Marvel TV and ABC have revealed the title for Agents of S.H.I.E.l..D.’s season 5 finale - and it’s sure to leave fans deeply concerned.
Right now, the future of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. hangs in the balance. The last two seasons have seen the show find a new creative edge, partly a result of moving to a later timeslot (and a new day this season). But the series’ ratings aren’t the best, and showrunners Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen have deliberately written what they believe could be a satisfying conclusion for S.H.I.E.L.D. “We’re ready for if this is the end,” Tancharoen noted. And it seems that the title for the season finale reflects their readiness.
Spoiler TV reports that Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s season 5 finale has been titled “The End.” But the end of what exactly - or whom? Viewers will be particularly concerned for fan-favorite Agent Coulson. The Kree science that resurrected Coulson was undone when he was possessed by the Ghost Rider; now, his death is catching up with him again.
Whatever the case may be, the reality is that Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. may yet have a future. While ratings aren’t good, S.H.I.E.L.D. has been allocated a difficult timeslot. Friday night is generally viewed as a graveyard for network television, but ABC claimed they were trying to turn the slot into “a destination for our science-fiction and fantasy fans,” but the strategy seems to have failed. Once Upon A Time, which was also moved to the Friday night slot, has already been canceled. Unlike Once Upon A Time, though, S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Live+7 numbers are good, which means there’s still hope left for the program.
Interestingly, ABC actually tried to cancel Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. after the much-loved season 4, but Disney reportedly intervened. It seems likely Disney sees value in keeping a Marvel TV series on the air that they have full control over. With the supposed cancellation of Inhumans, S.H.I.E.L.D. is the only one on the network. Given these arguments in favor of renewal, ABC President Channing Dungey has said she’s cautiously optimistic for the series’ future. There have actually been recent rumors that ABC has decided to renew SHIELD for season 6, but that hasn’t been confirmed. In fact, Screen Rant followed up with ABC on the report and all they would say was that they have “not announced pick-ups yet.”
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 5 certainly has a lot of plot threads to tie together in its remaining episodes. The Earth’s impending destruction seems to be a result of a Hydra plot to save the planet, with General Hale setting her sights on S.H.I.E.L.D.’s own Daisy Johnson. Plus, there’s also an alien vessel seemingly approaching Earth with an ominous warning that the planet will turn into a “battlefield” should it arrive. If this is truly the end, then it’s sure to be an action-packed one.
MORE: Agents of SHIELD Season 6 Should Venture Into Alternate Dimensions
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season 5 continues with “The Honeymoon” Friday, April 13, on ABC.
Source: Spoiler TV
