Agent Carter
This last week saw the finale of Agent Carter, Marvels foray into the spy thriller genre which turned out surprisingly well in my eyes, despite what the exceptionally mediocre ratings and responses say.
Hayley Atwell reprises her role as Agent Peggy Carter for this mini-series based right after Captain America: The First Avenger and follows Miss Carter dealing with the loss of her love Steve Rogers. The show shines a light on what happened between WWII and the formation of S.H.I.E.L.D. by Peggy Carter, Howard Stark and Colonel Chester Phillips.
Agent Carter has a Mad Men vibe to me, the costumes, the sets and the almost over the top sexism all make you realize that Marvel are at least trying to make a meaningful show which doesn’t heavily rely on superheroes and cameos from the Avengers but the context of the 1940’s. Having said that their are plenty of easter eggs and hints for the avid Marvel fan, such as The Howling Commandos and Leviathan.
Dominic Cooper also reprises his role of Howard Stark, Tony Stark’s women-and-weapons-loving father whose super deadly inventions are stolen and ‘fall in the wrong hands’. James D’Arcy brings to life one of Marvel’s greatest non-superhero characters Edwin Jarvis, Stark’s butler who later becomes Tony’s AI helper voiced by Paul Bettany.
Despite all the praise i’m giving it still suffers from typical TV pitfalls, the worst being the episodic formula with a super-weapon threat every week. Although it does die down towards the end, it is nevertheless a little sad to see them fumble some interesting ideas just to fit the formula. I never understand the reasoning behind making a show which was made for a big over-arching story a 40 minute adventure a week, but that’s a whole other article.
The look and feel of the show is done very well. 40’s New York looks great, it’s nice and refreshing to see retro New York which is in the background and not shoved in your face every 5 minutes. All of the acting is great, everyone suits the style and look Marvel has chosen; especially Lyndsy Fonseca, of Nikita and Kick- Ass fame, who plays Peggy Carter’s friend Angie Martinelli and fits in perfectly as a waitress.
The most mind blowing part of Agent Carter is something which I didn’t even pick up on and if it’s confirmed to be true it has some severe ramifications. I’ll let Rob at ComicsExplained, well explain. (WARNING: SPOILER ALERT!)
Now Agent Carter has ended, will we get a second season released? Do you think it deserves it? Or are you just waiting until Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. returns?
Culture Monkeys 