It’s official. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. returns for a sixth season this fall, according to the show’s Instagram account. Caution: all sorts of Marvel spoilers ahead.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. back for Season Six
While season six is only confirmed for 13 episodes, that could change based on ratings for the season five finale, re-watches over the summer, and/or fan support. It’s not likely, but it’s possible. Season five contained several milestone moments, including the show’s 100th episode. While viewership continues to drop, fan and cast support for the show’s continuation picked up earlier this season.
Last year, the show’s fate hung in the wind for far too long. Season five was a giant question mark, even as season four wrapped up and teased a space travel storyline. This year, the agents have been not only to Space, but Space of the Future. The Fitzsimmons wedding, the Philinda make-out session, and new characters including Graviton (Adrian Pasdar) steadily raised the stakes.
Season Finale? Or Series Finale?
Season five objectively had its slow weeks, but the show’s uncertain future forced showrunners Mo Tancharoen and Jed Whedon to take serious risks and treat season five’s finale as though it would be the last episode of the series.
The season five finale airs this Friday, May 18th. While the show’s connection to Infinity War remains to be seen, Thanos’ name has come up several times in the last few weeks. Will we see a few characters wave their “final” goodbyes? And, perhaps the biggest question of all–will Coulson, the Agent that started it all, really be dead for good this time?
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is based on characters found in Marvel comics. The show kicked off as a “behind the red tape” look at the everyday folks who kept the Avengers running, but in the last five years, the world of S.H.I.E.L.D. has expanded immeasurably. Series regulars Chloe Bennet (Daisy Johnson), Elizabeth Henstridge (Jemma FitzSimmons), Iain DeCaestecker (Leo Fitzsimmons), Ming-Na Wen (Melinda May), and Clark Gregg (Agent Phil Coulson), have been with the team since its pilot. Other regulars include Henry Simmons (Alphonso Mack), Natalia Cordova (Elena Rodriguez), Briana Venskus (Agent Piper), and Jeff Ward (Deke).
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has earned praise for diverse casting, storylines that tie in with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and character development over multiple seasons. Release dates and air time has not yet been announced for season six. Season five’s final episode will air on ABC, at 9EST on Friday, May 18th.
