Agents Of SHIELD's New Villain Shares A Fan Theory About Coulson

02/01/2017 10:42 am EST

After weeks of teasing, last night's episode of Marvel's Agents of SHIELD finally revealed the mastermind who has been funding Senator Nadeer and the Watchdogs, and the man who operates under the title of "The Superior" has some interesting thoughts about Phil Coulson.

Spoilers for Marvel's Agents of SHIELD Season 4 Episode 12, "Hot Potato Soup," follow.

The Superior is actual Anton Ivanov, a Russian industrialist. Ivanov is "old school," and believes firmly in the strength of humanity. He also believes that he is the "superior" human, which is where he draws the title from. He refuses to rely on machines, though he does collect old Russian military items and believes Inhumans have an unearned power that they don't deserve, which is why he backs the Watchdogs.

Ivanov has a bigger plan than just using the Watchdogs to commit random hate crimes against Inhumans. As Ivanov explains to Radcliffe in the closing scene of "Hot Potato Soup," there's one man who always seems to be present when the Earth has alien problems. That man is Phil Coulson.

To prove his point, the Superior opens a folder full of images of Coulson hanging around the periphery of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's major events. Several of the photos come straight from Marvel Studios movies such as Thor. He has Coulson's obituary from a newspaper. After learning that Coulson is still alive, which Radcliffe confirms for him, the Superior becomes convinced that Coulson must be behind the alien incursions and the rise of the Inhumans.

What's interesting about the Superior's idea and how he lays it out and is that it is basically the framework of a fan theory. Ivanov notes a common, recurring element and sees a pattern where there may not actually be one, or where one may be but not one that proves a causality. It's unclear if this possible bit of meta-commentary is intentional, but it is interesting regardless.

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Unrelated to Ivanov's fixation on Coulson, and speaking of fan theories, there's something familiar about him. He's a Russian villain and he's really into old Russian military history. He's also at odds with the premiere American spy organization. His whole set up seems like it could have a connection to Leviathan, the Russian shadow organization that appeared in Agent Carter, but maybe now we''re seeing patterns where there are none.

Marvel's Agents of SHIELD airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET on ABC.