Last night's episode ripped apart the already high standards set by this show, pushing every character to the breaking point. All the little hints built to a tipping point, setting up an even bigger climax for next week's season finale. Also, public service announcement: please support #RenewAgentCarter and help spread the word about this great show, so that we have many more season finales to enjoy.
"Snafu" didn't drop us straight into the previous week's cliffhanger. Instead, we got a rare glimpse of a Russian medical station during World War II. Many people forget that they were Allies in the fight against Nazi Germany (and faced some of the worst fighting in Europe). This show's been intent on subverting our expectations about people from day one, and it doesn't treat the Leviathan agent Dr. Ivchenko any differently.
This scene proved that the man didn't (or doesn't) always use his power malevolently: here he comforted a young soldier facing a difficult surgery, offering him mental support during his trauma. Despite his dark intentions, he also appears to have a knack for helping people with their problems. His double nature gave us a clear warning: don't underestimate Leviathan.
Back in the SSR, Carter's interrogation brought on the heat as promised, but dished it out evenly between her and her fellow agents. In a clever inversion of our first impressions and building on what's come before, Sousa played bad cop to Thompson's good cop: the former putting on the emotional and physical pressure while the latter played on their shared experiences to elicit a confession. But Carter pointed out what's been a theme from day one:
Tell 'em, Peggy. #AgentCarter pic.twitter.com/byIm8Y6rUX
— Agent Carter (@AgentCarterTV) February 18, 2015As I said, this show consistently deconstructs what we expect to be true about its characters, and this moment voiced the idea that everyone is guilty of unawareness. Both the likeable Sousa and the alpha male Thompson have underestimated Carter, projecting what she "should" be in their eyes instead of recognizing what truly is. The Griffith's house mother and Angie both tried to push Carter into a place she may not have needed to be, while Jarvis and Stark both lied to and manipulated her. Even Carter voiced the fear that she wasn't altogether sure who she was outside of her previous life's mission.
The theme here is deceptively simple: prejudice isn't as easy as finding the "bad guys" and rooting them out. It starts with self perception and grows from there, as evidenced by the many hidden scars we've seen revealed by Carter's colleagues. That's a difficult line to walk for any television drama, let alone one with only seven half hour episodes in its roster to date that's also balancing out the demands of a major entertainment franchise. See why we need to #RenewAgentCarter?
Even better, last night had lots of laughs along with the high stakes. Jarvis arrived with his best smile and polish, a signed Stark confession in hand. Carter was suitably upset at the men standing around deciding her fate, but proved to have even more grave concerns the minute they left her alone with the butler. When confronted with the ploy's convenience, he admitted "I panicked. Then I panicked again." He made the whole thing up, forcing them both to double down on figuring out a plan not only to clear themselves but stop the real culprits.
These two don't just have great chemistry: they've also got the chops to switch from gallows humor to slapstick comedy without the joke coming across as off or muddled. Whether it's cracking a secret code from across the room or escaping from a table they're both handcuffed to, watching these two in action is simply the best.
After Carter laid all her cards on the table (even one involving Captain America himself), the SSR agents were forced to decided whether they trusted her enough to turn against Dr. Ivchenko and investigate Dottie (who mysteriously went stroller shopping). Proving that they're able to act beyond their own emotions, they relunctunatly went with Carter, leading to an epic battle between Sousa and the assassin that proved he really does have the moves to serve, bad leg or no bad leg. He also got back to what he does best: finding clues and taking names.
Despite the SSR's rally, it proved too late to prevent Leviathan putting some of their plans in motion. We got a new loss in the ranks and a tease at what may have actually happened at the Battle of Finow, and a truly horrific reminder not to leave litter lying around the movie theatre (seriously, don't). Most of all we got the true battle out into the open: it's the SSR versus Leviathan, and since we still don't know exactly which of Stark's "bad babies" they stole, it's anyone's guess how things will all go down.
Most shows would be content to offer a heaping dose of action with some platitudes about "believing in yourself" and "be nice to women." Agent Carter continually goes above and beyond the call of duty to drive home that everyone, man or woman, no matter who you are, has a story, and that in times of tragedy we have to work together despite our differences to achieve what's otherwise impossible.
But we also got a healthy reminder of just who's going take a bit of heat himself when he resurfaces a la Jarvis, proving once again how the man can deliver a one liner with panache and feeling. As everyone sat around in shock, he reminded them that they were not to blame: after all, "This is Mr. Stark's bloody invention."
Here are some final requests for next week:
Alright: time for you input. What do you want to see in Agent Carter's season (not series!) finale?