The Lighthouse automatically fires missiles at the Zephyr, damaging the time drive. While Deke, Simmons, and Enoch repair it, Deke discovers that Simmons has a memory implant that blocks her knowledge of Fitz's location while retaining information on time travel. Nathaniel experiments on Daisy and transfers her powers to himself, but he is overwhelemed by them as they break his bones and destroy the building he is in. Sousa is able to get Daisy back to the Zephyr. May identifies undercover Chronicoms by sensing that they have no emotions. She and Coulson rescue General Rick Stoner, and Coulson finds the Chronicoms' ship. He speaks with Sybil, their predictor, about the Chronicoms' plan. He then blows up the ship with himself in it. Mack and Yo-Yo discover that Mack's parents are already dead and are being impersonated by Chronicoms, forcing Mack to throw them from the Quinjet. The Zephyr jumps to 1982, and Mack steps out to mourn. Deke checks on him, but they are stranded when the Zephyr suddenly jumps in time.
Production
Development
After the sixth season finale of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. aired in August 2019, showrunners Jed Whedon, Maurissa Tancharoen, and Jeffrey Bell revealed that the seventh season would feature the team trying to save the world from invasion by the Chronicoms. They use time travel to do this, allowing the season to explore the history of S.H.I.E.L.D. Later that month, one of the season's episodes was revealed to be titled "Adapt or Die" and written by DJ Doyle. It was confirmed to be the sixth episode of the season in June 2020, when Aprill Winney was revealed to have directed it. Winney had shadowedAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D. director Garry A. Brown in season six, as "Adapt or Die" was her first time directing a television episode with stunts and visual effects; Winney previously worked more on kids and family television.
Writing
This episode introduces Jemma Simmons' biological implant, which she has named Diana. Simmons actress Elizabeth Henstridge had gotten engaged during the previous episode and named her engagement ring Diana, speaking openly about the ring by that name when Henstridge returned to filming. As such, Tancharoen reached out to Henstridge letting her know the writers and producers decided to call the implant Diana as well.
Casting
With the season renewal, main cast members Ming-Na Wen, Chloe Bennet, Elizabeth Henstridge, Henry Simmons, Natalia Cordova-Buckley, and Jeff Ward were confirmed to be returning from previous seasons as Melinda May, Daisy Johnson / Quake, Jemma Simmons, Alphonso "Mack" MacKenzie, Elena "Yo-Yo" Rodriguez, and Deke Shaw, respectively. Series star Clark Gregg also returns as his character Phil Coulson, portraying a Life Model Decoy version of the character in the seventh season. Guest starring in the episode are Joel Stoffer as Enoch, Tamara Taylor as Sibyl, Tobias Jelinek as Luke, Thomas E. Sullivan as Nathaniel Malick, Paulina Bugembe as Lila Mackenzie, Dawan Owens as agent Ford, Sedale Threatt Jr. as John Mackenzie, Patrick Warburton as Rick Stoner, and Enver Gjokaj reprising his Agent Carter of agent Daniel Sousa, all returning from earlier episode of the season. They are joined by Shakira Barrera as agent King.
Filming
Kyle Jewell suggested a crane be used when filming in Sibyl's void, which director Aprill Winney felt helped "bring the dynamism" to an empty room with two people.
Release
"Adapt or Die" was first aired in the United States on ABC on July 1, 2020.
Reception
Ratings
In the United States the episode received a 0.3 percent share among adults between the ages of 18 and 49, meaning that it was seen by 0.3 percent of all households in that demographic. It was watched by 1.32 million viewers. Within a week of release, "Adapt or Die" was watched by 2.38 million viewers.
Critical response
The A.V. Clubs Alex McLevy gave the episode a "B", saying the episode "successfully integrates its various subplots with optimal pacing" thanks to "strong direction and a solid script". Coulson's conversation with Sibyl "was elegantly crafted, giving him a chance to deliver a stirring speech about humanity without it feeling trite or hokey". He called the Simmons subplot explaining about her memory chip the episode's only weak spot. McLevy concluded, "It wasn't always fun to watch, but for being one of the show's periodic downer installments, it remained lively and compelling throughout, balancing the adventure and pathos more successfully than in" the last episode. Michael Ahr of Den of Geek felt the failures endured in the episode made "for the perfect season midpoints as the characters face the most overwhelming odds yet, framing what will presumably be their seemingly impossible comeback in the back half", giving the episode 4.5 stars out of 5. Trent Moore at Syfy Wire felt Coulson's line "Dying? It’s kind of my superpower." was "one of the show’s greatest" and that Sousa and Daisy had "a great bit of chemistry" in their scenes, noting "Sousa really gets a chance to shine". Matt Webb Mitovich from TVLine said that after the first five episodes had "light-hearted time-travel hijinks", "Adapt or Die" had "harder-hitting drama" which resulted in an "incredibly eventful episode". Giving the episode a "B-", Christian Houlb at Entertainment Weekly said the episode "reach new depths for the season" and called Mack learning his parents were Chronicoms "the most brutal stuff in episode". Wesley Coburn from Bam! Smack! Pow! was more critical of the episode, giving it a "C", and saying it "answers a lot of questions, but at the expense of character development and excessive action.".
