We’ve seen the series premiere of Agent Carter, and trust us, it’s a hit. Here are six reasons to travel back in time with the Marvel-ous new miniseries!
The cast is fantastic
If you’re interested in Agent Carter, you probably have at least a minor infatuation with Hayley Atwell’s spectacular Peggy Carter – but the leading agent won’t be your only love when the premiere concludes.
Standouts in the cast are James D’Arcy as Howard Stark’s butler Edwin Jarvis, and Enver Gjokaj as S.S.R. agent Daniel Sousa. D’Arcy is hilariously stiff with a dash of sweetness, while Gjokaj’s hardworking everyman endears in mere seconds of screen time. Both characters find common ground with Peggy, and leave viewers hungry for further adventures.
You don’t know what’s coming
Though it was inevitable that a series starring Peggy Carter would rehash some familiar territory, Agent Carter is cunning in its handling of history. The show plays off of fan expectations, lulling viewers neatly into a number of surprising moments which make it clear that Agent Carter is much more than the sum of its flashbacks.
It’s funny!
Agent Carter has some fairly weighty subjects to handle, but the show still finds time to blend in the humor. The second episode is particularly strong in this respect, as Hayley Atwell’s comedic chops are allowed to shine in several unabashedly funny sequences. The rest of the cast pitches in too, with the somewhat buffoonish S.S.R. agents providing genuine laughs along the way.
40’s spy tech is awesome
Viewers of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. have had a taste of the old-timey tech used by the Howling Commandos. But trust us – you ain’t seen nothing yet. The technology on display on Agent Carter is clever and cool (and occasionally hilarious) but it’s no gimmick. The tools of the spy trade work for good and for evil, and Agent Carter dexterously balances the retro appeal with genuinely significant stakes.
The war comes home
Another subject Agent Carter treats with respect is the reality of life in a post-war society. World War II is much more than just a memory for the men and women of New York in 1946 – it is a reality they continue to deal with on a daily basis, as palpable as any character. The war informs their status, their opportunities, their weaknesses and strengths. Women like Peggy find themselves on the short end of society pretending it hasn’t changed, bearing its scars like badges of honor.
Peggy is a genuine star
Among those scars is the death of Steve Rogers, the pain of which Peggy largely tries to hide. For the most part, the series follows suit.
Agent Carter is not about Steve Rogers, or Captain America, or Peggy’s pining for the man she loves. It is about a woman trying to rebuild a life taken away from her by war – and by peace. Peggy grieves for Steve, but she also mourns her loss in status, her group of friends, and her ultimately, her own identity.
It is herself, the ability to be the assertive, useful, respected agent she truly is, that Peggy misses most. And with humor, twists, and no shortage of tears, Agent Carter sets up Peggy’s journey of self re-discovery beautifully.
The two-episode premiere of Agent Carter airs on Tuesday, Jan. 6 at 8:00 p.m. on ABC.