With the fourth season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. approximately a week into production, ABC has officially released a synopsis for the upcoming season, and surprisingly revealed some big information. After spending two seasons operating in the shadows, S.H.I.E.L.D. is officially back to being legitimized, hence the reason the organization needed to bring in a new Director. (After all, it’s kind of hard to explain the “dead” Director that’s still very much alive bit when it comes to Coulson.) The synopsis also goes on to reveal that Simmons (Elizabeth Henstridge) has received a promotion and is essentially the new Director’s right hand. As for May (Ming-Na Wen), who has been by Coulson’s side since the first episode? Her character looks set to be training some new “specialist strike teams.” Could the inclusion of “strike teams” there be a hint at the show bringing in S.T.R.I.K.E.? Something many expected to see when Lance Hunter was brought in back during season two? It’s entirely possible.

One of the minor bits from this synopsis that is actually kind of interesting is that it appears Fitz (Iain De Caestecker) will come to find out about Dr. Radcliffe’s (John Hannah) Life Model Decoys before the others. With the series seemingly set to drive a wedge between the FitzSimmons relationship again, I’m curious to see what they choose to do with Fitz and Radcliffe. We’ve seen all of these characters grow since the first season, but Fitz hasn’t really had a proper story-line for himself yet. Perhaps that is set to change with season four?

“MARVEL’S AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D.” (Tuesdays from 10:00-11:00 p.m. ET) “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” returns with a vengeance for the fourth exciting season in an all new time period, Tuesday at 10:00 p.m. ET. In the aftermath of their journey to another planet, Director Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) and the rest of the team were driven more than ever to put an end to the Hydra organization. Little did they know that they were up against the deadliest threat they’ve ever faced – an extremely powerful Inhuman, Hive, who was transported back from Maveth in the body of their worst enemy, Grant Ward. The team was able to thwart and kill Hive and take down Hydra, but they are all still mourning the death of fellow agent and Inhuman, Lincoln Campbell. In light of the Sokovia Accords, and with Hydra obliterated, S.H.I.E.L.D. has been legitimatized again and no longer needs to operate in the shadows. Since the world presumes that Coulson is dead, the organization needed a new Director (Jason O’Mara) to be the face of the organization. Coulson finds himself back in the role as an agent and teamed with Mack (Henry Simmons), and together they are tasked with tracking down and confirming the presence of Enhanced people, aka Inhumans. They have been trying to track down and capture Daisy (Chloe Bennet), aka Quake, who has gone rogue in an attempt to atone for sins from the past. But with the world believing that Daisy is a dangerous outlaw who has taken down banks and bridges, the new Director has no qualms about taking her down for good. Agent May (Ming-Na Wen) is tasked with training specialist strike teams, and Fitz (Iain De Caestecker) and Simmons (Elizabeth Henstridge) have taken a big step forward in their relationship. But with Simmons’ new promotion as Special Advisor to the Director in Science and Technology, Fitz, as well as her former team members, finds it hard to confide in or trust her since she’s now the Director’s confidant. Robbie Reyes (Gabriel Luna) will roar into the lives of Agent Coulson and the team as a junkyard mechanic who can turn on a dime into the terrifying Ghost Rider. Will Robbie be a friend or foe to S.H.I.E.L.D. – as well as the world, itself? Meanwhile, Fitz discovers that socially awkward genius and friend Dr. Radcliffe (John Hannah) has started putting the finishing touches on a new, secret invention. “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” stars Clark Gregg as Agent Phil Coulson, Ming-Na Wen as Agent Melinda May, Chloe Bennet as Daisy Johnson, Iain De Caestecker as Agent Leo Fitz, Elizabeth Henstridge as Agent Jemma Simmons and Henry Simmons as Agent Alphonso “Mack” MacKenzie. “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” was co-created by Joss Whedon, Jed Whedon & Maurissa Tancharoen, who also serve as executive producers along with Jeffrey Bell and Jeph Loeb.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. will return to ABC this September for its fourth season, albeit with a new time-slot of 10 PM. If you’re not already caught up, you can stream the first three seasons (at least within the United States) on Netflix now!

Source: ABC.