Agent Carter: Season 1
So as the “Comic Book Guy” for a lot of my friends, I was recently asked about my opinion of “Agent Carter.” After finishing the first season, I have to say that my opinion of the show is… drumroll please… “Meh.”
I say that because I think this show is a prime example of what the Shared Marvel Cinematic Universe is in danger of becoming: Incomplete, crutch-leaning writing. If this show was a standalone project, then it would be seen as crap. The entire series is so reliant on other aspects of the shared universe that it completely crumbles alone. The story is mediocre at best and it was very interesting to see a show about woman’s empowerment in the 40s kick its first episode with a rich black club owner (with white patrons) who talked to white folks with authority… in the 40s. I’m all about feminism and equality for EVERYONE, but let’s not act like there was only one group that was discriminated against at a time.
All of the in your face prejudice themes aside, I feel like this show was the opposite of Guardians of the Galaxy. That was a great movie because it cared about itself and largely ignored the rest of the MCU. It was self contained. Even though cameos and team-ups are what make Marvel so much more interesting than the rest, it can be over done. That’s what I saw, pretty much the entire time I watched that show. Then again, the connection with the rest of the MCU was what made Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. watchable after a very slow first half of season one. Maybe Marvel should focus more on the stories than the possibilities. As in all forms of entertainment USE GIMMICKS SPARINGLY. They can only get you on stage, then it’s up to you to actually entertain.
That being said, there were a lot of interesting things to see. The casting was pretty great and the actors all performed admirably. The world, of course was very solidly made and, unlike the rest of the MCU, they weren’t afraid of character deaths. I just wish the stories were more Marvel Comics and less “I Spy.”
Jonathan Thomas Jones is a speculative fiction author and founder of geekhavenreviews.com. He has been passionate about all things geek for his entire life. See more about him at jonathanthomasjones.com and follow him on twitter @jtgloryjones.
