Agent Carter
For me, season 2 is way, way better than season 1. I watched season 1 because the posters of Peggy in a red hat suggested a fun neo-noir type adventure. However, that did not turn out to be the case. The problem with season 1 is how the shop wanted to keep changing tone every episode. Moreover, it's plot was complex yet nonsensical. I mean, seriously, when you think about the first two episodes and the last two episodes, it's hard to see how they are connected based on the villains and motives and there were only 4 episodes in between them. Needless to say, as the only Marvel TV show I'd seen so far, I wasn't that impressed with what I saw and didn't even care that much about Season 2.
The only reason I watched it is because ABC decided to play a repeat of the first two episodes on Sunday night that week and since there was nothing else on, I thought I'd record it and just see what it was like. I'm glad I did because whoever is working on the show learned some lessons from season 1 and are doing a much better job this year. Right now, Agent Carter is leagues above Supergirl and Legends of Tomorrow and is in The Flash and Arrow territory of top comic book programming and, frankly, I'm almost more excited to see this on Tuesday then The Flash.
Unlike Season 1, Season 2 has made clear exactly who the villains are this year and what the threat is while still keeping some mystery to it. Peggy has engaged them early and thus there is a greater conflict between the heroes and villains. It's been able to blend humour and drama much better. While the first season may have been a mess tonally and in plot direction, it did contain some character development for various individuals and season 2 is smartly utilizing that history with its character development this time out giving most of the players their own conflicts along with the main plot. I would say that only Jarvis has lacked in having any conflict but this latest episode has now given him that. Perhaps the most surprising thing about season 2 is Dottie. She may be my favorite character this season and captivates all attention whenever she's on screen. I seriously want more screen time for her and I'd almost forgotten she existed after season 1. While the show still isn't perfect and has some moments I'd deem less successful, I've been willing to let them slide because the show is staying pretty strong the rest of the time.
With only 3 episodes left, I'm actually pretty excited to see how this is all going to turn out. This is very different from season 1 where I only watched the end of it because I'd already watched most of it so I might as well stick it out to the end and just kind of endured through it. Sort of like what I'm doing with Supergirl these days. Alright, maybe there's one thing that does bug me about Season 2. It has to do with Zero Matter. I get there's mystery behind it and no is quite sure of what it is and can do yet. However, all Whitney Frost can do is control it to envelope and disappear objects and things. Her greatest display of this came when she enveloped a bunch of dudes sitting around a table. How is this a world changing power that she keeps talking about? Is this all there is to Zero Matter? And let's talk about the effort to subdue her. Two restraining ropes are put around her neck. What was the plan there? After she breaks free from the ropes and wants revenge, no one tries to shoot her? For that matter, why have none of the other villains tried to take a pot shot or assassinate her since? There's been no evidence that Zero Matter can stop a bullet or make her bullet proof. There's been no evidence that Zero Matter has enhanced Whitney Frost in any other way besides sending out some Zero Matter from her hands that has to travel along the ground to a target. Seems to me that other people are capitulating to her way easier than I think they would and I just haven't been sold on her being this powerful demi-god like person the show seems to be pitching her as.