GRcade

ABC presents its second action packed series from the creative minds at Marvel in “Marvel’s Agent Carter,” inspired by the feature films Marvel’s "Captain America: The First Avenger" and Marvel’s "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," along with the short "Marvel One-Shot: Agent Carter."

Years before Agent Coulson and his S.H.I.E.L.D. team swore to protect those who cannot protect themselves from threats they cannot conceive, there was Agent Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell, Marvel's "Captain America: The First Avenger," Marvel's "Captain America: The Winter Soldier"), who pledged the same oath but lived in a different time when women weren’t recognized as being as smart or as tough as their male counterparts.

But no one should ever underestimate Peggy.

It's 1946 and peace has dealt Peggy a serious blow as she finds herself marginalized when the men return home from fighting abroad. Working for the covert SSR (Strategic Scientific Reserve), Peggy finds herself stuck doing administrative work when she would rather be back out in the field; putting her vast skills into play and taking down the bad guys. But she is also trying to navigate life as a single woman in America, in the wake of losing the love of her life, Steve Rogers – aka Captain America.

When old acquaintance Howard Stark (Dominic Cooper, Marvel's "Captain America: The First Avenger”) finds himself being framed for unleashing his deadliest weapons to anyone willing to pony up the cash, he contacts Peggy - the only person he can trust - to track down those responsible, dispose of the weapons and clear his name. He empowers his butler, Edwin Jarvis (James D'Arcy, “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World”), to be at her beck and call when needed to help assist her as she investigates and tracks down those responsible for releasing these weapons of mass destruction. But Jarvis, who is a creature of habit and sticks to a rigid daily routine, is going to have to make some major life changes if he’s going to be able to keep up with Peggy.

If caught going on these secret missions for Stark, Peggy could be targeted as a traitor and spend the rest of her days in prison – or worse. And as she delves deeper into her investigation, she may find that those she works for are not who they seem, and she might even begin to question whether Stark is as innocent as he claims.

“Marvel’s Agent Carter” stars Hayley Atwell as Agent Peggy Carter, James D'Arcy as Edwin Jarvis, Chad Michael Murray (“One Tree Hill,” “A Cinderella Story”) as Agent Jack Thompson, Enver Gjokaj (“Dollhouse”) as Agent Daniel Sousa and Shea Whigham (“American Hustle,” “The Wolf of Wall Street”) as Chief Roger Dooley.

Tara Butters (“Resurrection”), Michele Fazekas (“Resurrection), Christopher Markus (Marvel's “Captain America: The First Avenger,” Marvel's "Captain America: The Winter Soldier"), Stephen McFeely (Marvel's "Captain America: The First Avenger,” Marvel's "Captain America: The Winter Soldier"), Chris Dingess (“Men in Trees”), Kevin Feige (Marvel’s "Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Marvel’s The Avengers”), Louis D'Esposito (Marvel's "Guardians of the Galaxy,” Marvel’s "Iron Man 3”), Alan Fine (Marvel's "Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” Marvel’s "Thor”), Joe Quesada (“Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” “Marvel’s Avengers Assemble”), Stan Lee (“Spider-Man,” “Iron Man,” “The Incredible Hulk”) and Jeph Loeb (“Smallville,” “Lost,” “Heroes”) are executive producers. “Marvel’s Agent Carter” is produced by ABC Studios and Marvel Television.

But on the whole, Atwell is so good, and the show has so much fun with the period setting, that it's a really promising start for "Agent Carter" — and also a very encouraging sign for all the upcoming Marvel TV shows. B+

Marvel’s synergistic efforts remain one of its assets, but transforming a supporting player in “Captain America,” played by Hayley Atwell, into the star of a limited ABC series was inordinately opportunistic even by its standards, and as it turns out, a pretty smart bet. That’s because the combination of the British actress and post-World War II setting make the Marvel-branded vehicle, “Agent Carter,” considerable fun, and in some ways more promising than the series it’s replacing, the uneven “Agents of SHIELD.” While there’s no assurance this spinoff will have legs, the opening salvo is worthy of a hearty “Hail, ‘Carter.’”

Meanwhile, an answer to that question -- "Who's Peggy?" Atwell is. Emphatically so. Watch her through "Agent Carter's" smoky blurred lens and you almost suspect she was born a century too late, and would've turned even LB's or Jack Warner's cynical, seen-'em-all heads. She dons a blond wig and suddenly Veronica Lake is evoked. Goes back to brunette, and there's a distant reflection of Jane Russell or Hedy Lamarr. Fanboys will swoon. Maybe even a critic or two. GRADE B+

Carter's aiming for something between His Girl Friday, Dick Tracey, and Alias —a tough tonal mixture, especially on a weekly broadcast budget. But Atwell's firing on all cylinders. The season runs for eight episodes, and I'll be watching them all in hopes that Agent Carter can live up to Agent Carter. B+

By setting the story in 1946, this new short-run series immediately gets a snappy, well-tailored, Hollywood-glamour look that separates it from most of TV's offerings, And by building it closely around Hayley Atwell's smart, tough, dryly humorous Peggy Carter, the show (Tuesday, 8 p.m. ET/PT, * * * out of four) gets the streamlined benefit of a strong, easy-to-identify central character.

Skippy » Fri May 09, 2014 4:55 pm wrote:A NSFW link relating to Hayley Atwell? While I'm at work? You BASTARD MM

Hexx wrote:Winter Soldier spoilers!

Most depressing TV show ever

As someone on rllmuk said "This organisation she sets up is actually riddled with Nazis and anyone who suspects is promptly murdered and after all of that she gets Alzheimers."

BID0 » Sat May 10, 2014 5:40 pm wrote:This is one period of the MCU that hasn't been covered much, what with nearly everything so far being modern day.

HM » Sat May 10, 2014 4:46 pm wrote:

BID0 » Sat May 10, 2014 5:40 pm wrote:This is one period of the MCU that hasn't been covered much, what with nearly everything so far being modern day.

Yeah it should be brilliant for all the little things marvel could tease at, sow the seeds for so to speak. More Howling Commandos appearances as well hopefully

BID0 » Sat May 10, 2014 5:47 pm wrote:

HM » Sat May 10, 2014 4:46 pm wrote:

BID0 » Sat May 10, 2014 5:40 pm wrote:This is one period of the MCU that hasn't been covered much, what with nearly everything so far being modern day.

Yeah it should be brilliant for all the little things marvel could tease at, sow the seeds for so to speak. More Howling Commandos appearances as well hopefully

I think if you've seen the last few episodes of Agents of SHIELD it looks like we will be seeing some Howling Commando action

BID0 » Sat May 10, 2014 5:47 pm wrote:

HM » Sat May 10, 2014 4:46 pm wrote:

BID0 » Sat May 10, 2014 5:40 pm wrote:This is one period of the MCU that hasn't been covered much, what with nearly everything so far being modern day.

Yeah it should be brilliant for all the little things marvel could tease at, sow the seeds for so to speak. More Howling Commandos appearances as well hopefully

I think if you've seen the last few episodes of Agents of SHIELD it looks like we will be seeing some Howling Commando action

HM » Sat May 10, 2014 5:53 pm wrote:

BID0 » Sat May 10, 2014 5:47 pm wrote:

HM » Sat May 10, 2014 4:46 pm wrote:

BID0 » Sat May 10, 2014 5:40 pm wrote:This is one period of the MCU that hasn't been covered much, what with nearly everything so far being modern day.

Yeah it should be brilliant for all the little things marvel could tease at, sow the seeds for so to speak. More Howling Commandos appearances as well hopefully

I think if you've seen the last few episodes of Agents of SHIELD it looks like we will be seeing some Howling Commando action

Yeah i'm up to date with US pace. Perhaps we'll find out who Triplett's grandad is.

Dum Dum needs to return somehow

Pedz » Fri May 09, 2014 7:32 pm wrote:
Is that the case in the comics, or just the film's/shows?