A new preview of this week's episode of “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” features just a splash of romantic tension as May (Ming-Na Wen) asks Coulson (Clark Gregg) whether she "made a move" on him in the virtual reality Framework world. To the disappointment of all the 'shippers in the audience, Phil would much rather talk about being shot.

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What he will admit to is that he is "kind of a Cold War buff," and knows enough about the subject to speculate that they could be in an ex-Soviet submarine refueling station beneath an old oil-drilling platform.

It is a hobby that makes sense, particularly in the light of Coulson's recent experience as a teacher inside the Framework, and it actually complements his interest in Captain America ephemera, as established in the first "Avengers" film. Let's hope he gets a chance to continue its pursuit come season's end.

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Airing Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT on ABC, “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D” stars Clark Gregg as Agent Phil Coulson, Chloe Bennet as Daisy “Quake” Johnson, Ming-Na Wen as Melinda May, Iain De Caestecker as Leo Fitz, Elizabeth Henstridge as Jemma Simmons and Henry Simmons as Alphonso “Mack” Mackenzie.

This week's episode, titled “The Return,” guest stars Natalia Cordova-Buckley as Elena “Yo-Yo” Rodriguez, Mallory Jansen as Aida, Adrian Pasdar as Brigadier General Glenn Talbot, Briana Venskus as Agent Piper, Maximilian Osinski as Agent Davis, Zach McGowan as The Superior, Ricardo Walker as Agent Prince, Brennan Feonix as Airman Whitley and J. Michael Evans as Airman Richardson.