Why I'm Positive Agent Coulson is an LMD (Life Model Decoy)

Why I'm Positive Agent Coulson is an LMD (Life Model Decoy)

Clues I've found that make me believe Coulson is actually an LMD in Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. To me, it seems like they're laying it on pretty thick.

Editorial Opinion
By bHrUuLcKe - Oct 09, 2013 05:10 PM EST
Filed Under: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.



In the first episode of Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., we finally find out how Agent Coulson is still alive after his brush with Loki's scepter. Then we immediately learn from Agent Hill and a Shield doctor that there is something more devious a foot.

The Clues

First one's quick. Clearly Coulson wasn't being rehabilitated in Tahiti since the Shield doctor say's when Coulson is walking away, "Tahiti. He really doesn't know.", which made me think. How can Coulson have memories of something that didn't happen? My best guess... the memories were uploaded. Simple.

"It's a magical place."
A phrase said several times by Coulson in episode one and once in episode two which, as we saw, prompted Skye to reply "You've mentioned that". Now what can this phrase mean? To be honest, I haven't the slightest clue short of a wild guess. What's more interesting to me is that he seems to be compelled to say it almost whenever Tahiti is mentioned. Kind of like a programed response?

Lastly, in this week's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. episode three, Coulson seems to be having trouble releasing a chambered round from a hand gun. Something that's kind of thrown away, and explained with simply, he's getting "rusty". Then towards the end of the episode when he's unable to release a chambered round when practicing, he said a phrase that made my ears perk up. Frustrated with the gun, Coulson says "It should just be muscle memory." Yes, it should be, so why can't he just do it like he use to? Because he doesn't have his old muscles, he doesn't have any kind of muscles except pistons, gears, and cables.

I know I could be reading into the show's dialog a bit too much. But to me It all adds up pretty neatly. And I've been watching Sherlock A LOT lately so, I'm pretty sure I know exactly what I'm talking about.

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Lhornbk
Lhornbk - 10/9/2013, 6:24 PM
You've been watching a lot of Sherlock, and so that's why you have to be right? LMAO.
EpitomeofAwesome
EpitomeofAwesome - 10/9/2013, 6:26 PM
Could be
bHrUuLcKe
bHrUuLcKe - 10/9/2013, 6:45 PM
LIFE, LIFE MODEL DECOY! I wrote that fast but still, I'm disappointed with myself.
bHrUuLcKe
bHrUuLcKe - 10/9/2013, 7:03 PM
@dellamorte1872

Huh. Didn't know that. Haven't noticed any enhanced strength or stamina to speak of yet, but interesting idea for sure.
GinjaNinja
GinjaNinja - 10/9/2013, 7:43 PM
either way something is different. He's either a LMD or revived from some sort of... something
CorndogBurglar
CorndogBurglar - 10/9/2013, 7:57 PM
Cloned evil twin robot.
StatenMan18
StatenMan18 - 10/9/2013, 8:15 PM
So is it almost safe to assume he really did die in the avengers and now the coupon on the show is the LMD with memories of the real one so he doesn't know he isn't real ? Or was he always a LMD
Sirenhound
Sirenhound - 10/9/2013, 9:09 PM
You forgot to mention that also in episode 3, 'The Cavalry' (I know she hates to be called that but I forgot her real name) responded under her breath that "you died". The way she said it makes it clear she was attaching a lot of weight to it and she didn't mean it in a 'you were dead for a number of minutes and revived' sense.
revjordan
revjordan - 10/9/2013, 9:31 PM
Maybe It's magic. I'd much rather it be magic.
Darkknight23
Darkknight23 - 10/9/2013, 9:33 PM
I hope that's not the case. If he is a LMD, then why would a LMD be running a team of Shield agents? That makes no sense.

Also, if Coulson did have a LMD, then why not send it to face off with Loki, instead of trying to face him yourself? I know he had a destroyer canon an all that, but was it worth risking your life on a hunch that your death would galvanize the avengers into action?
bHrUuLcKe
bHrUuLcKe - 10/9/2013, 9:33 PM
@Statenman18

I personally think he was alive and really died in The Avengers and this is his LMD, but who knows for sure? I'd be just fine if it turns out he's been a robot the whole time. Either way. As long as it's presented well.

One cool thing I thought of though. If Coulson really is a Life Model Decoy, or robot basically, It would be very easy for Ultron to take him, make some tweeks, and boom! The Vision. Won't know till we know, right?
JoeMomma29
JoeMomma29 - 10/9/2013, 9:34 PM
He is a clone!
vondoom29
vondoom29 - 10/9/2013, 9:41 PM
I like the Sherlock part. said like a boss.
solidsnake512
solidsnake512 - 10/9/2013, 9:41 PM
Definitely a possibility
Luigi
Luigi - 10/9/2013, 9:44 PM
I don't think it's reading too much when they say it multiple times. That's my guess as well, but I'm really interested to see what's so "magical" about Tahiti.
bHrUuLcKe
bHrUuLcKe - 10/9/2013, 9:46 PM
@Darkknight23

All good points, yes there are holes. I know nothing in regards to the Truth about Coulson's revival. All I can do is speculate after watching the 3 episodes so far. I was just connecting dots and when i did, the answer for me was LMD.
bHrUuLcKe
bHrUuLcKe - 10/9/2013, 9:50 PM
@JoeMomma29

Maybe!

@Nomis

Possibly! That's an interesting possibility.

@vondoom29

Damn Right! Sherlock for life!
Havenless
Havenless - 10/9/2013, 9:54 PM
I think him repeating 'It's a magical place' is actually the biggest clue.

Since he never actually went to Tahiti, his expression could be literal, he was at a 'magical place.'

It's typical Joss Whedon writing. "I told you what happened the whole time, I'm so smart!!"
Wrathpole
Wrathpole - 10/9/2013, 9:54 PM
I think that something is up at the very least, mabey a LMD, mabey something more... "Strange" since Tahiti was so magical.

Also I would like to say in a non nitpick way that he wasn't trying to release a bullet but remove the slide on those pistols since as a Agent he would have lots of practice disabling the guns by removing the top portion there by making them unusable unless reassembled.
Darkknight23
Darkknight23 - 10/9/2013, 10:01 PM
@bHrUuLcKe

I've had the the same feeling as well. It would've been so much better had agent Coulson returned in the pilot and said his LMD face downed Loki and Fury hid him away to conceal that fact. But if Coulson is a LMD, I'd be disappointed.
bHrUuLcKe
bHrUuLcKe - 10/9/2013, 10:01 PM
@Wrathpole

I love learning things, thanks for clearing that up.
Darkknight23
Darkknight23 - 10/9/2013, 10:02 PM
Actually, I wouldn't be that disappointed. I'd think it was typical...
RyGoR
RyGoR - 10/9/2013, 10:03 PM
@B&Y I just finished breaking bad for my third time I guess I can move to Albuquerque and cook meth I'd know this because I watch the show ;)


Good write up mate @bHrUuLcKe (cool name too) been thinking the same thing ya forgot to mention though in the pilot episode he "matrix" dodged a van door that was kicked at him it was a clear nod to coulson being something other than or more than human

Sherlock FTW!!!!!
bHrUuLcKe
bHrUuLcKe - 10/9/2013, 10:03 PM
Loving the Stephen Strange theory!
BigChuter
BigChuter - 10/9/2013, 10:08 PM
I thought that in an interview Clark said that the truth behind coulson's return was way cooler than any of the speculations that he'd heard of, and lmd has been the most prominent theory since the whole thing was announced. The clues so far could certainly be attributed to robot stuff, but I'd love it if it were something more shocking. I haven't been watching Sherlock though so I really have very little idea what I'm talking about.
Anyhow, I'm glad to see this show getting more compelling, and I can't wait to see some
more.
bHrUuLcKe
bHrUuLcKe - 10/9/2013, 10:11 PM
Thanks for the complement @RyGoR

That was some fast reacting on Coulson's part indeed. I think we'll see him display more feats of strength and speed as we get closer to the truth. If he is a life modle decoy that is.
KiddSoul
KiddSoul - 10/9/2013, 10:12 PM
Coulson might be Machine Man? Perhaps?
batesmotel
batesmotel - 10/9/2013, 10:14 PM
This is [frick]ing stupid
THRILLHO
THRILLHO - 10/9/2013, 10:14 PM
capfan88
capfan88 - 10/9/2013, 10:20 PM
Yes, @blackandyellow has proposed a fantastic possibility. It would be a great development, IMO. However, I think the references to 'magic' are probably hints that Thor's papa did something to save him. If they go the LMD route, I'm cool w/ that, but he'd better turn out to be Vision if that's the case.

Haven't been watching Agents of SHIELD after the pilot, but I'll again say that the pilot was really poor and my guess is the ratings will continue to decline on the show and it will be lucky to get two seasons. It's hard to pull off the simultaneously 'tongue in cheek' banter while also relying on low quality CG in this type of show. This, plus a dull cast leads me to be pretty pessimistic about the show. And, sadly, it tarnishes so much of what the MCU established. Kinda like Iron Man 3 did. Not a hater, just being honest!
bHrUuLcKe
bHrUuLcKe - 10/9/2013, 10:25 PM
@BigChuter

First things first, watch Sherlock again then come back.
Ok now, I'm mainly watching the show as a fan of this ever growing universe. I want to soak up all the universe I can. So to be honest there's a 90% chance I'd be happy with whatever they end up doing. Can't possibly be as bad as The Mandarin disappointment, IMO.

When Graviton's hand came out of the Gravitonium at the end, I stood up and cheered! Can't wait to see how that progresses.
ChanchoMcGrady
ChanchoMcGrady - 10/9/2013, 10:25 PM
Hahaha that ending...
MightyZeus
MightyZeus - 10/9/2013, 10:40 PM
Interesting theory, it could be plausible.

I still think that Coulson will in some form turn out to be 'The Vision' but that's just my theory.
patrat18
patrat18 - 10/9/2013, 10:43 PM
DEATHbyEXILE - true lol.
bHrUuLcKe
bHrUuLcKe - 10/9/2013, 10:49 PM
IF Coulson is a LMD, and let's say the show doesn't last 5 or 6 years. It would be easy for Ultron to turn him into The Vision. Which is kind of why I hope I'm right.
fungusmonkey
fungusmonkey - 10/9/2013, 10:57 PM
Do LMDs get cuts and bruises? Because Coulson seems to get them every episode so far. I know they have a "healing factor" basically because of the nano-repair bots but I guess it's enough for me to wonder.

They use the line "a little rusty" three times in episode 3, and the fact that he wears a suit to a beach landing (seriously? Have fun with those soggy pant legs buddy) had me wondering but I would warrant a guess that if he was a model decoy or a robot he probably wouldn't get so many very human injuries.
fungusmonkey
fungusmonkey - 10/9/2013, 10:58 PM
Either way, the show has some terrible, terrible writing (I clocked 41 writing problems in the 43 minutes of Episode 3) and Red Hulk called - he wants his sense of mystery back. :)
Cyrusthecitrus
Cyrusthecitrus - 10/9/2013, 11:00 PM
I kind of got that vibe in the Nick Fury cameo, the way he spoke to Coulson felt off. Like he was talking to a robot, especially with the whole "authority" thing. Maybe I'm wrong. It would be awesome if after the credits in Thor, there's a reveal regarding how Coulson is alive or something.
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