Marvel’s Agent Carter delivers another pair of back-to-back episodes as Jarvis takes direct action, and Team Carter face Whitney Frost, Jack Thompson, Vernon Masters and some not-especially-competent mobsters.
Title: “The Edge of Mystery” and “A Little Song and Dance”
Directors: Metin Hüseyin and Jennifer Getzinger
Writers: Brant Englestein and Michele Fazekas, Tara Butters, and Chris Dingess
Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter
James D’Arcy as Edwin Jarvis
Wynn Everett as Whitney Frost / Madame Masque
Reggie Austin as Jason Wilkes
Chad Michael Murray as Jack Thompson
Kurtwood Smith as Vernon Masters
Matt Braunger as Dr. Samberly
Lotte Verbeek as Ana Jarvis
Ken Marino as Joseph Manfredi
Enver Gjokaj as Daniel Sousa
Currie Graham as Calvin Chadwick
Damian O’Hare as Nick Driscoll
Tina D’Marco as Nonna Manfredi
Leslie Boone as Rose
Bridget Regan as Dottie Underwood
Tom Choi as Dr. Chung
Premise
Jarvis complicates the plan when he tries to avenge the attack on his wife. A gamma-ray cannon and duplicitous dealings lead to an explosive conclusion… with only one episode left.
High Points
I’m not a huge fan of the Fantasy Musical Number, but I know it will be many people’s high point. It’s well-handled.
I liked the fact that this episode pushed allies and enemies into unexpected conflicts and alliances. Wilkes, meanwhile, makes it clear his dilemma is not a creation of Zero Matter, but the result of real decisions he faces. Carter is a comic-book adventure, but its personal conflicts carry some weight.
Low Point
More of a baffling point, I suppose: Why are they running back-to-back episodes, again? Is there some scheduling-related reason why they felt the need to rush the broadcast of this series to its finale?
The Scores:
Originality: 2/6 This week brought two strong episodes, but neither is particularly original. (And fantasy musical numbers are so turn-of-the-millennium).
Effects: 5/6
Acting: 5/6 The leads are excellent, as always; Atwell and D’Arcy give especially strong performances this week. Ken Marino and his nona come precariously close to Italian-American Mafia Maggia Minstrel Show, but I found the scene amusing without being particularly offensive.
Emotional Response: 5/6
Story: 5/6 Although I complained about the two-parters, these particular episodes work quite well together.
Production: 6/6
Overall: 5/6
In total, “The Edge of Mystery” and “A Little Song and Dance” receive 33/42
I don’t know why they keep doing the two-parters but my suspicion is they are rushing to get AoS back on due to a timing issue with events in the show vs events in Civil War that they have to line up. If the impact of Civil War on AoS is anything like the impact of Winter Soldier, it’ll be a wild ride.
As for the episodes, the musical number bit was fun but not really my personal high point. Pretty much anything involving Frost was, she was unpredictable, loony, and fun at times. Almost like a classic Buffy-style villain. Wilkes’ turn was interesting but somewhat obvious.