So Who Just Watched Agent Carter?

[Ark of the Covetor]

Honestly the thing that took me out of it most were the other SSR agents; I get that sexism was actually a thing, and I get that it's a theme in the show, but there's a point when it moves beyond "doesn't think much of dames" and becomes "these people are too fucking stupid to breathe and blink at the same time".

Actually, that didn't turn out as bad as I thought it would after watching the Marvel One Shot. Other than the one guy, none of them are presented as stupid so much as condescending(which is somewhat understandable considering the prejudices of the time: they assume that Agent Carter got the job due to her relationship with Cpt America). In fact, the one time that she took a shot a one of her fellow agents' literacy, he responded by demonstrating that he was multilingual(which is kind of a big deal in the US). So for the most part, her co-workers' largest flaw is that they underestimate Carter and don't give her a chance, not that they aren't generally intelligent.

There's also the fact that Carter needs to be superior to her fellow agents in order for her to be the legendary Agent Carter that Simmons gushes about in AoS. So she's going to be the one with all the best action scenes, making the big discoveries, and making the right calls. This may make the others seem less intelligent in comparison, but it's kind of necessitated by the fact that she's the protagonist, and by dint of this being a mini-series, not a full length multi-season drama.

I suppose it really is just that I grew up in the modern day with a Marxist-Feminist single mum, hah. Seeing that level of, as you say, condescension and dismissal when we're talking about a war hero who fought with an elite unit, which they surely must know the facts about because they're part of the same organisation and have a room full of files detailing them, is just too bizarre. It's difficult to change mental gears enough to accept that these can be intelligent people if they're so totally incapable of grasping the reality right in front of their faces.

 

[Scars Unseen]

Honestly the thing that took me out of it most were the other SSR agents; I get that sexism was actually a thing, and I get that it's a theme in the show, but there's a point when it moves beyond "doesn't think much of dames" and becomes "these people are too fucking stupid to breathe and blink at the same time".

Actually, that didn't turn out as bad as I thought it would after watching the Marvel One Shot. Other than the one guy, none of them are presented as stupid so much as condescending(which is somewhat understandable considering the prejudices of the time: they assume that Agent Carter got the job due to her relationship with Cpt America). In fact, the one time that she took a shot a one of her fellow agents' literacy, he responded by demonstrating that he was multilingual(which is kind of a big deal in the US). So for the most part, her co-workers' largest flaw is that they underestimate Carter and don't give her a chance, not that they aren't generally intelligent.

There's also the fact that Carter needs to be superior to her fellow agents in order for her to be the legendary Agent Carter that Simmons gushes about in AoS. So she's going to be the one with all the best action scenes, making the big discoveries, and making the right calls. This may make the others seem less intelligent in comparison, but it's kind of necessitated by the fact that she's the protagonist, and by dint of this being a mini-series, not a full length multi-season drama.

I suppose it really is just that I grew up in the modern day with a Marxist-Feminist single mum, hah. Seeing that level of, as you say, condescension and dismissal when we're talking about a war hero who fought with an elite unit, which they surely must know the facts about because they're part of the same organisation and have a room full of files detailing them, is just too bizarre. It's difficult to change mental gears enough to accept that these can be intelligent people if they're so totally incapable of grasping the reality right in front of their faces.

But that's most people in any age. Very few people are willing to acknowledge uncomfortable truths, particularly when such acknowledgement would then necessitate that you act on it or change yourself in ways you would prefer not to. Why do so few people save and invest? Why does US Congress dismiss every piece of evidence that the scientific community submits about Global Climate Change? Why do people stay in unhealthy relationships? Why do we waste resources on war when that same money turned toward collective gain would be more beneficial in the long run? Why do we eat unhealthy food? I can keep going.

When you value something or believe something, you want to hold on to it. You don't want anyone to threaten it. And that's what's happening in this show. Imagine you work for a company, and you've been climbing the ranks for years, putting in hard work, long hours, and making sacrifices in your personal life for the good of the company. Now suddenly, the CEO puts his nephew in at the division manager spot you've been working your way up to. Now, it's entirely possible that this guy is well educated, and has put in just as much work toward getting where he is as you have. But the first thought that is going to pass through most people's minds is that he got the job because of his relation to the CEO, and that you would have made a much better choice based on merit and experience. That's kind of where we are in Agent Carter, only with a lot of casual and not so casual sexism that would not have seemed out of the ordinary in the "boys club" that such a workplace would have been back then.

 

[Daw]

I don't think the show works.. yet.
The most interesting character is the butler, I think he stole the show somewhat, only being Carter is doing what she had done in the movie without much change.
She's gone through a great loss her place in the world is completely gone, but she jumps into action girl.. anyone would have a hard time doing that.

That said i doubt her rehab would work any better, But i would've liked to have seen some flashbacks of her just after losing Cap.

Sexism ; as i say below i didn't like it.. but you wouldn't believe it still exists today just look at tv and movies most 'women' are token love interests with no character besides "she looks pretty"
The sexism got on my nerves; I know it was really bad back then but its almost too much as she struggles to find her place surrounded by knobs and only has the butler, i would've liked to have seen some more supporting actors from the howling commando's onto my next point.

The howling commando's!!!
The after captain America story.. they could've setup a short movie of just them and carter rocking it, And i really do hope they'll use some of this material as the show goes on as flashbacks.
Peggy Carter is a solid character and i think she is a good choice.
I am worried that this could stay a medicore show hopefully we have the good writers shield have, and characters get introduced quickly and i'd like to see her "female friends" in that place she stays be pulled into the world of spying and perhaps some of the first shield agents.
I just hope they mix up the skin colour (I would word it another way like race, but it is only skin colour and nothing else.)


I doubt we'd be able to have a young Natasha but perhaps the people who trained her can make problems.


Question, think they'll do the "First" nick fury? or change the character to suit the currents "father" better?