Besides Avengers like Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor, Clark Gregg’s Phil Coulson has been a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe from the very beginning. Not only did he act as a connective tissue or the Marvel Studios films in Phase One, but he also went on to kick off Marvel Television’s corner of the MCU with ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.‘ on ABC. As we’ve seen through the first two seasons of the show, things are never really easy for the newly established undisputed Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. and it doesn’t look like they’ll be getting any easier.

While speaking to Comic Book Resources about the upcoming third season, Gregg discussed all the curveballs that have been thrown his way since signing on for the ‘S.H.I.E.L.D.’ gig. And since he’s constantly being surprised by what keeps coming Coulson’s way, he’s not really sure whether his character will be more settled into his role as director this time around or if he’ll continue the various field work that we’ve previously seen him take part in:

“I don’t know. It’s a really good question. But one thing I know after doing two full seasons of this, I really thought the main thing I was going to be dealing with last year was Hydra, and the fact that Coulson was carving stuff late at night because of his alien blood — I didn’t see a shadow S.H.I.E.L.D. trying to take him out coming. So far he’s dealing with Inhumans; on his team, and out in the world. And the fact that he’s got one less hand than he started last season with. I have no idea what else is coming his way.

I hope that for the moment, S.H.I.E.L.D. itself is a fairly cohesive unit — although one of the things you discover right away is that there’s another super-secret organization out there hunting down Inhumans, led by the amazing Constance Zimmer, and it’s hard to tell if they’re good or bad, right out of the gate. It’s a complicated job.”

But Coulson isn’t the only one set up to go through some trials and tribulations. True Believers are just as invested in the other characters that were created for this series as well, which is something about the show’s evolution that Gregg is very fond of:

“When we came back last season, everyone was so worried about Fitz. That meant a lot to me; the new characters that are being introduced. People aren’t like, ‘When’s Tony Stark going to show up?’ They’re more concerned about where Simmons is, now.”

Damn right we’re concerned about Simmons! Hopefully we find out where she is when ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ returns on Tuesday night. But until then, what do you expect from the upcoming third season? Are you excited to see what has come of the peacekeeping organization since we last saw them? And how much more complicated do you think things will get for Director Coulson and company? Sound off in the comments.

‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ starring Brett Dalton, Ming-Na Wen, Iain De Caestecker, Elizabeth Henstridge, Nick Blood, Adrianne Palicki, Chloe Bennet, Henry Simmons, Luke Mitchell, and Clark Gregg returns to ABC on September 29, 2015 at 9:00pm.