‘Agents Of SHIELD’ Season 4: Why Are HYDRA And [SPOILER] In The Framework?

Major Agents of SHIELD Season 4 episode 15, “Self Control,” spoilers ahead

It’s no longer called Agents of SHIELD. It’s now Agents of Hydra . In the framework Dr. Radcliffe built to protect the Darkhold, Grant Ward (Brett Dalton) is alive, dating Daisy actually, and HYDRA takes SHIELD’s place.

This was a twist fans didn’t see coming. We thought Hydra and Grant Ward, were things of the past. But thanks to Coulson’s biggest regret -- not living a normal, simple life -- he chose to be a school teacher instead of the director of SHIELD. It seems that choice gave HYDRA the opportunity to rise to power in SHIELD’s place.

“What would a Hydra world be without him?” Jed Whedon said in a post-episode interview. In this alternate reality, Grant Ward may even be the leader of HYDRA, or at least have a high rank. As of right now, it looks like May and Daisy are agents. Could even mean Daisy is still going by Skye and has no inhuman powers… but we’ll have to wait and see about that one.

Is Coulson not joining SHIELD the cause for all of this, including Jemma’s death? It’s possible she ended up dying from that alien virus in Season 1, she and Fitz never got together, and he found another woman. But it’s also possible Jemma is dead in the framework because AIDA didn’t have a chance to create a path for her, or upload her brain. There’s tons of possibilities. Let us know your theory in the comments below.