It may have received a full season order, but ABC's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. keeps losing viewers. The show has had an uneven run so far, with a third episode which felt like a strong step forward, only to double back into something more routine in its fifth week. One thing everyone agrees on, though, is that the show is still finding its way.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. still has plenty of potential as a conduit for Marvel to introduce some of the lower-tier characters from Marvel's comic book universe, something it has already been exploring - even if the overall story hasn't moved much beyond the pilot. There's still room for new characters, though, and not just as villains.

According to one of Latino Review's "trusted sources," British actress Saffron Burrows will be joining the show as Agent Victoria Hand in an upcoming episode. Burrows is a veteran of such TV series as Boston Legal and Law and Order: Criminal Intent and had a role in the Jason Statham vehicle The Bank Job. As for her supposed character, the Marvel Wikia provides this overview of Victoria Hand's history with S.H.I.E.L.D.:

Three years before the Skrull Invasion, Victoria was an accountant for S.H.I.E.L.D., who was in a relationship with another agent named Isabelle. Victoria was determined to send a letter informing Director Nick Fury how he was mishandling the War on Terror. Isabelle implored Victoria not to send the letter but Victoria did anyways and was transferred immediately to Portland, Oregon. As a result, Isabelle, furious that she did not listen to her, ended their relationship. 

The character has also had dealings with H.A.M.M.E.R., which is what S.H.I.E.L.D. became following Norman Osborn's takeover after the Secret Invasion. Victoria Hand could be a counterpoint to the generally (and perhaps blandly) morally-righteous S.H.I.E.L.D. agents the show focuses on.

Agents of SHIELD Cast

There is no official confirmation from Burrows or her representatives, but we should expect an announcement soon. Marvel and Disney's attempt to launch their multi-platform universe has yet to find its footing, but finding strong actors to fill supporting roles has not been a problem.

In fact, Ian Hart's performance as Dr. Franklin Hall - who, it was strongly teased, will become the super-villain Graviton - overshadowed many of the regular players. The inclusion of Victoria Hand would be a fine way to introduce rogue elements of S.H.I.E.L.D. into the show's continuity, and would mirror the darker parts of the agency shown in the full trailer for Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

We will supposedly learn just where the continuity for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. fits in relative to the timeline of The Winter Soldier soon. Agent Hand's ambiguous loyalty - if the show sticks to this aspect of the character - could help bridge the worlds of the show and the film.

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Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. airs Tuesdays @8pm on ABC.

Source: Latino Review