In flashbacks, a teenage Grant Ward is seen in juvenile detention where he first meets John Garrett, and accepts his offer to join his organization, S.H.I.E.L.D.

In the present, Phil Coulson's team realize Cybertek Industries is a front for Hydra, and decide to investigate them to find out what Garrett is planning and stop him, despite not being officially sanctioned to do so (with Leo Fitz describing them as vigilantes).

Antoine Triplett provides the team with 1940s Strategic Scientific Reserve (SSR) gadgets, which belonged to his grandfather, a Howling Commando.

Coulson, May, Skye and Triplett go to the base to activate the Trojan program, and are attacked by several Centipede soldiers and a Hydra operative wielding the Berserker staff.

In April 2014, Marvel revealed that the twenty-first episode would be titled "Ragtag", and would be written by executive producer Jeffrey Bell, with Roxann Dawson directing.

"[2] In April 2014, Marvel revealed that main cast members Clark Gregg, Ming-Na Wen, Brett Dalton, Chloe Bennet, Iain De Caestecker, and Elizabeth Henstridge would star as Phil Coulson, Melinda May, Grant Ward, Skye, Leo Fitz, and Jemma Simmons, respectively.

Bell stated that the initiative was a way to tie the series back to its comics roots, and was thought of at the beginning of the season.

The production team tried to pair specific artists to the teaser posters based on their previous work and how it connected to the themes and emotion of the intended episode.

[9] The poster for "Ragtag", created by Emma Ríos, depicts significant moments in Ward's life, as well as Fitz–Simmons in danger, and Skye looming behind the S.H.I.E.L.D.

Bonus features include behind-the-scenes featurettes, audio commentary, deleted scenes, and a blooper reel.