When Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. returns from its winter hiatus next week, it will do so with a major change in its focus. Gone are the days of Ghost Rider (Gabriel Luna) teaming up with the organization to stop his power-hungry uncle, with a new focus being put on the evolution of the first Life Model Decoy - Aida (Mallory Jansen). Aida was born from the mind of Dr. Radcliffe (John Hannah) at the end of season 3, but was able to become a reality thanks to the help of Fitz (Iain de Caestecker). Aida was once their secret project but has since been integrated within S.H.I.E.L.D. and given access to the magical book, the Darkhold, with unintended results.

Aida has since begun experimenting with developing the technology she was built with, going so far as to kidnap and subdue the real Melinda May (Ming-Na Wen) and replace her with an LMD of her own. Thanks to a new clip from the upcoming episode, some of Aida's other upgrades have started to be revealed.

Television Promos released the first clip from the ninth episode of the season, titled "Broken Promises," but the first episode since the series took upon the L.M.D. subtitle. With Aida now in the spotlight, the clip (shown above) gives her a chance to show off how far she has evolved, much to the surprise of both Radcliffe and Fitz.

Agents of SHIELD Aida Life Model Decoy

While viewers of this season are surely going to miss the new hot head anti-hero, his absence leaves the door open for a new antagonist. The decision to use Aida will hopefully be suitable pay off for including her in the first half of the season. If anything else, this is one of the first times that S.H.I.E.L.D. has slowly introduced a villain in some time, with most of the former threats being obviously evil from the start or one episode baddies.

Now it will be interesting to see if Aida truly is evil as well as what her motivations and plans are for not only herself, but the entire LMD program. She most likely wants to be free of the control of others, which she appears to have mastered in this clip, but must also have larger plans in mind by roping May in. How this all plays out remains to be seen, but it should be a nice change up for the show to take at this point.

At the very least, the show is finally getting the chance to introduce the popular idea from the comics - although some thought this may have already been the case with the multiple Agent Koenig's played by Patton Oswalt. Either way, Aida is ready to reveal her true self and could cause major problems for the team moving forward. After all, if she has already made this upgrade, there is no telling what else she could have up her artificial sleeves.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. returns with ‘Broken Promises’ January 10 at 10pm on ABC.

Source: Television Promos