The connections between "Agents of S.H.I.EL.D." season 3 and the films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe are very loose, allowing the movies and television shows to work independently while still being set in the same world, and the new promo for season 3 episode 20 teases further connections, particularly with the newly released "Captain America: Civil War."
The official promo for the episode, titled "Emancipation," focuses on an exchange between Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg) and General Talbot (Adrian Pasdar). Talbot insists that Coulson should agree to the Sokovia Accords, which are the main plot device in "Civil War," and bring the newly configured .S.H.I.E.L.D. under government control.
However, Coulson states that this means he would need to register all of the Inhumans they have working for S.H.I.E.L.D., an organization which remains to operate in the shadows and does not fall under direct jurisdiction of any government.
Talbot reiterates that the Avengers have already signed the Sokovia Accords to which Coulson states not all of the Avengers have done so, giving a nod to Captain America (Chris Evans) and his team who have disagreed with the Accords out of fear that the government may begin using them for malevolent means.
As stated in a report from Cinema Blend, this clearly puts Agent Coulson in allegiance with Captain America's team, who are currently at war with Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) and the world's governments. It is further stated in the report that this was very likely to happen given that in the first "Avengers" movie Coulson revealed he was a big Captain America fan.
The report also points out that while the ties between "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." and the films are very loose at best, this new clip showcases how the films and television shows affect each other in direct and indirect means.
"Agents of SHIELD" season 3 episode 20 airs this May 10.
