”What’s happened and what’s true are two different things.”
By Eric Goldman
This is our review of the first of the two Agent Carter episodes that aired on February 23rd. Click here for our review of the second episode.
Warning: Full spoilers for the episode below.
The darker tone that Agent Carter took on last week continued in “The Edge of Mystery”, as there were betrayals, double-crosses, shootings and one very big explosion.
Wilkes turning that gun on Peggy was certainly a big moment, after he’d been portrayed as a pretty decent guy up until now; albeit one willing to be much more brutal about how to deal with Dottie being taken than Peggy. But self-preservation will make people do dramatic things, and such seemed to be the case here – because it was clear Wilkes wasn’t suddenly genuinely teaming with Whitney as much as he was desperate. Of course, Wilkes returning, but now, presumably, just filled to the brim with Darkforce, seems to indicate even more changes are about to occur. And the reveal that there are other-wordly “voices” Whitney and Wilkes have been hearing underline just how messed up they are by what is happening to them.
A lot of big things happened with Wilkes here… including him taking flight! Or, at least, pulled into the air, into the Darkforce rift Whitney had created. Her “What about me?!” cries were a great moment of “Be careful what you unleash” for Season 2’s fascinating villain, as she found out she wasn’t getting everything she wanted/expected.
Jarvis so brutally walking up to Whitney and shooting her point blank (even if she turned out to be quite unkillable by that manner) was another exciting moment, showing just how hell-bent on revenge he’d become. I’d complained how so much of the season had given Jarvis little to do, but these recent episodes have remedied that in a big way – and allowed James D’Arcy to show a very different side of the character that he has excelled at exploring.
Jarvis went on the warpath against Whitney after learning Ana would no longer be able to have children thanks to her injury. Jarvis not telling Ana this was a frustrating moment, but the fact that Ana so clearly seemed to sense he was keeping something from her was a nice touch and well played by Lotte Verbeek.
Chad Michael Murray on Marvel’s Agent Carter
Chad Michael Murray on Marvel’s Agent Carter
Kurtwood Smith on Marvel’s Agent Carter
Kurtwood Smith on Marvel’s Agent Carter
Chad Michael Murray on Marvel’s Agent Carter
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Chad Michael Murray on Marvel’s Agent Carter
Chad Michael Murray on Marvel’s Agent Carter
Kurtwood Smith on Marvel’s Agent Carter
Haley Atwell, Enver Gjokaj on Marvel’s Agent Carter
Chad Michael Murray on Marvel’s Agent Carter
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Haley Atwell, Enver Gjokaj on Marvel’s Agent Carter
Enver Gjokaj on Marvel’s Agent Carter
Haley Atwell, Enver Gjokaj on Marvel’s Agent Carter
Enver Gjokaj on Marvel’s Agent Carter
Enver Gjokaj on Marvel’s Agent Carter
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Ken Marino, Wynn Everett on Marvel’s Agent Carter
Ken Marino, Wynn Everett on Marvel’s Agent Carter
Ken Marino, Wynn Everett on Marvel’s Agent Carter
Wynn Everett on Marvel’s Agent Carter
Wynn Everett on Marvel’s Agent Carter
We also finally look to be getting some answers on the “just how much is Thompson controlled by Vernon?” question, as he eavesdropped on his boss/mentor and seemed to decide that Vernon helping Whitney get uranium was too far – and even got mind-wiped for his trouble.
Of course, this was all after Thompson had gotten a file on Peggy’s war record (albeit one that looked to be a fake after all) in an attempt to use it against her – so he’s still plenty capable of being a total bastard.
With Agent Carter’s second season almost nearly over (damn these double-episode weeks!), there’s a lot in play. The inclusion of a Howard Stark-designed Gamma Cannon was also a fun bit of technology to introduce, with its nod to the importance gamma rays will have down the line to a buddy/teammate of Howard’s son.
