Agent Carter: “Hollywood Ending”
(Episode 2.10)

And so ends another season of Agent Carter. As promised, we got our Hollywood Ending complete with chiaroscuro lighting and uplifting romantic plot. It’s a stark contrast from last season, when we watched Peggy’s journey to discovering her own self-worth and overcoming the loss of Steve Rogers. In fact, the season itself stands almost completely opposite in tone and plot arch from its predecessor. So, why is that exactly? When Daniel yells, “Just pick a direction and run” tonight, he’s not just talking about escaping a zero matter enraged Whitney. He’s rather unintentionally summing up what must be the creative approach of this year’s production team. Pick a direction, in this case Golden Age Hollywood, and run straight ahead—which can be kind of a damning approach when you forget to glance to the side from time to time.
Much of this season rested on homage to the Hollywood system. At the best of times this approach helped add some much needed levity to the series, and also gave season two a distinct look from its predecessor. Mixing the exterior California sunshine with interior film noir gave this season a warmer feel than last season’s New York daytime shadow and nighttime neon glow.
At the worst of times, this focus on celebrating old Hollywood leads to some unnecessary and culturally problematic plot detours. Yes, I’m talking about the dance number from the last episode, but there are also some troubling cultural stereotypes—Joseph Manfredi—and moments where other choices cross the line from charmingly referential to ham-fisted and overplayed. Take, for example, Howard Stark’s entire persona. Dominic Cooper’s Stark has always leaned towards the comical. He’s a 1930s gangster movie version of his son: fast talking, charming, completely unable to be intimidated or take anything beyond his own ego seriously. It’s a tough line to walk between evoking a man of his era, and playing a cartoon version of that man. This season those lines were blurred, often with less than stellar results. While Howard’s womanizing and egotistical behavior have always been over the top, he seems to lack the depth, good intentions, and pathos that have balanced him in past performances. Instead of a narcissist who hides his loneliness and insecurity with drinking, partying, and his own genius—all the things that make Tony a complex, lovable character—we get a Stark who’s less concerned with science or even profit, and more focused on bossing around Jarvis and hitting on everything that moves. He’s had a few sweet moments, but for the most part this season’s Howard Stark reads more as bumbling pseudo villain than scientific innovator.