THE SHOW: Agent Carter
WHERE: ABC
WHEN: Tuesdays
THE CAST: Hayley Atwell, Lyndsy Fonseca, James D’Arcy, Chad Michael Murray, Enver Gjokaj, and Dominic Cooper
THE SETUP: A spin-off of Captain America. The show follows Agent Peggy Carter as she tries to clear Howard Stark’s name.
As a huge Captain America and Hayley Atwell fan, I went into Agent Carter with enormous expectations and for me it lived up big time. The two-hour premiere began with an actual clip from Captain America: The First Avenger when Peggy first loses Steve (Captain America) because he sacrifices himself to save everyone. They never do get that dance he promised her after all. The included footage (thankfully they were able to show footage from the movie) really sets the stage well for this comic book/ period drama spinoff. Within the first five minutes, I knew I was hooked.
Photo: Marvel Entertainment
Part Alias, part Captain America, and perhaps Dick Tracy (thanks to the stylized past), Agent Carter is a fun adventure with a fabulous female lead (gorgeous curves and all) who can be both tough and vulnerable at the same time. The story follows Peggy after she loses Steve and after the war is over. She doesn’t date anymore, and she works as the only female agent with a bunch of misogynistic men that don’t take her work seriously (perfectly played for the time period). Enter Howard Stark (from the Captain America film) who has been labeled a traitor for selling weapons to the enemy. He turns to Peggy to help clear his name, all with the assistance of his butler Jarvis (played by the charismatic James D’Arcy).
Photo: ABC
While Stark goes on the run (Dominic Cooper will clearly only be in this part time), Jarvis stays behind to be Peggy’s partner. This particular partnership is pure gold and the true highlight of the series. The comradery, conversations, and chemistry between Jarvis and Carter are off the charts. Will it turn romantic? It doesn’t need to because their friendship banter is just as great. Not to mention that Jarvis keeps talking about a wife…Still, with one moment of tension between the two, I can’t help but wonder if Jarvis’ “wife” isn’t exactly as what it seems. We do know that Peggy gets married to “someone.” We just don’t know who. My vote is for Jarvis at this point. Nevertheless, wherever the romance goes, I am definitely intrigued to find out who Peggy did actually marry.
Photo: ABC
Aside from Jarvis and Carter, all the characters and performers were fantastic. From waitress Angie (this Nikita actress is sure to play a bigger role as a spy or something), the jerk Jack from work (Chad Michael Murray), to kind (and I think suspicious) Daniel Sousa (Dollhouse’s Enver Gjokaj), everyone just comes together to make for a believable spinoff of the Captain America franchise.
Photo: ABC
As a whole, Agent Carter entertains with witty one-liners, fabulous production design that brings a different period to life, hilariously sexist Captain American radio shows (that Peggy of course despises), and stylized dialogue that really sets the tone for this fun adventure. Not since Alias have I enjoyed a spy show this much! I don’t know about everyone else, but I personally can’t wait for the next installment of Agent Carter…
Overall Rating
“The stuff that dreams are made of.”
Romance Rating
“In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My
feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me
to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”
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Fantastic review, Autumn! Love all you have to say and the conclusions you came away with are spot on great. This one is definitely gush-worthy and I’m excited to see where it goes… the premiere was fun, sassy and stylish that’s for sure. Hoping Jarvis remains a permanent fixture in the series and of course, Daniel, too. 🙂
Although it isn’t a period drama in the costume drama sense, have you watched FX’s The Americans? It is another great spy show, though more of a slow burn. So glad Agent Carter is coming back!