Ensign Lestat's TV Log, 24/05/15
Agent Carter
Agent Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) walked in as a love interest, but left as a hero. She could easily have been a useless wilting flower, but she was in command, in control, a mentor, a fighter and a friend. I'm still surprised that I didn't love this character the first time I saw her, but I think I'll lay the blame on the feet of Asgardian gods and Kenneth Branagh. Had I not been mesmerised by 'Thor' I may have been willing to be enveloped by the crazy, steampunk world of 'Captain America: The First Avenger'.
Rumours of an 'Agent Carter' TV series had been circling for a while, but Marvel's decision to launch it several years after the release of TFA was an intelligent move.
Agent Carter
Rumours of an 'Agent Carter' TV series had been circling for a while, but Marvel's decision to launch it several years after the release of TFA was an intelligent move.
The series is set two years after the death of Captain America and essentially the end of the war as well. Peggy's job description has altered greatly - she is now regarded as the secretary of the SSR (a forerunner to SHIELD) and is rightfully unhappy about the situation.
Things take a sudden turn when old friend and perennial trouble-maker Howard Stark (Dominic Cooper) reappears in her life. Wrongfully accused of treachery, Howard lends Peggy his butler Edwin Jarvis (James D'Arcy) to clear his name.
With a mission in hand, Peggy flourishes. She hides her activities from her bigoted colleagues, but where she finds the time to accomplish all this, still escapes me.
At 8 episodes, it seems a travesty that we don't get to see more Peggy, but the creators have said that budgets may not allow them to extend the episode number without compromising on the quality.
Well, with season 2 we will have to see how things pan out, but quality is key for this series. Especially the quality of its protagonist. Peggy has captured the imagination of most Marvel viewers as that rare breed of competent, strong, funny and wholesome female character. She is faithful to her abilities and to her cause. Where love and romance hinder most female characters, Peggy is completed by it.
The many discussions and arguments she and Howard have over their mutual love and admiration for Steve Rogers is enough to bring even the hardest heart to tears. But Peggy isn't all about Steve and her love for him. She has the smarts and the strength to out-wit any opponent. She is adept at keeping her secret mission a secret and kicks some serious butt whenever the need for it arises.
The show hinged on its protagonist, and Atwell pulled through with aplomb. She comes across as a cool-headed woman with her priorities in the right place. Most of the internet loves her, and it comes through that she loves this character as well.
Setting a show during the '40s and '50s is always a chore for female viewers, because of the constraints and restrictions placed on women of the time. Peggy works through and around those constraints, and that's what makes her iconic. She garners the trust and respect of her male colleagues through her efforts - she shows them up, not by words and intentions, but because she is equal to them and a lot of the times just better.
The reason Steve Rogers fell in love with Peggy was because his introduction to her was through some badass moves. He respected her and that respect grew into love. Peggy, for her part, always saw the greatness lying in Steve's emaciated little body, and, because she's an incredible human being, was already in love with him well before he ended up looking like a buff Chris Evans.
(Having said all that, it did occur to me, as I wrote this log, that had Steve lived, there's a chance that Peggy would not be a part of the SSR at all. That in all likelihood, Steve and Peggy just may have conformed to regular societal roles after the war was over. Think about it, in 'Avengers: Age of Ultron', the Peggy in Steve's dream is the love of his life, not the badass agent who took on Hydra along with him. In which case she might just have got lucky that he died. It's all a terrible thought, but as the devil's advocate, I couldn't help but think that.)
What I love about this show is that, yes, Peggy earns her wings thanks to getting a mission from a man, but that man gives her the mission because she's the most efficient spy and soldier he knows. He's not in love with her (this despite his open flirtations in TFA). I also love that Jarvis loves the adventure he's on, and he has Peggy to thank for that (that lovely moment in the finale when Peggy's got missions to look forward to, and Jarvis' plans include rehauling the spice cupboard, is an apt display of the subversive elements of this show).
As annoying as her colleagues are, they, if not redeem, at least grow in respect by the end of the season. We probably won't be seeing a number of them next season, which is a pity, I was beginning to like the dynamic between them and Peggy. Who knows, maybe they've moved with her.
The humour in this show is symptomatic of TFA, which is hilarious at times. With the cast and crew promising the possibility of diversity in the cast, we can hope that the adventures of Peggy Carter continue to fill that feminist-sized hole in the current superhero cinematic universe.
The show hinged on its protagonist, and Atwell pulled through with aplomb. She comes across as a cool-headed woman with her priorities in the right place. Most of the internet loves her, and it comes through that she loves this character as well.
Setting a show during the '40s and '50s is always a chore for female viewers, because of the constraints and restrictions placed on women of the time. Peggy works through and around those constraints, and that's what makes her iconic. She garners the trust and respect of her male colleagues through her efforts - she shows them up, not by words and intentions, but because she is equal to them and a lot of the times just better.
The reason Steve Rogers fell in love with Peggy was because his introduction to her was through some badass moves. He respected her and that respect grew into love. Peggy, for her part, always saw the greatness lying in Steve's emaciated little body, and, because she's an incredible human being, was already in love with him well before he ended up looking like a buff Chris Evans.
(Having said all that, it did occur to me, as I wrote this log, that had Steve lived, there's a chance that Peggy would not be a part of the SSR at all. That in all likelihood, Steve and Peggy just may have conformed to regular societal roles after the war was over. Think about it, in 'Avengers: Age of Ultron', the Peggy in Steve's dream is the love of his life, not the badass agent who took on Hydra along with him. In which case she might just have got lucky that he died. It's all a terrible thought, but as the devil's advocate, I couldn't help but think that.)
What I love about this show is that, yes, Peggy earns her wings thanks to getting a mission from a man, but that man gives her the mission because she's the most efficient spy and soldier he knows. He's not in love with her (this despite his open flirtations in TFA). I also love that Jarvis loves the adventure he's on, and he has Peggy to thank for that (that lovely moment in the finale when Peggy's got missions to look forward to, and Jarvis' plans include rehauling the spice cupboard, is an apt display of the subversive elements of this show).
As annoying as her colleagues are, they, if not redeem, at least grow in respect by the end of the season. We probably won't be seeing a number of them next season, which is a pity, I was beginning to like the dynamic between them and Peggy. Who knows, maybe they've moved with her.
The humour in this show is symptomatic of TFA, which is hilarious at times. With the cast and crew promising the possibility of diversity in the cast, we can hope that the adventures of Peggy Carter continue to fill that feminist-sized hole in the current superhero cinematic universe.
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