is very much the story of Daisy Johnson coming into her own.
Daisy, who doesn't initially know her birth name or her family history, just wants the mysteries of her life to be revealed by SHIELD. Not only does she get that, but she also finds herself a team, a family, and the strength to become a hero. With or without her Inhuman abilities, the changes that Daisy goes through over the course of the series certainly make her into a leader determined to fight injustice.
Threshold Guardians: Hydra Agents And Chronicoms
"Threshold guardian" might sound like a strange term, but it really just means that these are characters who are a direct obstacle for the hero at the center of the story. While Agents Of SHIELD features a lot of villains, and a lot of obstacles, the overall story for Daisy places Hydra and what's left of the Chronicoms in her path the most.
Hydra agents are embedded in SHIELD at the start of the series. They are responsible for the first Inhuman making its way to Earth, prevent her from getting to her friends in the Framework, and even the villains of the past Daisy has to face to secure SHIELD's future. Likewise, the Chronicoms are the villains at the center of the later seasons, even aligning with Hydra thanks to their shared interests. Daisy and her allies repeatedly face off against these groups make them textbook threshold guardians.
The Caregiver/Mentor: Melinda May And Phil Coulson
Caregivers often fill a parental role for the hero. They're the ones watching out for them when the hero might not have anyone else. The mentor can be a caregiver, but more often than not, they're the person imparting wisdom and special skills to the hero to help them on their journey.
Because Coulson spouting words of wisdom to Daisy, but both characters help shape Daisy into the SHIELD agent she'll become while giving her the parents she never had.
The False Mentor: Grant Ward
When the series begins, it seems like Grant Ward is there to not only fill the love interest role but also to become Daisy's mentor. He frequently explains SHIELD details to Daisy and starts training her in weapons and self-defense. Ward, however, is not set to become her mentor.
False mentors are exactly what they sound like. They don't have to be a wolf in sheep's clothing like Ward, who goes on to betray Daisy. Sometimes, they are simply there to fill a role until the hero connects with their true mentor. Ward gets to do that as well as be the bad guy.
The Ally/Outlaw: Lance Hunter And Elena Rodriguez
Allies are, as their name would suggest, friends who help the hero on their journey. These aren't necessarily mentors or love interests, but people who can fight, research, or aid the hero in some other way. The outlaw is the rebel. This is the character that's going to bend the rules to see how far they can go before the rules are completely broken. They tend to be outspoken and honest to a fault.
Lance Hunter, despite only appearing regularly for two seasons, and Elena Rodriguez both fit the bill. Both characters have to decide whether or not they even want to be a part of SHIELD, and when they do, they tend to follow their own codes of honor instead of what the person in charge wants them to do.
The Ally/Shapeshifter: Bobbi Morse
There are often characters that always seem to have a twist, that one person the audience wants to trust, but isn't entirely sure if they can. Of the main characters in Agents Of SHIELD, Bobbi Morse fits that mold best.
She's someone who is incredibly adept at undercover work. When the audience first meets her, she's working as a Hydra operative, but her allegiance is to SHIELD - or is it? Bobbi reveals herself as a member of the "real SHIELD" not long after. Ultimately, Bobbi's loyalty is to justice, and she'll align herself with anyone who feels the same way.
The Ally/Explorer: Jemma Simmons
There might not be a character who is by Daisy's side more, or in on her development, than Jemma Simmons. Jemma even patches Daisy up and goes out on a "mission" with her when Daisy is technically an Inhuman fugitive. They don't always see eye-to-eye, but that's largely because of Jemma's role as the explorer.
An explorer tends to be defined by their curiosity. They are the character that always wants to push further and experience new things. Jemma is the person who s Coulson's team to experience the "journey into mystery," gets excited at the prospect of dissecting aliens, and refuses to go back to Earth when there's a spaceship she can use to search for her missing husband.
The Ruler/Everyman: Alphonso Mackenzie
The ruler is a character in a position of authority, someone who outranks the hero. They can help the hero on their journey, but they can also hinder them. Alphonso Mackenzie doesn't begin his time on the series as a ruler, but he does grow into that role while still maintaining his everyman status.
Mack is the character who often says what the audience is thinking - like how dangerous a situation is. He's also the person who ends up placed in the position to deny Daisy missions or defer to her judgment, depending on the situation.
The Companion: Lincoln Campbell And Daniel Sousa
The companion is the character positioned to be the love interest for the hero. They might not end up in a relationship by the end of the series, like Lincoln Campbell, but their love and help the hero make it through the journey.
When Daisy loses Lincoln, she closes herself off from the possibility of love for a while, but Sousa's complete faith and trust in her during the final season of Agents Of SHIELD helps her open back up.
The Shadow/Villain: The Malick Family
If Hydra is one of the largest obstacles for Daisy throughout the series, it's because of the Malick family. Though a member doesn't make an appearance early in the show, they prove to be the people behind most of the big conflicts that come Daisy's way. It is, after all, the Malicks who maintain the ancient practice of sacrificing people to Hydra's inspiration: Hive, the first Inhuman.
Gideon, Stephanie, Wilfred, and Nathaniel all play roles at different points in the show, but Daisy's ultimate showdown to save the world is against Nathaniel Malick. He ends up as the last Malick standing, and his quest for domination comes to an end.