Team Coulson fights to unlock the secrets of the Monolith while Agent May returns when Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 3×02 airs tonight.
The episode, titled “Purpose in the Machine,” will also feature the return of new Hydra head Grant Ward. The preview for tonight’s episode calls the former agent “a villain on the rise” — but of course, his ultimate goals are anyone’s guess.
Peter McNicol will reprise his role as Dr. Elliot Randolph — an Asgardian who has spent several centuries partying it up on Midgard. James Hong will also guest star as Mr. May, so perhaps we can expect some intriguing reveals about Melinda’s past.
Both May and Ward were missing from last week’s season premiere of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., which focused on conflict between Coulson and the formidable Rosalind Price. The head of the Advanced Threat Containment Unit remains a mystery, but she’s definitely interested in Inhumans. Though Daisy and Mack snatched a new Inhuman named Joey from her grasp, Lincoln and Daisy’s battle with the terrifying Lash put Lincoln right in Price’s crosshairs.
Related: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Quiz: If you were an Inhuman, what would your powers be?
Meanwhile, Bobbi and Hunter pledged their love before Hunter prepared to hunt down Ward. And Fitz risked his life to find a scroll that revealed the secret of the Monolith, only to find devastation in its folds. Though Coulson counseled him to accept Simmons’ death, Fitz still has major beef with the Monolith – and it’s a good thing, since Simmons turned out to be trapped on a dangerous alien planet!
It was seriously nuts.
A sneak peek from “Purpose in the Machine” offers a look at what Ward has been up to, while everyone else has been busy suffering.
And a new featurette hints at Ward’s methods and goals for the upcoming season.
The still photos from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 3×02 offer glimpses of gloomy archeology, Hydra’s next moves, and — yay! — Blair Underwood is back as Dr. Garner.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 3×02, “Purpose in the Machine,” airs tonight at 9:00 p.m. on ABC.