From outer space, to new faces, to new directors, here’s everything we know about Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 5!
Even with the premiere under a month away, the powers that be at Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. have been very quiet indeed about the massive changes afoot in the new season. Luckily, we’ve gathered a little more information about the adventures and wild dangers awaiting the S.H.I.E.L.D. team in season 5.
Space is the time, is the place, is the motion
We’re sure you’ve figured this out already, but let’s start with the basics. As the jaw-dropping stinger of the season 4 finale suggested, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 5 will take place in space.
Where? We don’t know. With whom? More on that in a second. But we do know that there is a lot more to learn in the season 5 premiere about the mysterious forces who brought Coulson and co. to the upper firmament — and that the group is there for a reason.
An eye on Earth
Even from the distant vantage of wherever-they-are, the S.H.I.E.L.D. team still has Earth on their minds. For one thing, they definitely didn’t consent to this relocation; for another, one member of the team hasn’t made it up to space.
“Coulson will discover that some, but not all, of his S.H.I.E.L.D. colleagues were taken with him and placed onboard the ship,” ABC says of the new season.
“As they come in contact with some of the vessel’s inhabitants, it becomes abundantly clear that something has gone terribly awry, and the team will need to figure out their role and delve deeper into this nightmarish mystery to try to right what has gone incredibly wrong.”
Fans who caught the first 20 minutes of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 5 at New York Comic Con will know who that unlucky (or perhaps, lucky?) left-behinder is, but we won’t disclose their identity here. If you’re curious, think along the lines of the most deviously painful separation this show could muster, and you’ll have your answer.
New places, new faces
Earthly concerns aside however, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 5 will also introduce several new characters into the interstellar mix. As has become standard for the show, the four new faces represent both diverse, intriguing casting and plenty of mystery.
First up is Deke, played by Jeff Ward (because it wouldn’t be S.H.I.E.L.D. without a Ward!) Entertainment Weekly describes Deke as a “roguish scavenger” who is as intelligent and wiley as he is difficult to trust.
Next is Tess (Eve Harlow) who seems to be the soul of the new group. Tess is “striving to be self-sufficient in very desperate circumstances,” and her loyalty and dedication prove that “even in the toughest of times, good people will still fight for each other.”
Another new character joining Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 5 is Flint (Coy Stewart), who remains ambitious and motivated despite being “forced to grow up fast in a tough environment.”
Last of the new crew is Grill, played by Pruitt Taylor Vince. Grill may also be the baddie of the set, as he is described as a “taskmaster” with gruff control over his underlings in this harsh world.
We’ve definitely got our eye on this guy.
You look familiar!
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 5 isn’t just introducing new folks to the mix — it’s also bringing back a friendly face or two. After his departure in season 3 for the spinoff that never materialized, Nick Blood will return to the world of espionage and wry comments, reprising his role as Lance Hunter.
Not much is known about Hunter’s return, though the good money puts him still on Earth — perhaps recruited for help by the lonely, left-behind agent? Either way, he will almost certainly be without his kickass partner (and ex-wife) Mockingbird. Adrianne Palicki is occupied on The Orville just now, though what this means for the always-volatile couple is unclear.
(Let’s hope they haven’t lost that loving feeling… again!)
A new director — literally
While season 4 saw Phil Coulson step down from the role of Director of S.H.I.E.L.D, season 5 will see Clark Gregg move in the opposite direction — into the director’s chair.
Gregg will be putting his real-life skills behind the camera toward directing an early episode of the new season. It doesn’t give away much, but the actor did cheekily use the hashtag #DaisyDatesAnAlien to refer to the episode on Twitter — so either he’s just toying with us, or space might be just what Daisy needs to get back on the romance horse.
Dark and dirty
One other clue that has surfaced about Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 5 is less stated than it is emphatically suggested: Life in space is going to suck.
From the grim portraits of new characters, to the uncompromising language used to describe their circumstances (“tough,” “desperate,” and “nightmarish” are a few frequently offered adjectives) it is abundantly clear that our agents will be facing a challenge the likes of which they have never endured.
And toss into the mix Chloe Bennet’s penchant for posting selfies covered in theatrical filth, wounds, and blood, and the question becomes less “Is it bad?” to “How bad will it get — and will our agents make it out alive?”
Luckily, we have less than a month until Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 5 begins offering up its brutal answers. We couldn’t be more excited to get back on this ride.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 5 premieres on Friday, Dec. 1 at 9:00 p.m. on ABC.
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