#like they didn't need to go john le carré levels of cynicism

[crash476]

Sorry for making this an essay, but... It wasn’t just that. 

Not to diminish the problem of over sexualization of female characters, but I think in Agent Carter’s case, I do wonder if the team was expecting a second season. The story lines are all half-baked, and maybe the plots in question (except for the immediate threat of Whitney Frost and the Zero Matter) needed more time to unfold. The story felt more like the writers hitting the breaks as the plots were gaining pace near the end of the season. It kind of reminds me of Once Upon a Time in a way, where the showrunners said they were expecting that show to be canceled after the first season. it just feels like the writing team and showrunner were caught off guard with the renewal and didn’t really have any firm plans, and maybe they were hoping a third season would let them capitalize on what was laid out in season 2. But that, I think, led to the writers falling back on some regressive tropes and cliches because they needed to have something quickly.

And being dicked around scheduling and bad promotion help either. Like if season 2 had a decent timeslot and a good amount of advertising, I think it might have been able to find its footing. I’ve heard there was a lot of behind the scenes drama between the TV and film sides of the MCU, plus I do wonder how Winter Soldier and Age of Ultron affected whatever plans were in place for Agent Carter. Maybe not as bad as Agents of SHIELD basically having to declare that they were in their own timeline. But still, one hopes that if Agent Carter had been given a third season it may have been able to really figure out what Peggy’s story was going to be. 

It’s a real shame that on the one hand the show wasn’t given another season to really figure itself out. But on the other hand, we may have dodged a bullet if season 3 had the same lackluster writing as season 2. And even if we did get more seasons, how would have Endgame affected Agent Carter? I have my doubts about the show’s canonicity now because of that film and Captain Carter blowing up, who knows what Agent Carter’s status would be with more seasons. And speaking of Captain Carter, I get why she’s popular, but it also feels like the MCU chickened out on the espionage side of Marvel. I feel like the spy Peggy Carter is the more fascinating character than the superhero and in better hands could have really shined.

While i will forever be sad that agent carter was canceled, looking at season 2 i get why. Its not just the obvious things, like the love triangle, but just the way they wrote peggy in some scenes. Like how jarvis has to explain to her that she "underestimates her allure".

Im sorry, what? Experienced ssr agent peggy "i will weaponize feminity to manipulate arrogant men who underestimate me" carter doesnt know that shes pretty? Are you for real? That is such a stupid trope in the first place, but you especially cant apply it to a character like peggy without instantly diminishing her skill and competence, and women just in general i think are generally aware of how men think about them. I mean, this show literally demonstrates the constant sexualization, which makes this look even dumber.