For six glorious years, we have had the pleasure of getting to know the cast of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. When the show first started fans only knew about Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg), who had been miraculously resurrected after dying in The Avengers. Who would have thought a hacktervist, two geeky scientists and a veteran pilot could easily become some of MARVEL’s best characters?
One of the fan’s favorites is Leopold Fitz (Iain De Caestecker). Otherwise known as half of Fitz-Simmons, the Scottish scientist won the hearts of fans with his clumsy but loyal attitude. However, Fitz changed after he suffered a brain injury, which caused the scientist to become harder and more independent. This was not the only time Fitz suffered, as he has faced much torment and tribulations over the years. Here are Fitz’s 10 saddest moments.
Finding Out Ward’s Betrayal (S1 Ep20/21)
Ward (Brett Dalton) and Fitz’s growing friendship was a favorite element of season 1. The pair seemed to have grown a bond after their solo mission together (“The Hub”), with Fitz treating Ward like an older brother. When it was revealed that Ward was part of HYDRA, it devastated him.
Fitz was the only member of the team who believed Ward could be redeemed. He spent the majority of the time trying to convince them that Ward had to have cared for them a little (“Nothing Personal”). It was heartbreaking to watch him realize Ward’s true nature when he dropped the container unit into the ocean (“Ragtag”).
Fitz Admitting He Loves Jemma (S1 Ep22)
The episode “Beginning of The End” saw Fitz make a great sacrifice for Jemma (Elizbeth Henstridge). Fans waited with bated breath as Fitz-Simmons found themselves stuck at the bottom of the ocean. When the scientists work out a way to escape the pod, they realize there is only one oxygen mask available. Fitz makes Jemma take it.
Simmons refuses at first, but Fitz admits that he wouldn’t be able to live if she didn’t. When Jemma tells him she won’t do it because he’s her best friend, Fitz takes the opportunity to confess his feelings for her. He begs her to take it so he can prove how much he loves her. Before she can respond, he releases the hatch.
Struggling With His Brain Injury (S2 Ep1)
In the aftermath of the Season 1 finale, fans find out what happened to Fitz. After Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) rescued Fitz-Simmons, the Scottish scientist was in a coma for 9 days. Months into the recovery showed Fitz was still healing from the incident as the oxygen deprivation had caused brain damage.
This meant Fitz had difficulty accomplishing tasks and communicating with the team. He was seen to get frustrated with himself when he couldn’t figure out a way to express himself. It was even more heartbreaking to realize Fitz had begun talking to himself, hallucinating about Jemma while the English scientist was undercover at HYDRA.
His Panic Attack When He Sees Ward (S2 Ep3)
Fans know how much Fitz idolized Ward in the first season and how devastated he was by the betrayal. It hurt Fitz even more now as Ward was responsible for his brain injury. This episode saw Fitz become frustrated with himself as he believed the team viewed him as a liability. He was also aware they were hiding something from him in Vault D, so he decided to check it out.
When Fitz discovers Ward in the Vault, he has a panic attack. As Ward tries to defend his actions, the Scotsman gets angry. He calls himself damaged and gets annoyed with the fact that he can’t go on missions anymore because of his injury. It was hard to see Fitz get upset considering he was the only person who believed Ward was redeemable.
Searching For Jemma (S3 Ep1)
Fitz-Simmons fans around the world rejoiced when the scientists agreed to go on a date together. Yet, their hopes were quickly dashed again when Jemma was absorbed by the Monolith. Fitz would then spend months studying the Monolith and traveling around the world to find out what could have happened to Simmons.
When Fitz retrieves a scroll from Morocco, he and Coulson translate a scroll that shows the word “Death”. Coulson then tells Fitz that maybe this is a sign for him to move on. The scientist is devastated by the thought and shoots the lock off the Monolith’s case. He would proceed to scream and hit the stone, begging for answers to be revealed.
Finding Out About Will (S3 Ep5)
Fans all believed it was Fitz and Jemma’s time when she was finally rescued from Maveth (“Purpose in the Machine”). So imagine Fitz’s surprise when he discovered Jemma had fallen in love with an astronaut during her six-month stay. It was like the writers were stomping all over his heart.
In “4,722 Hours” Jemma explained to Fitz what happened whilst she was on Maveth. She reveals that she had fallen in love with astronaut Will Daniels (Dillion Casey), who was the only reason she survived the terrible conditions. Fitz struggled with the story but decided to try and rescue Will from Maveth after seeing how much it would mean Jemma.
Finding Jemma’s Video On Maveth (S3 Ep7)
As Fitz continued to figure out a way for the team to get to Maveth, Jemma asks him to fix her phone so they can look at the files she documented whilst away. Fitz does as she asks, uncovering several pictures of the planet and a picture of Jemma and Will. Although he agreed to help recover Jemma, he’s still hurt by the relationship between her and Will.
Fitz is then heartbroken to find a video that shows Jemma confessing her feelings for him. He cries when Jemma states he must have been annoyed with her following him all the time, before admitting she wished they could start a life together. It’s hard for Fitz to hear since it’s possible she now wants that life with Will.
The Aftermath Of The Framework (S4 Ep21)
In the second half of season 4, the SHIELD agents all entered “The Framework”. Fitz’s avatar turns out to be a ruthless HYDRA officer known as ‘The Doctor’. He was seen to torture several Inhumans and murder Radcliffe’s (John Hannah) girlfriend, under the wishes of Madame Hydra/Aida (Mallory Jansen).
Fitz was horrified to learn his counterpart was responsible for many deaths. He believed that Jemma and the team would never forgive him for what he did. After Aida is defeated, Fitz stays in the containment module and cries over the past events. Fans struggled to watch the Fitz-Simmons reunion, as the Scotsman refused to look at Jemma when she came to comfort him.
His Death Scene (S5 Ep22)
After being separated by the universe and tormented by a psychopathic android, Fitz and Jemma seemed to be on their way to a happy ending. After the pair tied the knot (“The Real Deal”), the couple discovered they were the grandparents of Deke (Jeff Ward).
However, Deke’s existence was put into question by Fitz’s unexpected death. As the scientist was helping Mack (Henry Simmons) and May (Ming-Na Wen) evacuate a building, he is fatally wounded after becoming trapped under falling debris. It was horrible to see Fitz go into shock as he didn’t realize what was happening. His last words are forever etched into our brains.
Fitz Realizing He Died (S6 Ep6)
After Daisy (Chloe Bennet) prevented the destruction of the world, she had also prevented the dystopian future we saw at the beginning of the season. This meant Fitz was now waiting in a pointless cryo-sleep somewhere in space. Jemma decided to take a team and track down his chamber.
Jemma and Fitz were reunited but had sort some issues out before their return (“Inescapable”). He seems shocked to discover he married Jemma while he was asleep; however, the turning point was when he realized Coulson and his future self died. It all becomes too much for the Scotsman as he walks out of the room upset.
