Agents Of SHIELD season 4, episode 21 synopsis: “The Return”

This week on Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD, the team faces off with an even deadlier enemy.

Last week on Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD‘s “Farewell, Cruel World!” episode, the team makes their harrowing journey to the Framework’s exit. However, not everyone is on board with this idea because what they wanted was already in the Framework itself.

As the team figures out a way to get to Radcliffe’s hidden “doorway,” Jemma forms a plan to get Fitz out also—even if it meant endangering herself. She soon visits Fitz’s father, Alistair. At gunpoint, she forces him to call Fitz.

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However, things go horribly wrong. Alistair isn’t some frail old man. Still on the call with Fitz, Alistair fights Simmons—and ends up getting shot. Fitz and a squad of Hydra troops soon visit Alistair’s home and find his body.

At the exit location, Daisy uses her Quake powers to separate the molten steel—revealing the Framework’s backdoor. Coulson, who’s shot in the process, is the first person to exit. He soon wakes up in the real world and goes right to decapitating Aida. Back in the Framework, Mack decides not to leave. For him, he still has his daughter and sees this virtual world containing some hope. Daisy reluctantly exits without him.

Jemma lures Fitz to the backdoor. There, Radcliffe apologizes for what he’s done to SHIELD, and throws Fitz through the doorway. As Fitz wakes up, he’s horrified by his actions in the Framework. Ophelia (Aida in a real human body) leaves her chamber with May ready to shoot her. Ophelia calls to Fitz, and before May can fire, she takes Fitz and “Nightcrawler’s” (see what I did there? I mentioned the M-word without really saying it) him out.

This week, the team hunts for Ophelia in a bid to rescue Fitz, who is most likely distraught from the horrible crimes he performed inside the Framework. Here’s the official synopsis from ABC:

“The Return”

"Coulson and the team’s victory in the Framework is short-lived, revealing an even deadlier enemy looming against them all"

Next: MCU films and television shows may eventually cross over

Enjoy this week’s episode. Also, make sure to head on over to our friends at theStream.tv where they’ll be discussing the latest episode on their Agents of Marvel After Show.

Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD airs on ABC on Tuesdays at 10:00 p.m. EST.