AGENT CARTER Round Table Discussion: Series Premiere

Tuesday night ABC premiered their new Marvel series, Agent Carter, and it has everything that Nice Girls TV loves. Agent Peggy Carter is one badass, snarky and intelligent woman holding her own in a man’s world, circa 1940’s. The show aired a double episode to kick off its short 8-episode season, and to the fans of the Marvel Universe, it thrilled. To those viewers not familiar with the MCU it held its own very well, thank you very much.

Four of us Nice Girls are watching this show with enthusiasm, so we’re kicking off another round table discussion for each week’s episode. Frea had a previous commitment and couldn’t join us this week but she’ll pop in when she can. We encourage you to add your own thoughts in the comments below. Let’s begin!

1.Overall, what did you think of the pilot episodes?
Rueben: I liked that there wasn’t a lull in the story-telling; that it flowed well.  The characters are well-thought out, they fit with the time period.  Peggy is a three-dimensional character who is a great agent, working in a very hard environment – not just the cases she will be thrust into because of trying to help Howard but in dealing with the atypical “it’s a man’s world, doll, and you just need to file and serve coffee”.

Liz: I thought this premiere was fantastic! I’m glad that we’re getting Peggy’s story, post-Steve Rogers. The two episodes were fun, thrilling and sad all at once.

Louise:  I’m intrigued, curious and oh so very scared by everything we saw. Howard’s potential betrayal only serves to make what Peggy ought to be doing more important.

2. What surprised you the most?
Rueben: If you get Lyndsy Fonseca as part of your cast, don’t put her in a waitress uniform and not use her for more than scenery dressing.  Perhaps that will change over the course of the show’s short run; but give her more to do, please!

Liz: I think I was most surprised at the death of Peggy’s roommate. I didn’t see that coming at all and it was so sad.

Louise: Souza’s role in Peggy’s work life surprised me most. They seem to have a complicated relationship that begs for more answers to be given.

3. What are your thoughts on the character development of Peggy so far?
Rueben: The viewers are keyed in on what drives her – she loves her job and is very good at it – she missed Steve very much, but tries to keep that hidden so she can do her job.  She doesn’t seem to be afraid of the paralysis stakes, she takes things in stride and shows that she is smart and capable not just another pretty face.

Liz: Keeping in mind that this is the 1940’s and very much a man’s world, though beginning to change, I love how Peggy can be that insignificant, dumb female when it suits her purpose, and then she can put these manly men in their place with a quick tongue-lashing. At every turn she proves that she’s smarter than they are and she doesn’t need to necessarily take on a shouting match with them. She just does her ‘Peggy’ thing! While that is all fun and exciting to watch, I love how she can allow herself to feel. And when Jarvis reaches out to her and reminds her that she doesn’t have to take on the world alone, she can at least be honest with herself even if she doesn’t always like it.

Louise: I wish there had been more, actually. There’s still so much of Peggy’s life that is dependent on what happen to Steve and in these two episodes it was still clear that that is her defining characteristic rather than her own skill and expertise.

4. What do you think Howard Stark and Jarvis are up to concerning Peggy? What did Jarvis mean by “Miss Carter IS the perfect choice”? Speculate.
Rueben: That’s a hard one to answer or even speculate; but Stark knows he is in big trouble.  Perhaps he thinks Peggy is the easiest person to have on his side within the SSR because she is so smart and capable. He and Jarvis know the bigger picture, but my magic mirror just isn’t revealing what that might be just yet.

Liz: The perfect choice to head up S.H.I.E.L.D. with him? That’s all I got.

Louise:  I think Howard’s got stories under stories of what he wants from Peggy that even Jarvis doesn’t know about. But they seem to be wanting to get her more involved in SSR and espionage in general. Better place than if she were working at the phone company.

5. Which one of the men at the SSR do you think will discover Peggy’s secret mission first?
Rueben: Souza (Enver Gjokaj) simply because he is smarter than the other SSR guys.

Liz: I think it will be Souza too. I also think he’ll keep quiet about it.

Louise:  Souza. I think he’s her best ally so far.

6. What do you think is Leviathan?
Rueben: That’s a tough one, but it’s got to be some branch of Hydra I would imagine.

Liz: Could be one of the clues to the beginnings of the Hydra infiltration. It’s still too early to tell, but I think that Brannis was trying to draw the Hydra symbol when he died.

Louise:  It feels like it’ll relate to HYDRA, but I have no idea really. It creeps me out either way. (Also, after Supernatural when I think of Leviathan I only think of creepy bad monsters.)

7. The Captain America radio show: love it or blow it up?
Rueben: I can’t say that I “love it”, but it completely fits with the times and helps, to a degree, keep the tie with Captain America apparent in the show.  As long as they don’t overuse it, I’ll be okay with it.

Liz: Oh my gosh, that was so annoying! But I think that was supposed to be the point. I liked the contrast between what they were acting out and what was actually happening. But I also think that it could get old fast.

Louise: I didn’t hate it. But it’s always great to see Ralph Garman (the narrator) in a role and I like the parallels of what Cap was doing with what Peggy did.

8. What were your favorite moment(s) from both episodes?
Rueben: I loved how Peggy stood up to Ray Wise’s character when he asked what her name was with her simply saying “Agent” and the interaction between Jarvis and Peggy when she was trying to outrun the explosion at the refinery.

Liz: My favorite scene from the pilot was when Peggy broke down and cried at the death of her roommate. It shows her humanity and female-ness as a part of who she is. She’s not always the tough, kick-ass agent we love. She’s also a woman with feelings for those she cares for. In the second episode, I loved when Peggy takes down the scientist who was running away. Anytime she outshines the guys at the SSR is a good time.

Louise:  Watching the whole SSR office confused by the blonde from the bar all the time. Who knew changing your hair could do that?

9. Which scenes could you have done without?
Rueben: I didn’t really care for Thompson (Chad Michael Murray) beating on the “bad guy” in that interrogation room; but that just showed another facet of his character to us (laying the groundwork for what type of man he is).

Liz: I had a hard time watching Jarvis sew up Peggy’s knee. Ouch!

Louise: With only eight episodes, I think everything’s going to matter later, but I was having trouble with some of the Roxxon scenes, especially when Peggy wasn’t around.

10. Rate both episodes, 1 – 5 red hats, with 5 being excellent and 1 being major fail.
Rueben: 4 red hats – This was a great start for the show, limited run or not.  You felt like you were in New York in 1946, you felt Peggy’s pain over losing Steve.  The characters felt real and true to the time; the action was great.  The characters are fleshed-out so you know who to root for and who to dislike. There is just the right amount of mystery behind the voice-box-less guys and wondering what Leviathan is not to mention wondering what really is going on with Stark.  Great start to the show for sure!

Liz: I’m going to go full out and give both episodes a full 5 red hats. I loved everything! Every minutes was interesting. I can’t wait for more!

Louise: I give it 3.5 hats. There’s good bones but it still needs a bit more to me.