Agent Carter smartly stays away from any “will they or won’t they?” vibes (in the first two episodes at least) between Peggy and Jarvis. This again strengthens Peggy as a character, and gives us a refreshingly platonic television relationship. There is a hint of some kind of connection between them in the second episode, but considering that Jarvis is very happily married and that Peggy is still feeling the loss of Steve Rogers, that sort of thread will likely continue slowly, if at all.
Speaking of Steve Rogers, Captain America fans will find a lot to enjoy here, as the show doesn’t shy away from its intimate ties to the Star Spangled Avenger. In fact, Chris Evans himself makes a few little cameos in the premiere (through First Avenger flashbacks), and the series finds a clever way to weave Cap into the storyline via a series of radio serials titled “The Captain America Adventure Hour.”
The radio show was one of the highlights of the series, not just because of how funny it was, but because of how it informed Peggy as a character. On the show, Cap’s love interest is Betty Carver, a damsel in distress played by a ditsy blonde. In other words, not Peggy Carter. Peggy’s reaction to the series goes beyond the constant reminder of Steve’s “death,” and shows that she takes pride in her work and doesn’t like being seen as Captain America’s shrieking girlfriend.
Atwell may be the star of the show, but the supporting cast are all great as well. D’Arcy particularly shines as Jarvis, and has some real comedic chemistry with Atwell. Watching the two play off of each other is incredibly fun, and is one of the most enjoyable relationships we’ve seen from Marvel so far.
Nikita and Kick-Ass alum Lyndsy Fonseca also has an interesting role as the trademark New York waitress who quickly makes friends with Peggy. I’m interested in seeing what the series does with her and with the relationship she strikes with Peggy. The show may focus largely on dangerous science fiction technologies, comic book bad guys, and top secret organizations, but this real-world touch is a nice addition.
Peggy’s SSR compatriots could use a bit of fleshing out, but we are still only two episodes in, and I think it was smart of the show to focus mostly on Peggy and only cut back to the agents when it made sense. Gotham could learn a thing or two about Agent Carter‘s use of its characters.
All in all, this was a fantastic premiere for Agent Carter, and another great addition to the Marvel universe. The first two episodes did a deft job of establishing the world, tone, and aesthetic of the show, while keeping it firmly planted in Marvel’s expansive – and increasingly satisfying – sandbox.
