How Agents of SHIELD Handled the Consequences of Avengers: Infinity War

Ever since the release of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, the impact of Thanos's Snap has been a significant point of discussion among Marvel fans. However, for the Agents of SHIELD series, there has been no explicit acknowledgment or exploration of the Snap directly.

No Direct Address of the Snap

Unlike what many fans might have hoped for, the upcoming Agents of SHIELD series 6 and 7 do not seem to delve into the aftermath of the Snap. According to the writers, both series take place before the events of Infinity War. This means that any storyline involving Avenger characters directly affected by the Snap remains unexplored in the series. In the first episode of series 6, there is even a one-year time skip, suggesting that both episodes 1 and 2 take place before the Snap occurred.

Exclusion of the Snap in Current Episodes

In the current storyline, there is no mention of the Snap and all public places are shown as deserted. Given Captain America's leadership role, he would have informed at least Mack about the reasons behind the Snap. Even under such dire circumstances, it is highly unlikely that all the main characters from the SHIELD would survive unscathed. It's particularly noteworthy that character like Jemma Simmons and Daisy are still searching for Grant, indicating that the fate of key characters is left uncertain.

References to Thanos’s Invasion

While the series does not directly address the Snap, there are indirect references to the events that transpired. For instance, the character General Talbot becomes obsessed with acquiring Gravitonium, a metal capable of increasing his power to defeat Thanos. The series ends before the Snap, leaving the impact of the snap on the agents of SHIELD unknown.

Season 6 and Beyond

In Agents of SHIELD, the writers chose to bypass the Snap and its immediate aftermath by setting the series in a timeframe before the Snap. This strategy allowed them to focus on other aspects of the conflict, such as the initial stages of Thanos's invasion and the strategic movements of the Confederation to save Earth.

Reversing the Fate in Future Episodes

According to Agents of SHIELD's writer and director comments, the final three episodes of season 6 (episodes 20 and 21) are set during the events of Avengers: Infinity War but specifically before the Snap. The writers have stated that these episodes take place during the conflict, but the immediate fallout and consequences of the Snap are not explicitly addressed. However, it's clear that the overall story of the series, especially in season 6, is structured to ultimately reverse the fate of the heroes, as seen in the subsequent Avengers: Endgame.

Agents of SHIELD has chosen to handle the events of Avengers: Infinity War by postponing the release of series 6 until summer 2019, ensuring that the events of the following film, Avengers: Endgame, would be part of the story. This strategic move allows the series to bring back many of its characters and reverse their tragic fates, fulfilling the expectations of fans who were hoping for a more detailed exploration of the Snap.

The absence of explicit references to the Snap in the current storyline does not diminish the overall impact of Avengers: Infinity War. Instead, it sets the stage for a more focused narrative on the strategic and tactical maneuvers of SHIELD and the Confederation as they engage in the battle against Thanos.