For all intents and purposes, Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) is a '40s Emma Peel, and her companion, Edwin Jarvis (James D'Arcy), though never pretending to be Patrick McNee, invokes John Steed.
In the initial season, Carter helped Howard Stark (Dominic Cooper) clear his name after a complex frame-up. Season 2 (premiering Jan. 18) will focus on Carter's move from NY to LA (along with some hardy Hollywood glitz) during the onset of the Atomic Age. What thrills such will bring is yet to be seen, but I suspect it'll be pretty darn good, particularly with a promised Doc Strange connection characterizing the plot.
Season 2 also reinstates Chad Michael Murray as James Thompson and Enver Gjokaj as Daniel Sousa, with a reappearance by Cooper/Stark and an anticipated, dance-number cameo by Lindsy Fonseca as Angie Martinelli. (I can only imagine that continued Cap references will again be part of the proceedings.)
While "Agent Carter'"s companion series, "S.H.I.E.L.D." generally hits a more adventurous note, it also tends to get muddied by various espionage tangents. The nice thing about "Agent Carter" (so far) is its simplicity: in my estimation, the best way to tell a good-vs-evil tale. Now, let's just hope the new season extends that wise tradition.
Damn good two-parter premiere on "Agent Carter". So far, it's a fun detective/spy/science-fiction/movie-serial spree, even more so than last season. (The Hollywood backdrop is also a swell touch.) Lookin' forward to more. Hot dog!
ReplyDelete"Better Angels"--damn, good episode. It's always great to see Howard Stark. That he was directing a "comic-book movie" was pretty cool. I'm also diggin' the Cold War angle of this season, with the Soviets and such. Reminds me of the spy shows from my childhood.
ReplyDeleteThe ultra-violent, "invisible man" segment and the mutating-commie element were also neat. I believe those sorts of things go well with the whole Marvel/Avengers/S.H.I.E.L.D. scene.
DeleteAdditionally, the Jarvis "disembodied voice" reference (tying to the security system) was a hoot. Ah, yes, a projection of the wondrous shape of things to come...
"Smoke and Mirrors" wasn't as eventful as previous episodes this season, but still significant for its background/flashback segments. It's good to flesh out the characters in any source, especially in a series like this, where there's more time to explore the past. I appreciate the effort.
ReplyDeletePleased also to see Kurtwood Smith playing a significant, supporting part this season. I've been a fan since he hit the scene as the villainous Clarence Boddicker in the original "RoboCop"; he's a fine, versatile character actor.
Delete"The Atomic Job" was lots of fun. Carter decked out in Bettie Page fashion was so cool and her interaction with Ray Wise, a hoot!!!
ReplyDeleteThey really layered it on this week with two episodes, "Life of the Party" and "Monsters". Both were good. I found the Whitney Frost and Dottie Underwood sequences pretty stimulating. I guess it's that Eric Stanton thing I harbor. Nonetheless, the Cold War intrigue is really heating up. Makes me ponder the various ways in which the story may be resolved.
ReplyDeleteAnother double-whammy with "Edge of Mystery" and "A Little Song and Dance"... Both pretty good with varying tones. I enjoyed the old-time, science-fiction quality to "Edge" and the levity in "Song", at least with the MGM styled reverie. Anyway, a nice pairing, even though I prefer the episodes not back-to-back (if only due to my time constraints).
ReplyDeleteCan't say I was completely satisfied with the finale, "Hollywood Ending", but maybe that's just because I was saddened that the season was ending. It was a fine Howard Stark episode, however.
ReplyDeleteI'm saddened also that the series may not be renewed. If that's the case, damn shame. I assumed we'd get more "Agent Carter" escapades during the "S.H.I.E.L.D" hiatuses. I hope the fans make their collective voice heard on this.
Well, it looks like Season 3 is a go, after all. However, until I hear it's rolling before the cameras, I won't get my hopes up too high. One just never knows with these things...
ReplyDeleteWell, it looks like Season 3 is a go, after all. However, until I hear it's rolling before the cameras, I won't get my hopes up too high. One just never knows with these things...
ReplyDeleteWell, it looks like Season 3 is a go, after all. However, until I hear it's rolling before the cameras, I won't get my hopes up too high. One just never knows with these things...
ReplyDeleteSo, it appears "Agent Carter" has been cancelled, after all: a dumb move for sure on ABC's part. Too bad the show can't leap to another source, the way "Supergirl" has. I wonder now if Season 2's cliffhanger will somehow gain closure through "S.H.I.E.L.D." in some flashback/wraparound form.
ReplyDelete