Meeting the love of your life at Area 51 seems doubtful. Meeting the love of your life at Area 51 while time-traveling from the 21st century to 1955 seems even more unlikely. And yet, that’s exactly what happened to Daisy Johnson when she met Daniel Sousa during Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 7. She just wouldn’t realize it until later on.
When Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. ended in 2020 with its seventh season, it marked the end of an era. The ABC show ran for 136 episodes, paving the way for the short-lived Agent Carter, Daredevil, other Defenders-verse shows and (ultimately) the live-action shows developed for Disney+. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s conclusion was bittersweet for various reasons. But it still featured engaging storylines and compelling endings for its characters.
One of the best aspects of the final mission was, arguably, the most surprising. The man out of time and Quake, Daisy and Sousa — affectionately known as Dousy, a ship name coined by Chloe Bennet and Enver Gjokaj — met, fell for each other and became an endgame ship in 10 episodes.
Even five years after Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 7 aired, Daisy and Sousa continue to be one of the most rewarding parts of the show’s final season.
Marvel Television’s Crack Ship
In a comic book-inspired universe where superpowered humans, aliens and magic are normal, there isn’t much that would seem absurd. Then again, in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 5, FitzSimmons meet their grown-adult grandson who’s the same age as them. That changed the parameters for outrageous happenings in Marvel. And yet, the mere idea of Daisy Johnson and Daniel Sousa becoming a couple still seemed ridiculous.
Sousa is a character created for Agent Carter, a show set after World War II. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. references certain events from Agent Carter, but those are logical callbacks — like Howard Stark’s nitramene. Peggy Carter only appeared on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. in flashbacks. It was before Agent Carter was a show, and her cameos weren’t active parts of the story.
So, even with time travel being an established concept by the time Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 7 happened, thinking Daisy and Sousa would ever interact seemed outlandish. But they did, and it marked the beginning of an unpredictable, exhilarating love story.
For Daisy, Sousa realistically never should’ve been anything more than a historical figure from her workplace — the first fallen agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. The unexpected nature of Daisy and Sousa is part of what makes them so intriguing, though. Seeing obvious ships become canon can be great, but being surprised by ships can make the narrative more fun. With Dousy, watching their story was exciting and nerve-wracking because of all the possibilities — both good and bad.
It’s not just the shock value of Dousy that makes the ship so riveting either. It’s that, despite being created with no intention of meeting Daisy, Sousa is an eerily perfect match for her.
The Nonsensically Sensical Compatibility of Daisy and Sousa in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
On the surface, Daisy and Sousa seem like a pairing that wouldn’t work. Daisy is an Inhuman superhero with quake powers whose specialty, as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, is computer hacking. Sousa is a man from 1955 who served in World War II, worked alongside Peggy Carter and is fascinated by 21st-century phones’ camera feature. But Daisy and Sousa work so well as a couple because they complement each other despite their differences.
Daisy is a strong-willed, determined, caring superpowered woman who can be relentless and stubborn. In Sousa’s words, she’s “focused on the greater good even at (her) own expense.” He brings calm to the chaos and commotion that life often brings Daisy. His solid presence balances out her nonstop nature and relentlessness.
Daisy appreciates and accepts Sousa’s supportive, caring nature. She can rely on him and never questions his capabilities despite his disability and outdated knowledge. She also thinks he’s a dorky square and finds that endearing. And even though Sousa is generally viewed as this soft, kindhearted character, their flirting scene at the end of episode 7×11: “Brand New Day” is a reminder that he can absolutely dish out banter to keep up with Daisy’s teasing.
As Sousa Always Does in ‘As I Have Always Been’
From the fake fiancé bit to Sousa’s “I’m where I need to be” declaration, previous episodes hint at Daisy and Sousa’s potential romance. The chemistry Bennet and Gjokaj have innately elevates that potential. But Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. episode 7×09: “As I Have Always Been” solidifies Dousy as a canon ship and also a worthwhile pairing to root for.
The time-loop episode highlights how Sousa can and wants to be a caring, supportive partner for Daisy — both in the field and in life. The time loops themselves are a brilliant way to give Daisy plenty of “time” to really notice and fall for Sousa and his steady self in just one episode.
Amidst the high-stakes environment of the time storm, Sousa remains composed and ready to help her every single time. With each loop, Daisy is surprised that Sousa is there for her no matter what. Throughout the countless loops, his support is a constant she can’t ignore. When she asks him about it, he gives her an honest explanation.
It’s beautiful, heartfelt and unreal in the best way. (Major kudos to Drew Z. Greenberg for writing a stellar proclamation for Sousa!) He essentially tells her, “I see and understand you. But you deserve to have the care and support you make sure others have, and I’d like to be someone who provides that for you.”
Sousa’s implicit confession brings about a mix of emotions for Daisy. She goes from confused to surprised to intrigued as he opens up to her. Aligning with her sometimes impulsive demeanor, that intrigue transforms into legitimate interest when she kisses him in the next loop. After all the stress and frustration of the time storm, Daisy’s undeniable smile and the unexpected happiness she feels after kissing Sousa are bright spots.
Meanwhile, Sousa is stunned and in awe, confused about what just happened. But he proceeds as he always had been: by helping Daisy.
The Love We Never Expected is the Love Daisy and Sousa Deserve
Part of what makes Dousy such a satisfying ship is that, on their own, Daisy and Sousa are complete characters.
The growth Daisy experiences over the seven-season series is astounding. She’s far from the young woman who had no family, was incapable of defending herself and couldn’t shoot a gun. She becomes a superhero who helps others and has found a family in her team. While she may have her moments of insecurity and doubt, Daisy knows who she is.
When the audience reacquaints itself with Sousa, eight years have passed since the end of Agent Carter. He has maintained the success he achieved with the S.S.R. and is now the West Coast Chief for S.H.I.E.L.D. He’s more poised, experienced and determined than ever to do good. Most notably, Sousa has figured out that Hydra has infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D. The already established character has grown since his last appearance and is confident in himself.
In Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. episode 6×03: “Fear and Loathing on the Planet of Kitson,” Daisy expresses a desire to have a romantic partner. But it’s not because she needs one. She simply wants romantic love. So when Daisy and Sousa meet, neither is searching for someone to complete themselves or hoping that someone will fill a void in their lives.
For Dousy, meeting each other was improbable, and falling for each other was unexpected. But finding love with each other was gratifying. After everything both characters have been through, Daisy and Sousa deserve a happy ending. They just happened to find it with each other.
Favorite moment which I think gets overlooked by the Dousy fandom is Sousa comforting Daisy in the barn after Malick torturing her. That’s where I went from, they are cute together to packing my bags and boarding the ship. 😄