Spoilers for those not caught up on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. may have a surprising connection between new character Ruby and the nation of Wakanda in Black Panther. The latest episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., “All the Comforts of Home” introduced the show’s latest villain in Ruby, played by Dove Cameron. The daughter of General Hale suited up in the episode and took on Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) and the rest of the S.H.I.E.L.D. team on their mission. In the climactic moments of the battle, Ruby used her chakram to cut off the arms of Yo-Yo (Natalia Cordova-Buckley).
While S.H.I.E.L.D. managed to escape from Ruby and get Yo-Yo back to the Lighthouse, there’s still plenty they don’t know about the new villain. And although viewers know the villain to be Ruby, there’s plenty we’re still in the dark about as well. For instance, we don’t know Ruby or General Hale’s ultimate goals – though Ruby is focused on Daisy Johnson (Chloe Bennet). We also don’t know why Hale has raised her daughter to be a covert agent. Now, one thing we may know is what Ruby’s chakram is made out of.
Related: Agents of SHIELD’s Ruby is the Anti-Spider-Man
In an interview with Syfy Wire, Cameron spoke about the weapon wielded by Ruby that so easily cut off Yo-Yo’s arms. In explaining the weapon, Cameron revealed a previously hidden connection between the new Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. villain and the recently released Marvel Cinematic Universe entry Black Panther. She said:
That thing that she throws is called a chakram, and it is a serious blade. It’s supposed to be made out of the same material as Captain America’s shield. That can slice through anything, it can cut through bone, anything and everything…
When pressed further on the fact that her chakram is made of Vibranium, the incredibly strong material mined from the ground in Black Panther’s home nation of Wakanda, Cameron hedged a bit by saying it was something she insinuated based on how easily it injured Yo-Yo. She said
It could be. They never specifically say anything about that. But yes, it can basically slice through anything like butter. Ruby is so practiced with them that, you see, after she uses them on Yo-Yo, that she catches the chakram between her fingertips and not cut her hands off. I think that you can see that Ruby is a terrifying weapon.
It’s unclear based on her answer whether the “they” who don’t say if her chakram is Vibranium is within the show or the show creators themselves. It’s certainly possible showrunners Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen told Cameron what her chakram is made out of, but it’s not explicitly stated within Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. itself. Certainly, as we’ve seen throughout the MCU, Vibranium is spread all over the world, so it wouldn’t necessarily be impossible for Hale to have gotten her hands on enough to fashion Ruby’s chakram.
No matter how Hale got the Vibranium, if Ruby’s weapon is made from the material based in Wakanda, then Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 5 managed to include an incredibly subtle connection to Black Panther in its first episode since the film hit heaters. When Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. first premiered, the show would feature full tie-in episodes with the MCU movies, but that eventually evolved. Now, S.H.I.E.L.D. will reference the movies, like the connection to Captain America: Civil War, but it won’t hinge its story on the films. Arguably, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is all the better for its distance from the movies. Still, fans of Marvel’s expansive superhero franchise will no doubt appreciate the loose connection between Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.‘s latest villain and Black Panther.
Next: Coulson Should Reveal Himself To The Avengers In Agents Of SHIELD
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. continues Friday March 9th with its 100th episode, “The Real Deal” at 9pm on ABC.
