Agent Carter: Ep 1 Season 2 Recap

Season 2 begins immediately where season 1 left off. Agent Carter and the men of the SSR seem to be working strategically to capture Dottie Underwood, soviet spy. Team work prevails and Dottie is captured and brought back to SSR headquarters for detainment and interrogation. Meanwhile near Los Angeles California, newly appointed West Coast station head, Daniel Sousa has stumbled upon a most curious and chilling discovery. The decision is made to send help and Agent Carter is off to Hollywood. 

Working closely with Sousa once again Carter finds that things and people don’t function the same as in New York and a new approach and strategy must be found. Agent Carter and team are trying to solve the mystery of the freezing, glowing people when things become even more complicated. A new secret order of influential people adds further difficulties. Unbeknownst to Agent Carter, this new evil force is pulling the strings from the shadows. The team is slowly building towards a discovery when the newest member of the team finds himself in peril. With little time left, Agent Carter realizes that perhaps Jarvis was right. Maybe there isn’t a single person who can carry the weight of the world on their shoulders, alone and everyone needs backup. 

I was not disappointed in the level of fun delivered in this show. It continues to exude that special charm from season 1. It’s a delight seeing Agent Carter, Sousa and Jarvis back in action. There are a few new faces as well that have promise to bring their own unique flair to the show, adding wit, laughs and ulterior motives. 

It’s clear that the special effects team is the same group as in “Agents of SHIELD” and that doesn’t bode well for this show. I do understand how Peggy Carter is part of the SSR (Strategic Scientific Reserve) and that certain anomalies will appear that only her and her team can handle. I would prefer they not appear so fake or CGI specific. The charm of season 1 relied in part on the predominant use of practical effects (the cars exploded or caught fire, buildings blew up, guns were shot, people were punched and kicked, etc). I was not a fan of the glowing frozen people or mysterious ooze that creates black holes. It reminded me more of events I’d see in “Agents of SHIELD” and I don’t care for that show, at all.

I’m hoping as this season continues we will see a departure from the bizarre and a return to practical. I do enjoy the science fiction and the bizarre however I did not believe they were well placed in this premier episode. I want this show to maintain it’s charm and barely, if at all, connect to that unimaginative and poorly written show, “Agents of SHIELD”. This show can stand on its own as it proved in season 1. It doesn’t need to connect to the other show. There are decades of time and stories to join with before the events of that other show occur. Stay away from what doesn’t work and get back to what delights and entertains me and everyone who agrees. 

I’m not giving up on Agent Carter and I hope you don’t either. We have a few more episodes of possible redemption. I have faith that when Peggy Carter saves the day, she will also save the show.

PS: I did enjoy, more than I probably should have, the scenes where Jarvis was dealing with or chasing the pink Flamingo.

Click here to listen or right click and choose "Save As..." to download.

Maskerpiece Theatre is sponsored by MoviePass. See unlimited movies at a theater near you for a low monthly rate.

You can also support our show by using our Amazon banners or donating on our Support Us page.

Movie Review: CBGB (2013)

Hilly Kristal(Alan Rickman) isn't known as a great business man but he is known as someone with vision.  Vision to see past bleak walls and empty floor space in a bar located in the Bowery in New York City.  Hilly decides to open up the "CBGB" as he intends to bring in the next big thing in music; Country, Blue Grass, and Blues.  What happens is something a bit different, but does bring in Other Music For Uplifting Gormandizers.  The movie plays out much like a comic magazine.  scenes would change by showing what looked like a comic book page with panels and word blurbs.  I liked how it played out and it kept the movie fun and engaging.

"CBGB" does not claim to be one hundred percent historically accurate but it does serve for excellent entertainment and absolutely incredible music.  The film starts out with the founders of "Punk" magazine, John Holmstrom(Josh Zuckerman) and Legs McNeil(Peter Vack), drawing and discussing their vision of their upcoming issues.  This is the one part of the film that I wish would have been explored more.  I would have found it fascinating to see how a magazine in the 1970s would get off the ground from someone's basement.  The two founders do show up throughout the film however to interview different punk music artists.  It was cool to hear quotes from the artists and also see the cartoon artwork from the magazine.

Now back to the club where Hilly is needing to book some musical talent.  This is where Terry Ork(Johnny Galecki) comes in.  He is the agent of a band called "Television" and they are looking for a place to play.  Despite what the initials "CBGB" stand for, "Television" auditions anyway.  Hilly, being the visionary he is, agrees to let the punk band play shows at the "CBGB."  This is where things change.  "Televison" receives a great review and now the "CBGB" is the place to be.  Other bands/singers go on to play the CBGB like; Blondie, The Dead Boys, Talking Heads, The Ramones, Patti Smith and many others.

While I loved the music in "CBGB," I was not a fan of the quality of sound.  These were supposed to be live events inside of a dive bar but every song played was the studio version.  There was a level of rawness that went missing and may have been a large part of why this film did not do well theatrically or with many critics.  There wasn't much of a timeline for this film either.  The news was on at the bar, but unless you really know when those events took place, you may not know what year you're in(unless it all happened within a couple months).

I did enjoy "CBGB" as it is a comical look at a life with ups and many downs.  I was entertained by the rise of a small club that was a beacon for amazing music and it was thanks to Hilly Kristal.  The movie didn't claim to be more than what it was, an entertaining and partially true look at Hilly Kristal's life.  In the credits, at the end there is even a call out of how the filmmakers know Iggy Pop never played the "CBGB" and for the viewers to, "get over it."

There were some interesting casting choices which, for the most part I liked.  Malin Ackerman as Debbie Harry, Taylor Hawkins as Iggy Pop, Justin Bartha as Stiv Bators, Rupert Grint as Cheetah Chrome and Mickey Sumner looked great as Patti Smith.  The casting of Joel David Moore as Joey Ramone was not my favorite.  It was a bit distracting but at least there weren't many lines.

On the scale of up to five Pile Drivers, I am giving "CBGB" four.  A fun movie about an era of music I really enjoy.  The soundtrack alone makes it worth checking out for me.

Maskerpiece Theatre is sponsored by MoviePass. See unlimited movies at a theater near you for a low monthly rate.

You can also support our show by using our Amazon banners or donating on our Support Us page.

This review is from a previous blog I did for Cinema Head Cheese.