Melinda May
Melinda May | |
---|---|
What We're Fighting For " | |
Created by | |
Portrayed by | Ming-Na Wen Riley Go (young) |
In-universe information | |
Full name | Melinda Qiaolian May[1] |
Nickname | The Cavalry |
Occupation | |
Family | Robin Hinton (adoptive daughter; alternate timeline) |
Nationality | Chinese American[2] |
Melinda Qiaolian May, also known as The Cavalry, is a fictional character that originated in the Marvel Cinematic Universe before appearing in Marvel Comics. The character, created by Joss Whedon, Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen, first appeared in the pilot episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. in September 2013, and has continually been portrayed by Ming-Na Wen.
Fictional character biography
New Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Melinda May is brought on to the recently resurrected
Fall of S.H.I.E.L.D. Aftermath
May is Coulson's unofficial deputy.
Return to S.H.I.E.L.D.
May has been on leave from S.H.I.E.L.D. for six months and is looking after her father (William May), who was injured in a car accident.
STRIKE Trainer and Framework
Following the re-legalization of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the appointment of
Future and Present
May and the others find themselves in the Lighthouse, a bunker used to contain the rest of humanity following Earth's destruction.
Coulson Look-a-like
One year later, May assists in dealing with threats involving
Chronicom War
May is healed by
Concept and creation
Wen was cast as May in October 2012.
Characterization
Following the series premiere, Wen teased the character, saying that "she's very much the observer, and whenever she wants to put in her two cents, it's something that you want to listen to and kind of pay attention to...She's slow in getting acclimated to part of the group and being in the field again."[56] Talking about May's reasons for staying with S.H.I.E.L.D., Wen explained "May's friendship and...loyalty and her love for Coulson [keeps her there]. Maybe not romantic [love], it's just really—it's hard to describe—it's a bond, it's unbreakable, and she will watch over Coulson and take care of him and help him through whatever he needs to at this point in his life... She wants to be there for him, and if it serves S.H.I.E.L.D., that's just more or less a side effect, really."[57] Wen admitted that May develops a relationship with Skye over the course of the series, going from thinking of Skye as "someone that she didn't want as part of the team and didn't understand why Coulson wanted her" to wanting Skye "to be the best agent that she can be." After discovering that Skye is an Inhuman, Wen stated that "it's like when you have your child or your daughter losing control or getting involved with situations or people that you're not sure about. You don't have the control anymore. It's very frightening. For Skye to be an unknown entity, May still holds out hope. She hopes that her training with her will help her be able to control her new powers, but you never know. Sometimes the power overtakes everything else."[58]
On how May deals with her ex-husband Andrew becoming the Inhuman killer Lash, Wen said, "She's come to the understanding that it was something he had no control over. The betrayal might be not sharing that information of what happened to him with her. I think she understands that, in a way, he was scared and trying to be protective of their relationship and doing it all for the wrong reasons. I think, ultimately, Agent May is kind of shut down when it comes to Lash and Andrew at this point. That's why she's re-focusing all her energy back into S.H.I.E.L.D., back being by Coulson's side. That's where she's most comfortable."[59] Wen went on to describe May as "unconventionally maternal...she's taking care of Simmons and really believing that she needs to be able to protect herself, she's very, very concerned about the family's well being."[60]
Reception
Wen received nominations for 'Favorite Actress in a New TV Series' at the 40th People's Choice Awards and 'Favorite Female TV Star – Family Show' at the 29th Kids' Choice Awards.[61][62] Wen was also named TVLine's "Performer of the Week" for the week of April 12, 2015, for her performance in "Melinda", specifically her portrayal of May in the flashback sequences.[63]
Other appearances
Comics
May made her
Her next assignment was protecting
May later teamed up with
Web series
Melinda May appears in the digital series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Slingshot with Ming-Na Wen reprising her role.[70]
Video games
- May is a playable DLC character in Lego Marvel's Avengers.[71]
- May is a supporting character to Agent Coulson's character in Marvel: Future Fight.[72]
- May is a playable character in Marvel Puzzle Quest.[73]
See also
Notes
- ^ As depicted in the episodes "The Magical Place" and "T.A.H.I.T.I.".[7][8]
References
- ^ a b "The Only Light in the Darkness". Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Season 1. Episode 19. April 22, 2014. ABC.
- ^ "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Melinda May needs to be in 'Captain Marvel'". Hypable. March 27, 2018. Archived from the original on August 20, 2019. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
- ^ "Pilot". Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Season 1. Episode 1. September 24, 2013. ABC.
- ^ "The Well". Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Season 1. Episode 8. November 19, 2013. ABC.
- ^ "Repairs". Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Season 1. Episode 9. November 26, 2013. ABC.
- ^ "Yes Men". Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Season 1. Episode 15. March 11, 2014. ABC.
- ^ "The Magical Place". Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Season 1. Episode 11. January 7, 2014. ABC.
- ^ "T.A.H.I.T.I.". Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Season 1. Episode 14. March 4, 2014. ABC.
- ^ "Turn, Turn, Turn". Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Season 1. Episode 17. April 8, 2014. ABC.
- ^ "Nothing Personal". Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Season 1. Episode 20. April 29, 2014. ABC.
- ^ "Beginning of the End". Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Season 1. Episode 22. May 13, 2014. ABC.
- ^ "Shadows". Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Season 2. Episode 1. September 23, 2014. ABC.
- ^ "One of Us". Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Season 2. Episode 13. March 17, 2015. ABC.
- ^ "One Door Closes". Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Season 2. Episode 15. March 31, 2015. ABC.
- ^ "Afterlife". Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Season 2. Episode 16. April 7, 2015. ABC.
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- ^ "Scars". Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Season 2. Episode 20. May 5, 2015. ABC.
- ^ "S.O.S., Part 2". Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Season 2. Episode 22. May 12, 2015. ABC.
- ^ "Purpose in the Machine". Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Season 3. Episode 2. October 6, 2015. ABC.
- ^ "Among Us Hide...". Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Season 3. Episode 6. November 3, 2015. ABC.
- ^ "Chaos Theory". Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Season 3. Episode 7. November 10, 2015. ABC.
- ^ "Emancipation". Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Season 3. Episode 20. May 10, 2016. ABC.
- ^ "The Ghost". Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Season 4. Episode 1. September 20, 2016. ABC.
- ^ "Meet the New Boss". Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Season 4. Episode 2. September 27, 2016. ABC.
- ^ "Uprising". Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Season 4. Episode 3. October 11, 2016. ABC.
- ^ "The Laws of Inferno Dynamics". Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 4. Episode 8. December 6, 2016. ABC.
- Wake Up". Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Season 4. Episode 11. January 24, 2017. ABC.
- ^ "Self Control". Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 4. Episode 15. February 21, 2017. ABC.
- Farewell, Cruel World!". Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Season 4. Episode 20. May 2, 2017. ABC.
- The Return". Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Season 4. Episode 21. May 9, 2017. ABC.
- World's End". Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 4. Episode 22. May 16, 2017. ABC.
- ^ "Orientation, Part One". Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Season 5. Episode 1. December 1, 2017. ABC.
- Fun & Games". Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. network= ABC. Season 5. Episode 6. January 5, 2018.
- Together or Not at All". Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 5. Episode 7. January 12, 2018. ABC.
- The Last Day". Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 5. Episode 8. January 19, 2018. ABC.
- Best Laid Plans". Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 5. Episode 9. January 26, 2018. ABC.
- Past Life". Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 5. Episode 10. February 2, 2018. ABC.
- All the Comforts of Home". Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 5. Episode 11. March 2, 2018. ABC.
- Rise and Shine". Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 5. Episode 15. March 30, 2018. ABC.
- ^ "The End". Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Season 5. Episode 22. May 18, 2018. ABC.
- Window of Opportunity". Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 6. Episode 2. May 17, 2019. ABC.
- Leap". Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 6. Episode 10. July 19, 2019. ABC.
- The Sign". Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 6. Episode 12. August 2, 2019. ABC.
- New Life". Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 6. Episode 13. August 2, 2019. ABC.
- ^ "The New Deal". Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 7. Episode 1. May 27, 2020. ABC.
- ^ "Know Your Onions". Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 7. Episode 2. June 3, 2020. ABC.
- ^ "Out of the Past". Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 7. Episode 4. June 17, 2020. ABC.
- What We're Fighting For". Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 7. Episode 13. August 12, 2020. ABC.
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- ^ Roots, Kimberly (October 1, 2012). "S.H.I.E.L.D. Scoop: Meet the Members of Joss Whedon's New ABC Pilot!". TVLine. Archived from the original on October 2, 2012. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
- ^ a b Fienberg, Daniel (September 24, 2013). "Interview: 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' star Ming-Na Wen talks stunts, The Whedonverse and punctuation". HitFix. Archived from the original on September 14, 2014. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
- ^ Mitovich, Matt Webb (April 13, 2015). "S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Ming-Na Wen Previews 'Devastating' Origin of 'The Cavalry,' Coulson's 'Massive' New Secrets". TVLine. Archived from the original on May 26, 2015. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
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- ^ Abrams, Natalie (March 18, 2015). "Agents of SHIELD: Will Agent May crack as Skye's powers grow?". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
- ^ Phegley, Kiel (March 31, 2016). ""Agents of SHIELD'S" Bennet, Wen & Henstridge on Taking Charge & Earning a Happy Ending". CBR. Archived from the original on April 3, 2016. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
- ^ "People's Choice Awards 2014 – Winner's List". Yahoo!. January 8, 2014. Archived from the original on November 11, 2014. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
- ComicBook.com. Archivedfrom the original on October 7, 2016. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
- ^ "Performer of the Week: Ming-Na Wen". TVLine. April 18, 2015. Archived from the original on March 23, 2016. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
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- ^ S.H.I.E.L.D. vol. 3 #5
- ^ S.H.I.E.L.D. vol. 3 #6
- ^ S.H.I.E.L.D. vol. 3 #8
- ^ Ghost Rider vol. 8 #3
- ^ Ghost Rider vol. 8 #5
- Syfy Wire. Archivedfrom the original on April 23, 2019. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
- ^ Richter, Shawn (May 18, 2016). "Lego Avengers Agents of SHIELD DLC Review". The Marvel Report. Archived from the original on November 22, 2018. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
- ^ Parungo, Nicolo (October 1, 2015). "Characters From 'Marvel's Agents of SHIELD' Join 'Marvel: Future Fight'". International Business Times. Archived from the original on August 2, 2019. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
- ^ MELINDA MAY (AGENT OF S.H.I.E.L.D.) – MARVEL PUZZLE QUEST NEW CHARACTER
External links
- Melinda May on Marvel Cinematic Universe Wiki, an external wiki
- Melinda May on Marvel Database, a Marvel Comics wiki