Marvel’s Agent Carter Review 1×05 “The Iron Ceiling”

Howling Commandos, deadly little girls, deepening secrets and Peggy with a machine gun? Need we say more? Okay—Agent Carter is simply too much fun not to watch. Start now if you haven’t already.

Agent Carter — The Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) that ultimately helps found S.H.I.E.L.D. is slowly emerging through the course of these eight episodes. When the Leviathan typewriter transmits a coded message, only Peggy, to the dismay of the frustrated codebreaker, can decipher its Russian code. A meeting to buy Stark (Dominic Cooper) tech from Howard himself is set in Belarus. Peggy uses her influence with the Howling Commandos to get them to help—which earns her a ticket with Agent Jack Thompson (Chad Michael Murray) to investigate. When Peggy and the SSR meet with the Howling Commandos, led by Dum-Dum Dugan (Neal McDonough), to the surprise of Thompson, Peggy is finally amongst men that give her the utmost respect she earned during the war. Meanwhile, Chief Roger Dooley (Shea Whigham) continues to follow hunches and leads of his own about the battle of Finow and Howard Stark’s mysterious involvement soon after. Dooley is slowly circling the truth, and in an attempt to get the one angle of the story he’s not heard, confronts Jarvis (James D’Arcy) with an offer for Howard to finally tell his side. At the same time, Agent Daniel Sousa (Enver Gjokaj) is beginning to suspect that Peggy is the mysterious blond in the pictures he’s been studying. Her secret is closer to discovery than she knows.

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In Belarus, the team infiltrates the location of the meeting, but instead of a clandestine weapons purchase that catches Howard Stark red-handed, they discover something much more sinister. The facility is a school for brainwashing young girls to become trained assassins and spies. The one young girl (Chiara Aurelia) they do find is a ruse and before the team can react, she kills Junior Juniper (James Austin Kerr) as Russian soldiers converge and attack. After a narrow escape with only imprisoned Russian scientist Dr. Ivchenko (Ralph Brown) as a prize, the team turns for home. A shaken Thompson, who freezes during the fight, confides in Peggy that he is not the hero everyone believes. He has been living a lie and bearing the burden of being crowned a savior for killing Japanese soldiers he discovered were trying to surrender only after they were dead. Meanwhile in New York, unbeknownst to anyone, Dottie (Bridget Regan) takes advantage of Peggy’s absence to search her room. A product of the same type of school found by Peggy and the team, flashbacks reveal Dottie is marred by relentless brainwashing and her murder of fellow classmates as a girl. When she discovers Peggy’s stash of Stark tech photos, she returns everything as she found it to wait for Peggy’s return. Everyone it seems is hiding something and as each clue is uncovered one can’t help but wonder if there is a powder keg beneath all of them that’s just itching to explode. The intensity, emotion and action ratchet up in this episode of Agent Carter. Let’s knock down the walls and dig through the intriguing rubble!

Peggy is slowly asserting herself in a man’s world. It’s only fitting if Leviathan’s principle antagonist that bubbles to the top is her female equal.

Peggy Carter is a take charge woman in a world where it’s not expected or even acceptable for a woman to do just that. It was refreshing to see her put her role of office organizer and lunch orderer aside when she recognized a need. Breaking the code pulled her out of that role and pulling strings to accompany Thompson to Belarus pushed her even further toward the person she always should be, and away from the persona she’s shown restraint to become in the office. Granted, Peggy uses her helpless and untrusted status regularly to her advantage, but at the cost of respect of those around her every day.

Thompson saw a completely different side of Peggy in Belarus. Even though he was team lead, when the chips were down, the Howling Commandos looked to Peggy before making a move. Seeing Peggy amongst men that viewed her as a peer was a breath of fresh air. From the relaxed  and confident vibe Hayley Atwell captured in her performance, it seemed to be the same for Peggy as well. You could almost feel the weight lifted from her shoulders. Despite being behind enemy lines and in harm’s way, she felt comfortable in an environment she knew well and with men that trusted her skill and judgement completely.

“Dugan, you fought side-by-side with Captain America, didn’t you?” ~ Ramirez

“Yeah. But not as long as she did.” ~ Dugan

The small look of gratitude from Peggy said a million things that this show has embodied from the beginning. Peggy is caught between two worlds and Hayley Atwell has done a brilliant job of showing us the small moments where those worlds conflict. On one hand, she desperately wants to be accepted and respected amongst her fellow agents. On the other, she realizes the view of women in 1946 and uses that perception to her advantage. At some point, one of those two worlds will crumble in favor of the other. As the future co-founder of S.H.I.E.L.D., we have a feeling which of the two will eventually win out.

This episode also brought about a unique dichotomy between the hidden strength of Peggy and the hidden brutality of Dottie. Both are far more than they seem, but in ways that couldn’t be more different. Dottie’s tragic brainwashing and encouraged murder of her classmates as a child, starting with the girl with which she shared food, is the complete opposite of Peggy’s indomitable spirit and free will. Both are hiding in plain sight as someone they are not and if the two ultimately square off as the adversaries they appear to be, Peggy may very well find she is fighting a warped and mirrored version of herself. We won’t lie and say that a showdown between these two very different women with common traits wouldn’t be giddy fun. After all, who better to match Peggy than another woman playing to the perceptions of society in order to fulfill her mission unsuspected? We’d offer some advice for Peggy though, to be careful breaking bread with Dottie as she did at the beginning of the episode. That doesn’t seem to end well.

Bridget Regan and the Belarus compound rocked the creepy. Pardon us while we check our knickers.

Bridget Regan finally got the screen time we’ve been waiting for in this series and she didn’t disappoint in the least. After her back story as a child, killing classmates and being brainwashed, Dottie’s odd, detached behavior, though brief, was so well done that it was icing on the cake. Dottie is clearly dedicated to her mission—and a little off in the head. We can’t help but think that the graduation rate of her childhood school was limited—perhaps to just one. That would certainly put a horrific amount of red on your ledger that would be difficult to ever erase later in life, IF you could break the cycle of brainwashing that kept you handcuffing yourself to bed at night. A bit of advice Dottie, don’t drop the key. Though who are we kidding, she likely has wicked handcuff escaping skills. If so, at least the spirit of Houdini made it up the stairs.

We’d be remiss if we didn’t compliment the overall feel of creepiness of the compound in Belarus and subsequent search of Peggy’s apartment by Dottie. The music, in particular, set the tone. We hope we’re correct in complimenting Christopher Lennertz for the music that created a level of ominous that we’ve not yet experienced on this show. The bombastic Russian undertones as the group discovered the brainwashing, the ethereal chanting in finding the lone remaining student and especially the hollow, druid-esque chanting during Dottie’s search was perfectly timed for just the right emotional lift or fall with each note. The Belarus compound and Dottie’s piercing eyes were creepy enough. The music amped things enough we were rethinking our knicker choices too.

“Does anybody else feel a chill going up their knickers?” ~ Peggy

“I would if I wore knickers.” ~ Junior Juniper

Combined with the music, the lighting and abandoned compound conjured a soulless, empty feeling. Agent Carter has been filmed in some outstanding locations that have created different period looks. Whether the Belarus setting was simply great location scouting, fantastic set building or some combination of both, it stamped a very unique look to this episode. The production teams have gone above and beyond to create 1946, but also to consistently give us fresh, new locations that make Agent Carter feel both different and the same each week. The production quality of this series hasn’t gotten enough publicity, but the hard-working teams that have built this world we’ve enjoying deserve a shout of praise. Great performances make a series, but great performances with amazing production value make a series memorable.

We have a distinct feeling that we’ll look back on this episode and see elements mentioned in passing that become significant later. We still don’t know why the typewriter message was sent. A gift wrapped Stark caught red-handed seemed too good to be true and we all know that when things just fall into place there’s often something deeper afoot. Dugan and Peggy discuss the idea that it’s a trap and based on what they did find, it certainly feels like it. Adding to that theory is the fact that Dottie felt very comfortable entering Peggy’s room. If nothing else, was it a ploy to lure Peggy away just for that reason? And if casualties ensued that would just be a bonus? We don’t know, but when things come to a head later, look back to this episode for clues. We suspect things that don’t make sense now—will in time.

Secrets tucked away in the mind have no physical form, but the darkest ones bear weight that grows heavier every day.

Chad Michael Murray continues to impress as Agent Jack Thompson. The one character that at first seemed the least interesting and predictable has slowly become the most complex and layered. Everyone on this show is hiding something and playing certain parts of their lives close to the vest, but Thompson’s emotional reveal was perhaps the most surprising. Listening to his harrowing save in Okinawa that led to his Navy Cross felt incomplete. It was subtle, but Murray made us feel there was more without giving away the entire story was a burdensome untruth.

Though Thompson couldn’t have known it, Peggy, ironically, is the one person Thompson could have told the truth. She, amongst everyone, would understand the terrible burden of living a daily lie. The weight of Thompson’s dual life seems to be wearing at his soul. If anyone might understand that, it would be Peggy.  Atwell’s small look of confident acknowledgement wasn’t unlike the one she gave Dugan earlier in the episode for letting everyone know she was more than her fellow agents believed her to be.

“Everybody thinks that I’m this guy that I never was. And every day It gets harder and harder to live with. I’ve been trying to tell that story since I came home from war.” ~ Thompson

“You just did.” ~ Carter

Who would have thought that under his bravado and brash exterior was hidden a frightened young man struggling to carry the weight of lies he never intended to tell. Freezing in combat certainly was a big hint to Peggy and it opened the door to his vulnerability and unburdening of truth. The writing and storyline in this series has been so taut that we can’t imagine that moment won’t pay dividends later. Peggy’s secret may ultimately get revealed and when that time comes, who will see past the lies and trust that her heart was in the right place? If it turned out to be Thompson, we wouldn’t be shocked.

Peggy kept his secret when they returned to the office and we can’t help but think Thompson sees her in a completely different light now than before. He’s far from perfect, but the softening of his character very slowly through five episodes is a credit to great writing and a solid performance by Murray. We suspect this reveal wasn’t the end of his development and perhaps the beginning of trust in someone he respects in Peggy. The big question will be if he can make those character leaps in public and not just in the quiet moments where only Peggy sees them. Time will tell, but Murray and the writing team have intrigued us enough to want to find out.

FINAL VERDICT: The nuances of this show are impressive. Each week we get deeper into a mystery that may have no neat solution. That’s just fine. Messy solutions make for great television and Agent Carter is shaping up to be outstanding.

Can we say that Writer Jose Molina is the MAN? We suspect we can, since we just did. Can we also formally request more Howling Commandos? And while we’re at it, more intrigue and Peggy sporting a machine gun? Because Hayley Atwell absolutely rocks the covert guns-blazing look. In all seriousness, the combination of emotional performances, bits of humor, bubbling secrets about Stark’s involvement at Finow and Peggy finding herself comfortable and respected again made for a stellar episode of television.

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We praise writers often for their good work and just the same aren’t afraid to call them out when something is out of kilter. Veteran writer Jose Molina deserves every bit of praise he’ll likely get for penning this episode. We’ve read the transcript and watched it play out (more than once) and there just isn’t much you could find wrong. The dialogue was crisp and efficient. The subtle nods to push along each mystery were well thought out an even in the moments where things weren’t said, things simply felt natural and just worked.

When a writer is handed the task of building a world and establishing a base level mythology for an established cinematic universe, it could easily feel like a daunting task. Laying the groundwork for Leviathan and its culture must have certainly been the aim for part of this episode. That could pay dividends later in Marvel movies with Black Widow (Scarlet Johansson) given that it’s been confirmed Natasha shares some origin with Dottie. Molina took the weight of all that mythology in stride and crafted a thoughtful, emotional and subtle script laced with humor in the right places. In short, he was up to task.

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We’ll be watching closely for the fallout from this episode. If we had to guess, there’s much more going on than we know. Yes, we say that every week, but that’s only because it’s true. We’re constantly being shown layers to the mystery of this show and being highly entertained by the events of the moment along the way. The empty return from Belarus may yet have consequences. As much fun as it was seeing the Howling Commandoes again, can we trust Dr. Ivchenko? It seems rather convenient that he was the only spoil of this endeavor and also that he’s so desperately willing to help. We’ll see as things play out, but we have our suspicions and those watching would be wise to keep an eye out for him later.

Though not perfect in all it’s performances, the key players all delivered yet again. Atwell and Murray complimented especially well through highs and lows plus the very brief interaction between D’Arcy and Whigham was honest, raw and emotionally charged. A few of the side characters could have felt a tad more genuine, but all in all there were solid performances throughout. Director Peter Leto took all the pieces and performances and brought together another solid entry into this series. One thing was clearly established. Dottie comes from a hellish background. Though her agenda, and that of Leviathan, is still not known, we do know that we want to find out so badly now that we’re not about to miss any of the last three episodes!

Questions, Comments, Concerns and My Reaction on Twitter…

• Oooo. Flashback. Damn. Those are some vicious little girls. And that’s one mean instructor. Geez.
• “He used me. He uses you.” ~ Peggy to Jarvis. Stark has a long way to go to get back into her good graces.
• “I AM going to Russia.” ~ Peggy. She DID break the code in mere seconds Dooley. The woman has a point.
• “I’d say pack your bags, but that’s not going to happen.” ~ Dooley. One call. She’s packing. I love this woman. @HayleyAtwell
• Um. Did Dooley just say “your little crush”?? @HayleyAtwell @ChadMMurray
• “Have a .. swell trip.” It’s okay Daniel. I’d lose the ability to speak too. @HayleyAtwell @EnverGjokaj
• “Oh. Hi Peggy.” Dum-Dum. #HowlingCommandos baby!!
• “He may be an utter wanker, but he’s one of us.” ~ Peggy about Howard. I think that will come out soon.
• Awe hell no! Sousa, you’re doing your job a little too well for my mental comfort. @EnverGjokaj @HayleyAtwell
• “I shoot em all. Before they even know I was there.” ~ Thompson. I think Thompson might have made an impression on Peggy.
• Okay. I love how Thompson’s orders aren’t orders until Peggy agrees. #HowlingCommandos
• “Really regretting the lack of knickers right now.” ~ Junior Juniper. Me TOO. WTH??
• I don’t either! And we still soiled them!! O.O RT @IHeartCoulson: I don’t even have knickers!! #AgentCarter
• “There’s three sides to every story. Your side. My side. And the truth.” I’m find it hard to dislike Dooley despite his flaws.
• Okay. This ominous chanting druid  music is giving me the creeps.
• “Hello. I’m Peggy Carter.” ~ Dottie. Okay. Now Dottie is giving me the uber-creeps.
• Hell yes it has. Cause .. creepy! RT @AgentCarterNews: “Creepy” has come up a lot too.
• “It’s bad isn’t it.” ~ Happy Sam Sawyer. Damn. Worse than I thought!
• He would say “Do as Peggy Says” .. Peggy Carter is a BADASS!
• “Pretty good .. for a girl.” ~ Dr. Ivchenko. “I hate you all.” ~ Peggy. That’s pretty good period buddy. Peggy kicks ass.
• “Good work Carter.” ~ Dooley. That was a damned good moment for Peggy. I hope it lasts.
• That was one hell of an #AgentCarter ep. Can we have the #HowlingCommandos on every week? #PrettyPlease @breadandbutters @MicheleFazekas