While it was originally billed as a “limited event,” Agent Carter will be returning to ABC tonight for the premiere of its second season. (We’ll post a review after it airs.) After a smart and charming first season, Marvel fans are ready to have Hayley Atwell and her magnificent hat back on their TV screens. Having won us over with her gumption and grit in Captain America: The First Avenger, Atwell’s Peggy Carter has truly been given space to shine in the ABC series, which focuses on her time in the Strategic Scientific Reserve (SSR) after the end of WWII. Before we barrel ahead into season two, let’s take a quick refresher course on season one.
What Happened?
The war may be over, but there is still plenty to be done. After her time in the military, Carter became an agent for the SSR. Yet despite her merit and experience, the sexist tendencies of the 1940s are alive and well in her coworkers, so she is often relegated to menial tasks like answering phones and making coffee. However, when Howard Stark (Dominic Cooper) is framed for treason, Carter is finally given a case worth her considerable talents. When Stark Industry weapons tech goes missing, it’s up to Carter and Stark’s butler, Edwin Jarvis (James D’Arcy) to find the real perpetrator and clear Stark’s name.
This puts them on the trail of the crime syndicate known as Leviathan, a Soviet organization that wants to use Stark’s own weapons against the U.S., particularly a weaponized gas that induces homicidal rage and bloody violence in all those who come into contact. Despite having to keep her work a secret from the rest of the SSR, being accused of treason herself, and going head to head with a sleeper agent from Leviathan, as well as classic Marvel villain Dr. Johann Fennhoff (also known as Doctor Faustus), Carter is able to complete her mission, find justice for Stark, and save New York City from tearing itself apart.
On a more intimate level, Peggy finally comes to terms with losing Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), opening herself up for new and deeper personal relationships.
Who Are The Major Players?
The central relationship in the series is the wonderful back and forth between Carter and Jarvis. There is a sparkling chemistry between Atwell and D’Arcy that never threatens to veer away from the platonic. It sets the standard for a particular sort of male and female friendships on television. There’s also a war-forged camaraderie between Stark and Carter, but it’s accompanied by a palpable tension, mostly stemming from what happened to Steve Rogers.
At the SSR, Peggy is often underestimated by her coworkers, except Daniel Sousa (Enver Gjokaj). It becomes increasingly obvious that Sousa has feelings for Peggy, but the specter of Captain America seems to be quite an emotional barrier. On the other side of the coin is Jack Thompson (Chad Michael Murray), an ambitious agent who constantly puts down Peggy and steals credit for her work. While he and Peggy had a few friendly moments toward the end of the season, he serves more as a down-to-earth antagonist.
Peggy’s relationships with other women are also integral to the series. Her friendship with aspiring actress and neighbor Angie Martinelli (Lyndsy Fonseca) is a respite from the craziness of her work, and the close relationship between the two women is a truly refreshing thing to see. Conversely, Peggy’s most interesting antagonist in the first season was easily Dottie Underwood (Bridget Regan), the sleeper agent raised in the same sort of program as Black Widow. Her cold and calculating approach to the work is wonder to watch, and her laser focus on Peggy is as fascinating as it is troubling.
Where Do We Go From Here?
The biggest change this season will be the move from the East Coast to the West Coast. Peggy is making her way from New York City to Los Angeles to investigate a murder case that’s not what it seems. This shift will be sure to up the glamour, as well as increase the already noir-inspired feel of the show. If anyone can transition to Hollywood with class, it’s Peggy Carter.
Peggy will also reportedly battle Madame Masque, another classic Marvel villain, who is sure to bring a new dimension to the show. On a happier front, Peggy will also get the chance to explore more romantic relationships in the second season, whether it’s with Sousa or someone new.
The first season used those elements to create crackerjack entertainment and, with luck, season two will follow suit.
