I could state it over, but I think my tweet from last night sum's up last night's episode perfectly:
#AgentCarter proved tonight it doesn't just do action and sass: it also explores the pain, isolation, and harshness of this world.
— Michelle R. Wood (@Woodzette) January 14, 2015Don't worry, there was action and sass aplenty (including at least five new #PeggyZingers), but tonight's show was a change of pace: more thoughtful and focused on the consequences of the decisions the characters are making. It made the risks personal in a surprisingly inventive way, challenging expectations and forcing us to really consider just what was at stake.
I usually try to avoid spoilers as much as possible in reviews, but this one does mention several key plot points in order to comment on them. Read with caution if you haven't seen the episode yet.
Last night's mission was nominally about the continued mission to secure Howard Stark's "bad babies," his worst weapons, from the black market. Carter's still ducking the SSR to do so, with the aid of trusty Stark butler Jarvis, Agent Ray Krzeminski was brash and dumb, and Jarvis's wife staid perpetually out of sight. A silly play on Carter's new landlady's fussy personality gave the first warning that in this episode, things get serious: one of the girls was evicted in a scene that was played for more than laughs, with Carter obviously troubled but unsure of the right course of action to take.
That indecision, the line between which choice is the right one, epitomized each further problem Carter faced. When her partner Jarvis appeared headed for a rough interrogation, she made a gutsy, undercover move to get him out of a sticky situation. However, her actions led to a dressing down by her superior which offered up the show's theme of sexism in a crueler, less humorous light than it's been played to date. What hurts even worse about this scene is that we've grown to like these characters, so we can't dismiss what they say out of hand, and the criticism Carter suffers is at least on the surface earned.
Carter later attempted to fend off new neighbor and potential friend Angie's enthusiastic girl time in order to get back to spy work, but ended up alienating a potential ally, and nearly ended up in the same boat with Jarvis when she forced him to open up about the accusations made against him back at the SSR base. It's here that we finally got to see the man that Stark obviously trusts so much as he offered up a wartime tale of intersecting loyalties: the law on one side, his eventual wife's on the other. Faced with that choice, he choose the wrong side of the law.
As he pointed out later, Carter is making a similar bet in her work with Stark. In this world of mixed loyalties, Carter's being forced to reconsider just what makes a traitor.
Finally, even Agent Krzeminski is shown to be more than the easy butt of too many jokes as he suffers the fate any agent might face when in the line of fire. One of the night's first #PeggyZingers involved a gibe about his wife and his girlfriend not being one and the same; the show proved it's still got some brilliant writers by turning this joke back in on itself in a heartfelt tribute to a character that was genuinely mourned and missed, not because of who he was but because of who cared for him.
But it wasn't all gloom and doom! There were some moments of brilliant comic timing shared amongst the whole cast. The standout performance of the night was probably D'Arcy as Jarvis, but Atwell continues to sell Agent Peggy Carter as a woman of resolve and determination who nevertheless suffers moments of anxiety, guilt, and even loneliness.
The night didn't offer much in the way of new scenes or clever disguise work considering the focus on character and consequences, but did give us an impressive fight scene between Carter and a Leviathan agent while Jarvis performed a genuinely goofy gangster accent that has to be heard to be believed.
One last point before closing: I haven't said much about Agent Sousa up until now, but he's a great addition to the show for the very reason this helpful article ("10 Things Agent Carter Did Right"). While he does have a disability, one which isn't hidden and which characters comment on (including an unflattering reference to his potential interest in Carter), this point is only one aspect of his character. No one doubts his ability to work with the other agents and Sousa himself doesn't see himself as merely the guy with bum leg. Last night's episode really brought that home as he led a team in to investigate a tip, then swore vengeance on his partner's assailant.
One thing I hope doesn't continue: the lame "previously on" intro that all television shows seem determined to give viewers. I far preferred the clever use of flashbacks last week; having Carter narrate her mission to people who haven't yet tuned clashes with the show's otherwise stellar production quality.
This episode was a good counterpoint to the popping pace of the previous two, forcing everyone to slow down and really consider how far they're willing to go to pursue their goals. It could have been a real downer had not we already been sold on these characters. Instead, it served to cement the show as one that takes itself and its viewers seriously; just not too seriously too still offer up plenty of fun adventure. It really felt like the calm before the storm, which judging by the previews for episode four will kick things up a notch in the tension department.
Since the President will deliver the State of the Union address next Tuesday, Agent Carter will get an additional week to recover in time for her next assignment. That's just enough time for everyone to catch up, review, and get ready for another exciting journey.