Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. is lost in space in a super-sized two-parter

Here’s what’s happening in the world of television for Friday, December 1, and Saturday, December 2. All times are Eastern.

Top picks

Marvel’s Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Friday, ABC, 8 p.m.): We’re not sure just what’s going on in the 17-minute preview of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s two-part fifth season premiere, except that somebody over at the S.H.I.E.L.D. production offices really likes Talking Heads. And people are in space? Agent Coulson and crew seem to adjust to this crazy setting rather quickly. He’s already making Inspector Gadget jokes; there are murderous demogorgon-looking aliens; Mack wants to quit again because last time “I didn’t quit hard enough”; and there’s a reference to Nick Fury and a question about possible deep space outposts. Overall, the agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. seem much cooler in space than they ever were on Earth, so even if you’re a halfway fan, you’ll want to dive into these two TV hours. Alex McLevy’s so savvy, he already caught that throwaway reference to S.W.O.R.D.

Regular coverage

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon)
Godless (Netflix)
She’s Gotta Have It (Netflix)
Z Nation (Friday, Syfy, 9 p.m.)
Saturday Night Live (Saturday, NBC, 11:30 p.m.)

Wild card

Easy (Netflix): Back here on Earth (in Chicago, specifically), Netflix is dropping the second season of Joe Swanberg’s Easy today. The improv-based anthology series features a lot of actors you’ll recognize—Aubrey Plaza, Marc Maron, Elizabeth Reaser, Kiersey Clemons, Aya Cash, Kate Micucci, Dave Franco, and Zazie Beetz—as they weave in and out of each other’s lives, trying to balance family, friends, work, and romance in picturesque urban neighborhoods. Each emotional and frequently funny half-hour plays out like its own little short story/indie movie, making this a sophomore season well worth checking out.