Grant Ward

Grant Ward is an agent of SHIELD in the TV series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and is a black ops specialist for Phil Coulson's team.
==Canon==
In season 1, Grant Ward is an Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. working with Phil Coulson's team. Later in season 1, it is revealed that Ward was recruited to HYDRA by Agent John Garrett years earlier. Ward believes he owed Garrett for saving his life and giving him a purpose, and works as a double agent in S.H.I.E.L.D..Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 1 Episode 17 "Turn, Turn, Turn"
Ward keeps his secret until he and Agent Hand are escorting Garrett to the Fridge, SHIELD's secret underground prison. He shoots Agent Hand and releases Garrett. Later he returns to join the rest of Coulson's team, so that he can complete his mission for Garrett. However when he is forced to kill Agent Koenig, Skye discovers that Ward iss Hydra, and he kidnaps her in his escape. Ward reveals his feelings for her are real, but this only disgusts Skye.Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 1 Episode 20 "Nothing Personal" During the final confrontation with his former team, Ward was defeated by Agent May and then taken into custody.Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 1 Episode 22 "Beginning of the End"
In season 2, Ward remains loyal to Garrett, joining his former mentor after his escape. Even after Garrett's death, Ward continues to work with HYDRA but his motivations are often self serving, and he feels little loyalty to Hydra. Grant Ward sometimes encounters his former Shield teammates, and although they are antagonists, Ward often tries to explain his actions by citing his abusive childhood and claiming his attacks were not personal. He expresses regret, but former Shield team mates don't believe him. It's on a Hydra mission to the planet Maveth that Ward is killed by Phil Coulson.
In season 3, Ward's body is possessed by the Inhuman Hive, who retains Ward's memories but not his personality.
In season 4, a version of Grant Ward appeared in the Framework, a virtual reality simulation in which the Shield agents were trapped. Framework Grant Ward is also a double agent, as a Hydra agent secretly working with the resistance.
==Fandom==
At the start of the season, the fandom was split between liking Grant Ward and hating him.
===Controversy===
The reveal that he's a HYDRA agent was quite a shock for many. Fans' reactions to Ward after season one varied wildly: from those who think his actions are inexcusable and hate him, to those who emphasize that his abusive upbringing and his mentor Garrett influenced him and want a redemption storyline for him. The discussion rarely remained civil; for example people who defend Ward are often accused of being Nazi sympathizers and being criticized. The argument is often compared to people liking Loki and the Winter Soldier despite their "villain" status. This often causes character bashing for Ward.
The tag "#StandWithWard" is on Twitter here and Tumblr here in order to support Grant Ward's redemption.
:See the "Stand With Ward" page for more information.
Brett Dalton defends his character Ward in various episodes; he considers his character as more of an anti-hero than villain.
===Shipping===
The most common pairings for Grant Ward are Grant/Simmons, Grant/Fitz, Grant/Skye, Grant/May and Grant/Fitz/Simmons. Although he has only three canonically love interests; Skye and Melinda May, and Agent 33. He also was romantically involved with Lorelei, although this was under mind control - she has siren-like power over men.
Ward is rarely shipped with anyone else, such as Agent 33/Kara, Darcy Lewis, Lorelei, or Raina.
===Common Tropes & Themes===
* Berserker!Grant: in the aftermath of an episode,Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 1 Episode 8 "The Well" where Grant controls an Asgardian warrior staff named the "Berserker Staff" which floods the holder with uncontrollable rage and super strength - a lot of fanworks dealt with the aftermath affects or any possible side affects (usually led to lots of sex).
* Redemption for Grant - Most of these works are set in season 2, but a small number of fics explore the resurrection and redemption of Ward after Hive is defeated in season 3.
* Everyone is Related: fanon sometimes makes Darcy Lewis & Grant siblings (Examples: Higher Than Soul Can Hope by cheekylady, A Family Reunion by mollykakes).
* Alternate Universes
** Not!Hydra AU where Grant has never been Hydra.
* With the introduction of Inhumans, there are several fics where Grant develops powers or has always had powers. Some fans headcanon that he is Hellraiser.
* Framework Grant Ward fics
===Terminology===
* See the List of MCU Pairing Names for Grant's pairing names.
==Notable Fanworks==
===Fics===
===Arts===
* Agent of HYDRA by ratscape
* Ward as Hellfire by tinderbox210
===Vids===
* stronger
* Monster
* Fireproof
* Hot Mess
* 'I'm a survivor'
* Dysfunctional.
* Sail
* It Was a Long Road
===Meta===
* Comparing Fitz and Ward
* So, I’m not the only person with this (horrible) theory (S2 speculation, spoilers 2x14)
==Archives and Communities==
* Grant Ward works at AO3
* Grant Ward works at FFN
* Stories tagged #grantward on Wattpad
==Fannish Links==
* Grant Ward search at DeviantArt
* Grant Ward Gallery at Shield Lockdown
* StandWithWard (Twitter)
===Tumblr===
* Grant Ward tagged works on Tumblr
* out of the shadows, into the light (Grant and AOS Tumblr site)
* Grant Ward: Redemption Stories (Tumblr)
* Stand With Ward (Tumblr)
* fyeahgrantward (Tumblr)
* Ward's Warriors (Tumblr)
==Resources==
* Grant Ward at Marvel Database
* Grant Ward at Marvel Movies Wikia
* Grant Ward at Marvel Cinematic Universe Wikia
* Grant Ward at Agents of SHIELD Wikia
==References==
==Navigation==
Category:Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Characters
Category:Marvel Characters