<P> In terms of having connections to Marvel's Inhumans, Whedon felt it was doubtful, but noted "we also want there to be a bigger reward for people who watch all of (the MCU series), so they'll start to see that there's lines connecting it . It's more fun for people who are playing the whole game, but if you don't, you'll still have a great rollercoaster ride ." In November 2017, Whedon said that the season would not have moved the characters to space if the recent MCU films like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Thor: Ragnarok had not been exploring that part of the MCU, but that this would remain a "thematic tie". He explained that they had moved on from the overt tie - ins with the MCU films that the series utilized in earlier seasons because "we have our own mythology . That started to be much more interesting to us, and hopefully to the audience, just digging that stuff up . No one wants to come to see our show to see another show ." Whedon added in March 2018 that the then - upcoming release of Avengers: Infinity War would similarly "open a new playground" for the series to explore . </P> <P> The season features the Kree, an alien race that previously appeared in the first three seasons, and in the film Guardians of the Galaxy . The fictional element gravitonium also returns, having first appeared in the first season . </P> <P> The season began airing in the United States on ABC on December 1, 2017, beginning once Inhumans finished airing its episodes . It is set to run for 22 episodes, with a short hiatus for the airing of the 2018 Winter Olympics between "Past Life" and "All the Comforts of Home". The season is intended to conclude on May 18, 2018 . </P> <P> The fifth season moved to a Friday timeslot, alongside the seventh season of ABC's Once Upon a Time, with ABC chief Channing Dungey explaining, "We've turned Friday into more of a destination for our fantasy and science fiction fans . Once Upon a Time and S.H.I.E.L.D. are airing on the same night for the first time, which is giving many fans of both shows what they've been asking for for a long time ." Andy Kubitz, executive vice president for program planning and scheduling at ABC, added that ABC had "confidence that (the S.H.I.E.L.D.) core audience...(would) travel with it" to its new Friday time slot . He continued, "The great thing about Friday night for these shows is it gives three days of downtime for a lot of these younger viewers to be able to catch up on it . You've got Saturday and Sunday viewing that will be able to be counted into our C3 to help us monetize it ." </P>

When is season five of agents of shield coming out