The much anticipated Agent Carter premiered this week with a two hour, two episode event. “Now is Not the End” was written by the team of Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely and was directed by Louis D’Esposito. “Bridge and Tunnel” was written by Eric Pearson and directed by Joseph V Russo. The show is definitely aiming for a 1940s action-adventure feel, much like Indiana Jones. I have to admit that I was basing my excitement for the series on the teaser we had in the first episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. this season. I liked seeing Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) take charge, flanked by Dum Dum Dugan (Neal McDonough) and Jim Morita (Kenneth Choi), so seeing her continuously disrespected by most of her male counterparts, however historically accurate, was especially disappointing.
There was still a lot I did like about the show, and at the top of that list, Haley Atwell delivers a terrific performance. She is clearly still mourning the loss of Captain America (Chris Evans) and is not happy with her position at work. However, rather than becoming shrill or wallowing in her loss, she simply goes about besting the men around her. We don’t see her dissolve into tears – except in the clips from Captain America and when she manages to get her roommate, Colleen (Ashley Hinshaw) killed. I did like that she’s more than stoic about being shot.
Atwell is really impressive when she goes undercover. Her American accents are pretty flawless – why are the British almost always so much better at that? Her disguise as Ruth Barton, Health Department is particularly good because she totally inhabits the “role” – I didn’t feel like I was watching Peggy try to be someone else – which would have made the disguise that much less believable.
It’s always nice to see the Marvel shows firmly planted in their own universe, so “Now is Not the End” included clips from Captain America: The First Avenger. I also liked the gimmick in “Bridge and Tunnel” that had the Captain America Adventure Program radio show playing in the background. It provided a nice counterpoint to the actual action, and of course, Nurse Betty Carver is the fictional counterpart to Agent Peggy Carter. It’s particularly well used as Carter takes down McFee (Devin Ratray) accompanied by the sound effects of the radio show during which Captain America is saving Nurse Carver. The real Agent Carter can look after herself!
Both episodes lay the foundation for the series, setting up the mystery and bad guy while introducing our cast of characters. After Colleen is killed, Carter is reluctant to let anyone near her, but by the end of the second episode stalwart Jarvis (James D’Arcy) convinces her that no one can do what she does with no support. D’Arcy is one of the best things about the show and plays Jarvis, Howard Stark’s (Dominic Cooper) butler, on loan to Carter while she clears his name of traitor charges. He provides support in any number of capacities, telling Carter that “an ideal butler provides service without being asked” whether it’s driving, disposing of a car, incapacitating an engine, or stitching her up.
Almost every scene with Jarvis is a great one. I loved him telling her to call before 9 because that’s when he and his wife go to bed. And then being reluctant to leave his house before the linens are done in the wash. Hard to believe that Stark would be ok with those hours! I wonder if Jarvis’ wife will ever make an actual appearance or whether she will become one of those characters that are always just outside of our television screens.
The scene in which Jarvis tends to Carter’s wound in “Bridge and Tunnel” is an excellent one from both actors. Jarvis tells Carter, “Your line of work requires support. You wish to remove yourself from the world you want to protect – what’s the sense in that?” He also points out that “Captain Rogers relied heavily on you for courage, strategy, and moral guidance… Your desire to help others is noble, but I doubt you’ll find much success unless you allow others to help you.” In “Now is Not the End,” we do see Jarvis on the phone to Stark, telling him that “Miss Carter’s an excellent choice. I don’t think she’ll have any suspicions at all.” Should we be wary of Jarvis? I hope not, but what might she be suspicious about? Is Stark setting her up to head S.H.I.E.L.D.? Luckily, there are a few people lining up to help Agent Carter in addition to Jarvis.
Angie (Lyndsy Fonseca) is a waitress at the diner Carter eats at and finally convinces her to come and live in her building, which is run by the formidable Miriam Fry (Meagen Fay). Anybody else wonder how Carter is going to stick to that 10pm curfew? Angie is also an aspiring actress, but I think Carter could easily give her tips on really embodying a character! It’s a nice moment in “Bridge and Tunnel” when Carter is finally getting her confidence back and takes on Angie’s obnoxious patron, digging his own fork into him as she encourages him to tip generously before never returning. Seems she can’t help but protect the underdog from bullies. She begins “Now is Not the End,” wishing for the sense of purpose she had during the war, but she seems to have found that purpose again by the end of “Bridge and Tunnel.”
Carter’s work situation is, perhaps, the most annoying element for me. It is historically accurate that women were allowed to assume traditionally male-positions during the war only to be unceremoniously pushed aside after the war to give the positions back to men. However, one would assume that Carter’s war record would count for something. Jack Thompson (Chad Michael Murray) and Ray Krzeminski (Kyle Bornheimer) are ridiculously boorish. Their boss Roger Dooley (Shea Whigham) doesn’t seem like a stupid guy, but it is simply stupid to ignore talent in your office.
In most instances in the first two episodes, they don’t realize that Carter is one (or two) steps ahead of them the entire time, but when Van Ert (James Urbaniak) makes a run for it, and Carter coolly takes the stairs while Thompson and Dooley run after him, it’s pretty clear that Carter has gotten there first when she takes Van Ert down right at their feet with the briefcase. I did like Carter using the pretense of bringing them coffee in the briefing room to learn everything they knew. Bringing an actual carrot and stick to an interrogation just felt too on the nose for me, however. It was hilarious when Carter cuts off any further questions from Dooley by requesting time off for “ladies’ things” and it pretty much freaks him out.
Another really funny scene is the “boys” coming upon McFee running down the road with the chair still strapped to him. There’s a beautiful shot of McFee simply sitting down in the chair as the car pulls up next to him. The find out once again that this “woman” has beaten them to the punch. Another shout out for direction for the scene at the very beginning of “Now Is Not the End” when we see Carter’s bold red hat parting the sea of grey male hats. It’s a nice metaphor for her boldly swimming against the tide.
Daniel Sousa (Enver Gjokaj), the injured war vet agent, is Carter’s likeliest candidate for an ally at work. Because of his injury, Sousa is also treated badly and dismissed by his fellow agents. He’s also the only clearly decent one of the bunch – though I do think that Dooley might come to realize that Carter is the best agent he has. My fondest wish is that someone even higher up realizes it and replaces Dooley with Carter! Sousa is definitely one to watch, however. He picks up the key to room 424 Hotel Cosmopolitan that “Green Suit” (James Landry Hebert) drops, but there’s no indication that he lets anyone know about it. Is he also trying to make his name as an agent, or should we be watching him as a possible double agent?
The two episodes have no shortage of bad guys to oppose Carter. Both Green Suit and Leet Brannis (James Frain) have had laryngotomies and cannot speak. However, they are actually enemies even though both are trying to obtain the nitramene. Frain and Hebert are both terrific and are especially menacing in their silence. I loved that Green Suit conversed using beautifully embossed business cards. It was also a nice touch when Carter pinned him to the roof of the milk truck with a knife to the hand – his own signature for killing people. It will be interesting to see if both stay dead, however, as we never did get an explanation for how Green Suit lived after being thrown out of Carter’s window.
Ray Wise (Hugh Jones) the owner of ROXXON refinery is also set up as a bad guy and as an adversary of Howard Stark. Wise is always a joy to watch – and how much fun to have another
Twin Peaks alumni – joining Kyle MacLachlan from
S.H.I.E.L.D. We learn that Jones has it out for Stark because Stark stole his wife. Jones also tells them that Stark tried to buy ROXXON, and that he has moles inside Stark’s company. Clearly, Jones is going to prove to be an obstacle to Carter clearing Stark’s name.
And of course, somehow they are all linked to the mysterious “Leviathan” that is coming. Brannis tells them Leviathan is not a who but a what, but refuses to say more until they give him protection. When he’s killed breaking Jarvis’ fall out of the truck, he tries to draw a clue in the dirt. It looks like a heart with a squiggle – but could it be some form of the HYDRA logo? A Leviathan is usually described as some kind of giant, ancient sea monster and a hydra is a many-headed serpent.
One of the things that is fun about “Now is Not the End” is the number of gimmicks that Carter uses to get the job done. I loved the close up on the lipstick - #102 Sweet Dreams – which then turns out to be knockout lipstick! She also uses her watch to crack the safe. It’s also fun to watch Carter use things close to hand – like the stapler! - to help her even the odds against her male opponents. I also loved the scene in which she uses things around the apartment – and her perfume atomizer – to neutralize the nitramene. We also see Green Suit communicating using a seemingly ordinary typewriter and a razor. I have to admit the remote typewriter reminded me strongly of a similar device used in
Fringe.
I’m hoping that they don’t wait too long to put Carter in charge and have the men around her treat her with respect. It’s like the violence on the show – there’s very little bloodshed, but the body count is high. What did you think of
Agent Carter? Am I being too harsh? Did you enjoy the overall tone? Who is your favorite new character? What was your favorite gadget? Do you think Leviathan is related to HYDRA? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
About the Author - Lisa Macklem
I do interviews and write articles for the site in addition to reviewing a number of shows, including Supernatural, Arrow, Agents of Shield, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, Forever, Defiance, Bitten, Glee, and a few others! Highlights of this past year include covering San Diego Comic Con as press and a set visit to Bitten. When I'm not writing about television shows, I'm often writing about entertainment and media law in my capacity as a legal scholar. I also work in theatre when the opportunity arises. I'm an avid runner and rider, currently training in dressage.
