‘Agents of SHIELD’ says goodbye to two fan favorites as Season 3 ends with a big bang

When “Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD” announced a few weeks back that a main cast member would be dying in the season finale, fans began placing their bets. As it turns out, the show seems to have doubled-down on the promise with “Ascension,” the final episode of Season 3 that aired May 17.

So, who were the two “SHIELD” stars who bit the dust? Read on for details, but beware — intergalactic spoilers ahead.

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After multiple fake-outs, the show’s final moments had Lincoln sneaking aboard the Quinjet and undermining Daisy’s plan to shoot Hive into outer space. Knocking her out of the shop, he sacrifices himself for the team by giving the villainous predator a chauffeured ride to their death.

“He’s paying for my mistakes,” a tearful Daisy says to Coulson.

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“No,” replies the SHIELD leader, showing that he’s taking things personally after his (now multiple) failed attempts to dispatch Grant Ward/Hive. “He’s paying for all our mistakes.”

As the ship drifts into space, Hive and Lincoln become unlikely compatriots in their final moments — and actors Brett Dalton and Luke Mitchell have a memorable final scene together.

“I think we’re going to share a connection, as we experience the one thing that’s eluded me all these years,” Hive says. “Death.”

“Well, I got to see the world,” says Lincoln.

“It’s smaller than you’d imagine,” replies Hive. “I only wanted to make it better.”

Looking weary, Lincoln replies: “I know.”

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As the music swells and the ship floats away, the agents say goodbye to one of their own. Only May seems characteristically unemotional. “So,” asks Simmons. “What now?”

The episode then jumps six months, and we can see that Daisy is apparently back to her old tricks. “Quake Not a Natural Disaster, it was a Person,” reads a newspaper headline.

With Chloe Bennet’s character apparently rogue again, Coulson and the crew swoop in with guns drawn to try and take her back, but come up empty-handed. So, when “SHIELD” returns next season in its new time slot, it seems like the agents won’t only be one member short — but they’ll also have a new enemy.