The Framework Returns in Marvel's Agents of SHIELD Season 5

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Agents of SHIELD: The Framework Returns in Season 5

By Nicole Sobon

Published Dec 1, 2017

The fifth season of Marvel's Agents of SHIELD is set to bring back the Framework in what's described as a surprising and revealing way.

The heroes of Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. may be headed to space, but that doesn't mean they've put all of the events of Season 4 behind them. Although the agents broke free from the Framework, it appears that alternate-reality simulation will return to wreak more havoc.

Last season, the agents found themselves in a world controlled by Hydra after being pulled into the Framework by Mallory Jansen's Aida/Madame Hydra. The six-episode "pod" kicked off with the 16th episode, titled "What If?," which saw Daisy Johnson (Chloe Bennet) and Jemma Simmons (Elizabeth Henstridge) willingly enter that alternate reality to save members of their team. Of course, things didn't exactly go as planned, and the rest of the season allowed the drama to explore the characters from new perspectives before effectively destroying the Framework in the season finale.

Now, however, it appears that while the team is very much in space and not a stimulation, they're far from done with the Framework.

Responding to a fan's question in her weekly Spoiler Room column, Entertainment Weekly writer Natalie Abrams confirmed the Framework will play a part in the new season -- although in a rather "surprising" way:

Are the Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D. actually in space or just another Framework? — Marcus

I can confirm that Team S.H.I.E.L.D. is definitely in space, but the Framework will come back into play in a very surprising (and revealing) way soon.

How the Framework comes back into play remains to be seen, but it's worth noting that Fitz is still on Earth. Perhaps the new Framework will involve him in some way? After all, he was the one person on the team that was unable to let go of their actions within the Framework, acknowledging that the man in the simulation was still him at his core. However the writers manage to bring the Framework back, the wait shouldn't be too long to find out.

Premiering tonight at 8 ET/PT on ABC, the fifth season of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. stars Clark Gregg, Ming-Na Wen, Chloe Bennet, Henry Simmons, Ian De Caestecker, Natalia Cordova-Buckley, Elizabeth Henstridge, Nick Blood, Jeff Ward, Eve Harlow, Pruitt Taylor Vince and Coy Stewart.