Now this is how you do a Marvel TV series!
The pop-culture juggernaut’s second TV series, “Agent Carter,” debuted Tuesday night, and already it appears more likely to win over audiences than the studio’s first effort, “𝕴Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” now in its second season.
As wor𒉰ld-conquering as Marvel movies and characters are, for some reason, the much-hyped “S.H.I.E.L.D.” show nev𝔉er seemed to catch on. Perhaps it was down to its initial episodes being pretty awful.
By many accounts, the show has gotten better. But whatever happened with “S.H.I.E.L.D๊.,” it certainly looks like the Powers That Be at Marvel have learned a few lessons from its misfire, and put that knowledge to use when crafting “Agent Carter.”
Here are𝓀 five reasons why “Carter” is the superior “Agent.”
1. It’s set in the past
The show follows the adve🐻ntures of a Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell), an intelligence operatiꦗve in the Strategic Scientific Reserve, a precursor to S.H.I.E.L.D.
Carter was Captain America’s love interest during World War II (aౠs seen in 2011’s “Captain America: The First Avenger”), but it’s now 1946 — Cap is presumed dead, and Carter is on her own, working in New York.
Besides giving the cast an opportunity to wear excellent hats, the p🎃eriod setting also helps temper audience expectations.
“Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” is set in the present-day Marvel universe — the same era in which movies like “The Avengers” take place — and as a result, the series tends to feel a bit small in comparison. TV budgets obviously won’t allow for massive helicarrier battles and six-figure depictions of far-out tec♌h. Watching “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” you may feel slightly cheated and left with a nagging feeling that cooler, bigger, more eye-popping stories are happening elsewhere in the Marvel universe.
“Agent Carter” doesn’t have that problem. Iron Man, Thor, Black Widow and the rest don’t yet exist in 1946, and whatever budget has been allotted to “Carter,” it’s more than enough to deliver a satisfyinꦺg experience that is less likely to be measured against the Marvel cinematic u♉niverse.
2. It’s finite
“Agent Carter” is just eight episodes. That’s it. One complete story. No need for the writers to keep the story balls in the air i𒁃ndefinit✨ely. They get to tell the tale they want, then get out.
3. It’s self-contained
For the most part, at least. “Age💎nt Carter” can be enjoyed with only a cursory knowledge of the Marvel movies. Do you know who Captain America is? Good; you’re halfway there.
Meanwh🔯ile, “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” requires a bi♔t more context to really pay off. The viewers who get the most out of it are those who recognize the obscure Marvel characters and other Easter eggs planted along the way, and who understand how the show connects to the events in the corresponding cinematic universe, especially what went down with Hydra and S.H.I.E.L.D. in last year’s “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.”
4. She’s a female superhero done right
Ever since comic book properties began dominating pop culture, fans have been ꦕclamoring for more diversity in the lineup. Marvel’s rival DC Comics has obliged by tentatively scheduling a Wonder Wo𝓰man movie, and Marvel followed suit by announcing “Captain Marvel” for 2018.
No need to wait until then. It’s unlikely you’ll get a cooler female hero than Carter. She’s smart and capable and, in one of the series’ subplots, has no problem coolly taking on the sexism she ꦑencounters every day at the of𒉰fice.
She also kicks butt. In one funny scene from the premiere, Carter is dismantling a bad guy while a “Captain Americ♏a” radio serial plays in the background, which features the star-spangled hero coming to the aid of a helpless woman.
5. It’s well-cast
Atwell, Dominic Cooper (who plays Tony Stark’s playboy father, Howard) and James D’Arcy (as Stark’s uptight butler, Jarvis) all make the most of the material, never letting it stray into camp. These are𓃲 all characters and actors who could hold their own in Marvel movies (and, in some cases, have).
The lead in “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” Clark Gregg, is memorable, but what about his supporting cast? The collection of pretty-but-bland actors makes the show feel more like ꦡa second-tier USA Network offering (“Am I watching ‘Suits’? ”), not a spinoff of the most popular pop-culture 🍌universe on the planet.