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.

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The Flash Review: Season 2 Episode 3 "Family Of Rogues"

The Flash Season 2 Episode 3
“Family of Rogues”

Synopsis:
When Barry (Grant Gustin) and the team find out Captain Cold (guest star Wentworth Miller) has been kidnapped, they form an uneasy alliance with his sister, Lisa (guest star Peyton List). However, Barry feels double-crossed when he finds out Snart is working with his father, Lewis Snart (guest star Michael Ironside) on a heist. Meanwhile, Joe (Jesse L. Martin) is faced with a difficult decision.

Review:
What do you get when Captain Cold Makes an appearance on The Flash? Basically the best episode of the season thus far! The episode starts with Lisa Snart trying to find the flash to help save her kidnapped brother Captain Cold. Barry decides to team up with Snart to help while Cisco works to remove the bomb from the head of Lisa. By the end of the episode Captian Cold get revenge on his father for “breaking his sisters heart”, and finally The Flash is able to place Captain Cold in prison. So what did we learn about the Snart Family? Well both Golden Glider and Captain Cold work with a moral set codes while the patriarch of the Family Lewis Snart is a different type of evil with no moral code willing to kill anyone who gets in his way or has no use for. This episode is definitely the set up for “Legends of Tomorrow” as we see with the final interaction between Barry and Captian Cold, while Barry is visiting Snart in prison he lets him know that he see’s good in him and its only a matter of time before he makes a change. And Snarts reply of “Should I be a Hero Like you” how could you not just get excited for whats to come. I can’t wait to see how this plays out until “LOT”. (By the way, isn’t the casting of Wentworth Miller as Snart just a masterful choice by the Creative team of The Flash)

The other storylines which played out through out episode 3, we see Iris learn about her mother being alive, how this affects the rest of the season will be interesting to see. I am guessing we will be introduced to Wally West, will he also have the speed force if we see him? Barry seems to be getting a new love interest in Patty Spivot, how will this affect his relationship with Iris? this will be interesting to follow, as the creators of Flash have done a decent job of making the audience like Iris again after pushing her away last season. Also we finally get more details on the worm holes opening up through out central city as we see Jay Garrick work to stabilize the biggest of the worm holes in the basement of Star Labs, will we see Barry travel to Earth-2 this season? I believe we will, but how will this affect his speed force, will he loose his like Jay Garrick did? A lot of questions and hopefully we will get more answers through the rest of the season.

As has been for every episode of The Flash, the highly anticipated last scene gave all the fans what they wanted the most. The Return of Harrison Wells through the newly stabilize worm hole (Let the fan boys scream with Excitement). Personally I can’t wait to see how this will play out. I know I am hoping for a good Wells but admittedly I am leaning towards Wells being ZOOM!

This episode was everything you could want, it brought that excitement which I have felt was missing in first two shows. I give this a definite TWO THUMBS UP!!

The Flash Review: Season 2 Episode 1 "The Man Who Saved Central City"

The Flash Season 2 Episode 1
"The Man Who Saved Central City"

Synopsis:
In the season premiere, Barry Allen (GRANT GUSTIN) has chosen to protect the city on his own - until a meta-human named Atom Smasher (ADAM COPELAND) attacks

Review:
Everything about season 1 of The Flash was great, not only did we get a conclusion to the Reverse Flash/Harrison Wells Story arc we also were left with a great Cliff Hanger. Episode 1 of Season two started a little confusing with the battle between Captain Cold and Heatwave vs the Team of Flash and Firestorm……..was that a Dream Sequence or an Alternative Universe? Then we jump 6 months down the road with no explanation of the events of the Singularity. However once we get through the awkwardness of the first few minutes, Flash hits its normal charming stride.

With that Episode 1 starts with the loss of one half of Firestorm in Ronnie Raymond. Raymond sacrifices himself to help Barry close the Singularity. It will be interesting to see how they will introduce the new half of firestorm to combine with Martin Stein. Then the introduction to the main villain of Episode 1 Atom Smasher……I was ok with how he was portrayed, best part coming from this season of Flash, if someone is bad or if someone dies it’s not the end of that character. Got to love the Multi-verse! Speaking of the Multi-verse it looks as this season we will soon be introduced to the Meta-Human powers of Cisco, I can’t wait to see how this expands on the show to help explain different characters. (Side note: Does anyone else think that the hidden gem of this show is Cisco?) And finally the arrival of The Original Flash Jay Garrick

Episode 1 is the start of something great, but it had to pack a lot of information and storytelling into one episode. I think it was for the most part well done and I give Flash………One Thumbs Up