The Kid Colt stays in the picture.
By Eric Goldman
Warning: Full spoilers for the episode below.
Considering it was well-known that Jason Wilkes would be an ongoing part of Season 2, it would have been silly if they’d attempted to keep saying he was “dead” for too long – and thankfully, that was not the case. Of course, considering he is invisible (most of the time) and intangible, he’s not in a great place, but it’s a start – and a nice nod to his obscure Marvel Comics namesake.
It was great to have Howard Stark (Dominic Cooper) back this week, and to see him in all his womanizing, brilliant, Peggy-appreciating glory. The “like father, like son” moments were well done, as Howard, obsessed with what was happening to Wilkes, stopped sleeping, in a manner we’ve seen with Tony Stark. And it’s great to see how Howard can both be so flippant and narcissistic and yet also commend people for their skills, whether it be Peggy (“I’m great, but so is she”), Wilkes (“He’s good. Stark Industries good”), or Jarvis – I loved Howard noting what good partners Peggy and Jarvis make and wondering if he’ll need a new butler soon, without any hint of anger about the situation.
It was made clear in this episode that Whitney, not her husband Chadwick, is the one truly pulling the strings – even when Chadwick doesn’t realize it. Wynn Everett is a lot of fun as Whitney, who embraces her theatrical, actress side when it suits her, including when she needs to convince her husband to have Peggy killed. Interesting that her real name, Agnes Cully, does not match Whitney Frost’s real name – Giulietta Nefaria – from the comics, but I suppose they wanted the flexibility to use Count Nefaria in a totally different manner in the MCU, if they ever chose to.
Marvel’s Agent Carter: “Better Angels” Photos
Marvel’s Agent Carter: “Better Angels” Photos
Marvel’s Agent Carter: “Better Angels” Photos
Marvel’s Agent Carter: “Better Angels” Photos
Marvel’s Agent Carter: “Better Angels” Photos
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Marvel’s Agent Carter: “Better Angels” Photos
Marvel’s Agent Carter: “Better Angels” Photos
Marvel’s Agent Carter: “Better Angels” Photos
Marvel’s Agent Carter: “Better Angels” Photos
Marvel’s Agent Carter: “Better Angels” Photos
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Marvel’s Agent Carter: “Better Angels” Photos
Marvel’s Agent Carter: “Better Angels” Photos
Marvel’s Agent Carter: “Better Angels” Photos
Marvel’s Agent Carter: “Better Angels” Photos
Marvel’s Agent Carter: “Better Angels” Photos
Regardless, Whitney it turns out, is incredibly dangerous now that the Darkforce has infected her. Unlike Blackout (as seen on Agents of SHIELD), who can absorb electricity, Whitney simply engulfed and essentially devoured that man at the end – in a decidedly horror movie manner. It’s a pretty freaky ability and an exciting new element to add to the series.
Thompson was a bit maddening in this episode. Okay, yes, he’s a coward and he took credit for Peggy’s work in Season 1. But he also had come to see just how skilled she was, so it felt off that he still would be so stubborn and not listening to anything she was saying after all they went through. Thankfully, by the end of the episode, he saw with his own eyes that she was right about the Council’s manipulation.
This episode did a better job of blending in the funny side of Agent Carter than the previous two. Howard telling at Peggy and Jarvis to get out of his shot, and the way Hayley Atwell and James D’Arcy slowly shuffled to the side, was really funny. And as on the nose it was, with its meta humor, it was hard not to smile when Peggy declared, “A movie based on a comic book? Sounds like a dreadful idea!” Plus, kudos for sneaking in another notable Marvel Easter egg by making the movie Howard was filming based on one of Marvel’s own cowboy characters, Kid Colt.
The strongest episode of Season 2 so far, “Better Angels” quickly showed the very dramatic effects the Darkforce has had on both Whitney and Wilkes, in very different yet fascinating ways. Meanwhile, Howard Stark’s return was a welcome one, and represented just one way this episode did a strong job balancing Agent Carter’s mixture of drama and comedy.
