Can Agents of SHIELD continue on without THAT person?

Spoilers for last week’s Agents of SHIELD abound, but we have some feelings on whether or not the show could survive without one of its main characters

In case you missed this past week’s episode of Agents of SHIELD, we had a lot of exposition and heartfelt speeches. . .  you know, what makes up a standard Agents of SHIELD episode.

Warning: Spoilers Ahead!

In case you’ve forgotten, this week’s episode finally revealed that deal Coulson made with Ghost Rider: it basically took away what Project TAHITI did.

MARVEL’S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. – “Best Laid Plans” – Mack, Yo-Yo and Flint fight to keep everyone alive by starting a revolution against the Kree, on “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” FRIDAY, JAN. 26 (9:00-10:01 p.m. EST), on the ABC Television Network. (ABC/Eric McCandless)

CLARK GREGG

Phil Coulson is dying.

Which. . . we already knew, thanks to future-Elena. We just didn’t know how. Now that the Kree magic has been taken away, dead cells are taking over his body, and Simmons has no way to cure something that’s already dead.

We’re here to ask: Can the show survive without Agent Coulson?

There are pros and cons to it, of course. Since the beginning, Skye/Daisy was heralded as the main character. While everyone hated her at the start, she’s grown into one of the best characters on the show. And I’m not just saying that because she could quake my very existence apart.

Coulson gave her a grandiose speech last week where he basically told her she is SHIELD; she can head it up. This is what she’s been trained for since she joined SHIELD.

Daisy refused to believe she can run SHIELD. Can you blame her? I agreed with all of what she said, too. Coulson is the symbol, not SHIELD. A SHIELD without Coulson just doesn’t make sense. Since Iron Man, he’s been an integral part of the Marvel universe.

Would viewers still tune in if Clark Gregg no longer headlines the show? We have enough invested in the other characters that it probably wouldn’t be too much of a shift. And if this is the last season, why not go for it? Give us an ending.

Next: 3 things we want to see if this is Agents of SHIELD’s final season

The question remains: Is Agents of SHIELD willing to take that risk? Only time can tell.