by Germar Derron
Riding the success of a kickass
season of Agents of Shield, Agent Carter more than lived up to
expectations. Critics’ reviews run the
gamut, but fans appear perfectly quenched--or whelmed--by Carter
content. Marvel made no attempt to hide the placeholder
nature of the series. It’s the perfect solution to this new-fangled season splitting
networks have grown fond of, in spite of fans' complaints. Apparently, the season premieres' ratings surpassed
all but one episode of AoS’s second season. But like any television show
covered at this site, Agent Carter is more than just a fun ride and hearty
laughs.
Hayley Atwell stars as Carter, a
female lead, in a real-world scape that is still unfortunately dominated by “square-jawed rugged-handsome smart white men." Though the show exists as
a small piece of the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe, it could hold its
own as noir, comedy, or spy fare. Because
it’s a period piece, set in the 40s, Carter endures endless catcalls, coffee
demands, "darlings," and "sweethearts." Like
similar shows, this series could serve as a friendly reminder of a harsher past—a
cautionary tale. Unlike similar shows,
so far, Marvel’s Carter crew seems to have a clue.
![]() |
Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images |
This world feels like Mad Men due
to the butt smacks, “darlings,” and Stepford woman background. But here, the strongest and smartest
character--the eponymous lead—is a woman. Have we really seen this before? Tomb Raider type movies? Maybe, plus
boobs. Black Widow? Not a lead yet, plus boobs. Carter is sexy, but in the cool calm well-dressed
way that men seem to be written. And
beyond her confidence and dominance, even in the first two episodes, it’s clear
that she’s multidimensional—not perfect, not cardboard, and not a copy. She's what Peggy and Joan could've been, in a better world, and what they should be in today's world. She inspires like Wonder Woman, but without the swimsuit and tiara (though WW is important and progressive too).
Carter openly rebels at her peers’
not subtle suggestions that she’s anything less than competent, a peer, an
agent, and a war hero. She’s right, and she wins. But clearly she will need help sometimes, often from a man, and
that’s ok too. She'll learn that it’s ok—eventually. The world they've designed isn't a man-bad woman-good dichotomy. Daniel Sousa--a co-agent, sympathizer, and
potential future love interest of Carter—appears to be a man who’s on the up and
up, in a 2015 feminist way. Sousa respects her, and she's sure to respect him eventually. She loved and respected Cap. Carter isn't a man-hater. She’s a trained, experienced leader, and
integral part of their covert world. She
won’t accept any speech, actions, or assignments that would undermine that role.
I hope this isn't an anomaly. I hope Carter starts a movement. Jessica Jones, Wonder Woman, AoS, Black Cat? writers, directors, and showrunners take note.
And most importantly, what was that upside down fancy B?
0 comments:
Post a Comment