Agent Carter premiered on ABC in 2015 to introduce a broader audience to the life and work of Peggy Carter, one of the founders of the notable S.H.I.E.L.D. agency. Fans fell head over heels for Hayley Atwell’s Peggy Carter after her debut in Captain America: The First Avenger. Before Peggy, Pepper Potts was the only prominent female character in the Marvel movies. Obviously this is no longer the case, as these women stand shoulder to shoulder with Natasha Romanoff, Carol Danvers, Valkyrie, Wanda Maximoff, Shuri, and so many more.
It’s been more than 5 years since Agent Carter premiered, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t deserve any love. Thanks to Disney+, more Marvel fans are discovering animated and live action shows they’ve never seen before. So if you’re someone who is well-versed in happenings in the MCU but hasn’t given Agent Carter the chance it deserves, or you’re a fan of kickass, female-led detective dramas, this list is for you.
Here are 5 reasons why you should watch Marvel’s Agent Carter:
Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter
Hayley Atwell is a star, and Marvel’s Agent Carter gives her the opportunity to shine on her own, without the shadow of a tricolor shield hanging over her. If Marvel fans can agree on anything, most of us have consistently complained about how there’s not enough Peggy Carter in the films, and Agent Carter rectifies that issue.
The demand for more of Atwell as Carter was made clear by a bonus feature on the Iron Man 3 DVD. There we can find a 15-minute, action-packed bonus feature called “Marvel One-Shot: Agent Carter” that gives fans a glimpse at Peggy’s side of the Marvel universe that they won’t see more of until the series’s premiere in 2015.
Peggy Carter is a fan-favorite character who has inspired so many people, let alone countless cosplay looks. Peggy is a force of nature in the comics, but Hayley Atwell literally breathes life into the character. It’s difficult to imagine a world where anyone else but Atwell would portray this notable figure. She truly embodies the charisma, heart, and strength of Peggy Carter.
Female-Led Action Drama
Peggy Carter does not shy away from a fight, both physical and intellectual. She actually steps into danger instead of away from it, because Peggy is a hero at heart. She fights for goodness and justice from her very core, and that’s what makes her a phenomenal and compelling heroine. She grapples with the patriarchy at every turn, whether working for the SSR or believing she should step aside and let a man kick in the door for her.
Peggy never lets any of the naysayers and sexist men around her keep her from doing the right thing. Agent Carter sees Peggy don many disguises and punch quite a few men to save the day. She’s an icon, and Agent Carter celebrates that.
Female-led action dramas are still scarce on TV in 2020, but it’s getting better. so you can imagine the landscape in 2015 when Agent Carter premiered. Agent Carter is progressive for centering an incredibly smart and skilled woman on an action, adventure, and superhero drama. That forward-thinking also worked against the show’s best interest, because shows with such leads and content didn’t always get the support they deserved or needed to succeed.
This is because the superhero genre was still such a boys’ club in 2015. While it is still predominantly dominated by men, projects continue to diversify and work towards inclusivity on all fronts. This makes Agent Carter’s short run all the more heartbreaking, because Peggy Carter’s standalone TV show would have thrived in 2020.
Can you imagine a world where we have Agent Carter, Birds of Prey, Supergirl, Wonder Woman, Captain Marvel, Jessica Jones, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, and Ant-Man and the Wasp, amongst others? That sounds like a dream world to me.
It’s also worth mentioning that Agent Carter is Marvel’s first female-led series.
A Great Marvel Origin Story
Marvel fans should love Agent Carter, because it gives us a deep dive into one of the founders of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Yes, that infamous agency that has had a massive impact on basically everything in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Season 2 takes place in 1946, which is about 3 years shy of the beginnings of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Though this isn’t ideal, because seeing Peggy spearhead transforming the SSR into S.H.I.E.L.D. is something most of us would be interested in watching, this shouldn’t dissuade you from watching Agent Carter. It’s one thing to appreciate Peggy’s steadfast beliefs and incredible perseverance in the Marvel movies, in which fans can see many effects from her hard work at S.H.I.E.L.D. It’s another thing to get to know one of the agency’s founders, and to have a better understanding of the values it was meant to uphold.
And if that’s not enough of a reason, if celebrating the life and achievements of female icon Peggy Carter isn’t enough, there are plenty of male Marvel characters that pop up throughout the two-season series. For example, Howard Stark (Dominic Cooper) and Dum-Dum Dugan (Neal McDonough) of Howling Commandos fame appear on the series.
Also, Agent Carter puts a face to Tony Stark’s J.A.R.V.I.S. thanks to the incredible work by James D’Arcy. The series shows Edwin Jarvis as more than just Howard Stark’s butler, but a useful ally and one of Peggy’s closest confidants.
Dynamic Relationships
Agent Carter does something that’s only beginning to become less of a rarity on television. It shows a healthy, realistic female friendship between Peggy and a quick-witted, smart waitress named Angela Martinelli. Their friendship isn’t about their fight for the affection of the same man. In fact, their friendship isn’t built around a man at all. Peggy and Angie come together in a beautiful medley of honesty, loyalty, and kindness. Peggy fosters female friendships throughout the series, all while stressing the capability of women in and out of the action.
It’s refreshing to see Peggy develop through her friendship with Angie, because more often than not, female characters are only a sum of their relationships with the opposite sex. That just isn’t the case with Agent Carter. Peggy actively fights against men and their implicit and explicit biases throughout the series.
However, if you are interested in romance, Agent Carter definitely has that. Because who doesn’t love a good, epic love story? Sure, Peggy and Steve Rogers (Captain America) are on another level, but that doesn’t mean Peggy can’t find love with anyone else while her and Steve are apart. Enter Daniel Sousa, a gentle, hardworking dreamboat. He’s an SSR agent and a detective. He works alongside Peggy throughout Agent Carter, and let me tell you, sparks fly.
Enver Gjokaj is currently appearing as Daniel Sousa on the final season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on ABC.
Basically, you should watch Agent Carter for iconic female friendships and epic romances. What are you waiting for?
Captain America Would Want You to Watch
There’s isn’t much to say here, other than no fan of Steve Rogers would blatantly ignore watching a show starring his best girl. If I haven’t given you enough reasons to support this incredible show and its compelling female protagonist, then do it for Steve Rogers.
You wouldn’t want to disappoint Captain America, would you?
Agent Carter is streaming now on Disney+.
