As a character, Agent Peggy Carter bears a heavy burden upon her capable shoulders. She is, to date, the only female Marvel character to lead her own project in TV or film, and her show, Agent Carter, has been groundbreaking.
Having been introduced to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Captain America: The First Avenger, she has since become a beloved figure in her own right, thanks to a consistently excellent portrayal by Hayley Atwell. It is for these reasons that fans are holding their breath to see if the SSR agent will return to the fray.
Set after the events of Captain America: The First Avenger, the first season of Agent Carter saw the heroine relegated to secretarial duties for the Strategic Scientific Reserve – being asked to fetch coffee while the male agents head out into the field to investigate matters of national security. Howard Stark – father of Tony Stark – is accused of treason, so Agent Carter must secretly work to clear his name in the face of extreme sexism and prejudice. The second season has seen the action re-located, from New York City to Los Angeles, with the mysteries taking even more unexpected turns.
The second season has just drawn to a close, and concern surrounded the seemingly low ratings for the series as the finale aired. However, conflicting reports suggest that Agent Carter, though inexplicably down, is not quite out, just yet. Lead actress Atwell has been cast as the main character in a new ABC pilot, titled Conviction, but has previously made it clear that, should ABC choose to renew Agent Carter for a third season, too, then she would anticipate being able to work on both series over the year.
This is made possible by the fact that Agent Carter has always been a limited series, with just eight episodes per season – as opposed to its main counterpart, Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D, which features an ensemble cast and benefits from a full 22-episode season each time.
It is Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D that sometimes adds to the frustration felt by Agent Carter fans, since the newer, female-led show has never seemed to receive the same level of exposure, or commitment from overseas broadcasters. For example, while UK viewers were treated to Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D very soon after its US premiere, by Channel 4, Agent Carter struggled to find a UK broadcaster for some time – despite its high quality.
Regardless, Hayley Atwell, recently expressed her willingness to return to the action, should ABC see fit to renew Agent Carter after the second season finale.
“I’m really satisfied with where it ends and what happens to Peggy. I’m proud of this season, so if we get the opportunity to work on it again, then brilliant. Because then I’m sure I’ll have even more fun working on it than I did in season two which was a lot. I don’t quite know how to top that. But I’d love the opportunity to try. … The writers have very elegantly put together this ending. I definitely want more.”
The question is, does ABC want more? Despite the low ratings, fans are keen to see Agent Carter return, and indications are that this possibility hasn’t yet been officially ruled out. Watch this space for more news.
