'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' season 4 updates: New time slot lets the show get dark and gritty

When Marvel's "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." first premiered, it had an 8 p.m. time slot, which meant that the show was a bit more child-friendly and light. However, according to the head of Marvel TV, Jeph Loeb, the show's new 10 p.m. time slot will allow it to get darker and grittier in the same vein as Netflix's "Jessica Jones" and "Daredevil."

In an interview with Comic Book Resources, Loeb goes into detail as to what direction "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." will take this incoming season. He says, "By going to 10 o'clock, we're going to be taking on just a little bit more edge, a little bit more grit... The show is pretty violent for something at 9 o'clock, but when we get to 10 o'clock, we're going to be just a little hair of something that I think people are going to really enjoy."

The Marvel–Netflix shows have been receiving tons of critical acclaim, and it seems like "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." and "Agent Carter" are trying to play catch-up; although the latter already got itself canceled. Part of the praise that the Netflix series are getting is due to the grit and realism that the shows manage to add to the superhero genre. "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." has been more on the humorous side of Marvel TV, so nobody can blame the showrunners for trying to make the show a bit edgier.

Loeb goes on to say that "Agents of SHIELD" holds a very special place in his heart; after all, it is the first Marvel television series to be connected directly to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. "I really do have a very special place for S.H.I.E.L.D. Without S.H.I.E.L.D., nothing else happens," says Loeb.

With an incredibly dark character like Ghost Rider (Gabriel Luna) joining the fray, viewers can expect the show to adopt a much darker tone.

The fourth season of "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." premieres on Sept. 20. on ABC.