Meet AGENT CARTER

Article originally written for Seat42F.

MARVEL’S AGENT CARTER is Alias in the 1940s, so with a large dose of how women were treated in the first season of Mad Men. Set two years after the events of the main plot of Captain America: The First Avenger, SSR Agent Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) has been relegated to a desk job that wastes her talents. But when Howard Stark (Dominic Cooper) is accused of selling weapons to the nation’s enemies, he calls upon her to secretly investigate who stole his tech.

AGENT CARTER is not about the start of S.H.I.E.L.D., set prior to that organization’s founding, nor does it feature connections to Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., at least not yet. Instead, the miniseries is its own thing, a self-contained mission seemingly designed to highlight Atwell’s talents and prove her worthiness to Stark, who certainly needs no further evidence. It’s not ground-moving to the Marvel universe, but it is enjoyable.

For those wondering about continuity, well, it works fine with Captain American, but not with the Marvel One-Shot, Agent Carter. In the One-Shot, which takes place one year after Captain America, thus one year prior to AGENT CARTER, she is rescued from obscurity by Howard to begin the organization Nick Fury will one day run. This hasn’t happened yet, and she’s still locked in the desk job, albeit with a different boss and co-workers than in that short. Toss out the One-Shot, or assume it happens at a later date, and all is well. Though, it’s a tad disappointing we don’t get to see Peggy traipsing the globe with Dum Dum Dugan and the Howling Commandos, picking up artifacts as glimpses in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. this fall.

Taking AGENT CARTER on its own merits, I like it. It’s a new take on the detective / cop / spy story, with Carter having to work behind her superior’s backs because they don’t trust or believe in her. She has a sort-of bumbling male sidekick, Stark’s butler, Edwin Jarvis (James D’Arcy, Those Who Kill), and when she’s not working, she has a gal pal to hang around with, waitress Angie (Lyndsy Fonseca, Nikita). There is character development when someone Peggy is close to pays the cost of Carter’s activities. Peggy’s adventures are exciting enough, and it’s fun watching her kick butt and brilliantly outsmart the villains, including Spider Raymond (Andre Royo, The Wire), Leet Brannis (James Frain, Grimm), and Miles Van Ert (James Urbaniak, The Venture Bros.).

AGENT CARTER is feminism in action without pounding you over the head with it. Sure, Peggy’s boss, Roger Dooley (Shea Whigham, Boardwalk Empire), has no confidence in her, nor do co-workers golden boy Jack Thompson (Chad Michael Murray, One Tree Hill) and bumbling Ray Krzeminski (Kyle Bornheimer, Perfect Couples). But Stark and Jarvis have plenty of faith in her, and her peer, Daniel Sousa (Enver Gjokaj, Dollhouse), respects her, too. So how people regard Peggy is more about them as individuals than the time as a whole.

Where the show gets most preachy is when we hear the Captain American radio plays, which paint Peggy as a damsel in distress that the hero must rescue. Of course, at one point this is interspersed with her beating the heck out of a baddie, so it’s more laughable bit than social commentary.

AGENT CARTER feels fresh, and it feels new. I think making it a period piece sets it apart from other network fare, and while the structure of show isn’t wholly original, making it one big story instead of cases-of-the-week keeps it compelling. I do wish it had been set in the early days of S.H.I.E.L.D., thus adding to the franchise as a whole, but it’s still a fun piece without that, and I look forward to seeing where the plot is going over the next six weeks. And maybe season two will satisfy that other want?

AGENT CARTER airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on ABC.

Punch in the Family Tools

Article first published as Punch in the Family Tools on TheTVKing.

I absolutely love Kyle Bornheimer and hope that some day he is a big sitcom star. But I've become pessimistic about the chances of that happening. His first big series, Worst Week, was funny, but didn't last. His second chance, Perfect Couples, was near perfect, especially given his chemistry opposite Christine Woods (Go On), but again, died before its time. Now, we get Family Tools on ABC which is, going by last night's series premiere, by far the least of the efforts.

Bornheimer stars as Jack, the son of fix-it man Tony (J.K. Simmons, Spider-Man, The Closer), who returns home to take over the family business when Tony suffers a heart attack. The business comes with a slacker assistant, Darren (Edi Gathegi, House, X-Men: First Class), and a van. Jack's digs are in the basement of his Aunt Terry's (Leah Remini, King of Queens) house, which he is forced to share with his weird younger cousin, Mason (Johnny Pemberton, 21 Jump Street). Needless to say, it is not a smooth transition.

The biggest issue is that the cast is not used well. Bornheimer is best at playing an earnest, loving man who devotes himself to pleasing others, which is what Jack is and works his hardest to earn their approval. However, Jack is also a directionless loser who was washed out of lots of careers. This takes what Bornheimer does to the goofy, unrealistic extreme, stripping away the layers that make him sympathetic.

Darren is little more than a stereotype, and one wonders how he possibly has worked well with Tony all these years. Tony is just as poorly written and developed, constantly ignoring orders to rest as he spies on Jack, with no consequences. And Mason is just completely unfunny.

The exception to this mess is the relationship between Tony and Jack, which actually does come across as authentic. Not every father can talk to his son, and I really liked the scene in the ambulance where Tony admits he doesn't know why he's harder on Jack than Darren. There could be something here, but the rest of the half hour squanders it.

I wish Family Tools was a solid comedy series. The cast is good, and deserves a win, but the writing doesn't gel. The heart that should sneak into emotional scenes is ruined when, for instance, Terry won't let the paramedics in to help Tony during his heart attack until he promises to take it easy. What kind of sister is that cruel? Are we really supposed to like her after that? And how do we root for Jack when we see just how big a screw-up he is? Or believe that Stitch (Danielle Nicolet, The Starter Wife), who seems like she has her life together, could be interested in him?

I found few entry points to access this material at all. I really want Bornheimer to get a great vehicle a lot of people watch. I firmly believe this is not the ticket.

Family Tools airs Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

Perfect Couples goes out with a "Perfect Wedding"

     Once more, an extremely funny sitcom has failed to find an audience. Definitely one of the best in recent years, NBC has pulled Perfect Couples from its schedule beginning next week. That means that this week's episode, "Perfect Wedding", will likely serve as a series finale. It's not fair, when Outsourced got an entire season and Perfect Couples only aired ten episodes. In a perfect world, quality would be the most important factor in choosing which TV shows live and die, but that is sadly not the case. I just wish there was some way to better highlight quality where it is found, other than relying on networks to promote it.

     Several episodes have dealt with Vance (David Walton) and Amy (Mary Elizabeth Ellis) getting ready for their wedding, so perhaps it is appropriate to end the series on the day of their nuptials. That way, a major arc is not left hanging. This being Vance and Amy, who can both be downright insane, things do not go smoothly. Amy worries that Vance will split, and Dave (Kyle Bornheimer) and Rex (Hayes MacArthur) spend their time trying to keep Vance calm and not let him over think things, as he has a tendency to do. This culminates in Amy seeing Vance fret, and both end up running out on the wedding. Finding each other at the airport, they agree they are not ready to get married.
     I applaud the series for this level of thinking. Many shows in their ilk would marry off the characters, and then deal with things as they come, either changing them to make it work, or allowing divorce later. Vance and Amy are smart enough to realize their weaknesses, and work on them. It makes very much sense in the story for them to call off the wedding, even after everyone has gathered at the church. That is not to say they would not revisit matrimony down the line, should the series get picked up, which doesn't look likely. But they aren't ready now.

     As much fun as Amy and Vance are, my favorite couple is Dave and Julia (Christine Woods). They are the best man and maid of honor, and both want to tell the same story during their speech. That simply will not do, and Julia gloats when she finds out that she will be talking first. Dave won't give up loosing the story to Julia, and goes around telling everyone ahead of time. She doesn't get angry. They both know all is fair in love and war, and they love each other despite their competitive contests. It's a very healthy relationship, without grudges.

     Woods's evil laugh is so good in this episode, it bears rewinding for instant replay. And no one can ugly cry like she does. Woods, while a decent dramatic actress, has shown unexpected comedy chops on this series that easily belong in any future clip reels she sends out. Bornheimer has already proven his worth in other failed sitcoms, and he continues to be magic. Woods and Bornheimer are the rare genuine geniuses in the comedy world, that praise cannot be heaped too highly on them. Both will find new work soon enough. But I want to see them together! They are fantastic!

     Rex and Leigh (Olivia Munn) are no slouches either, of course, though they are less complex than Dave and Julia, the 'real', 'normal' couple. Leigh, the wedding planner, actually hires a professional calmer for the wedding to soothe the nerves of anyone who freaks out. She herself got to make use of his services. Rex, on the other hand, is the only one who doesn't have a job. He feels so left out, he gladly volunteers to be 'flower man' when the flower girl gets sick. You'd think the concept would be too goofy, but watching Rex practice dropping petals in the hallway is priceless! 

     Perfect Couples has some of the best writing and acting in current sitcom land. Though it got off to a rocky start, recent episodes have been an absolute joy from beginning to end. I beg of you NBC! Renew this show!

Article first published as TV Review: Perfect Couples - "Perfect Wedding" on Blogcritics.

For an alphabetical list of all of Jerome Wetzel's Current Season Reviews, please click here.

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Perfect Couples - "Pilot"

     NBC's newest addition the their Thursday night sitcom lineup is Perfect Couples. I'm not sure how I feel about the show. It has a talented cast, many of whom I already liked before the series went to air. It's fairly funny. I just don't know if its original and clever enough to really stand out as something that needs to be watched.

     Like ABC's Better With You often does, the episode began with highlighting similar situations and how three different couples handle them. Unlike BWY, where the couples are alike, and the differences are determined by length of time together, these couples just have different types of chemistry and styles of communication. Rex (Hayes MacArthur, Worst Week) and Leigh (Olivia Munn, The Daily Show With Jon Stewart, Attack of the Show) are in counseling and read relationship books, so they use therapy jargon and discuss feelings. It works about as well as you think it will. Vance (David Walton, 100 Questions) and Amy (Mary Elizabeth Ellis, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) fight with lots of passion, and then make up sexually with the same level of energy. The 'normal' couple in the center is Dave (Kyle Bornheimer, Worst Week) and Julia (Christine Woods, FlashForward).

     I love Bornheimer, and I know he just needs the right sitcom to really take off as a star. He is great in understated humor and broad physical comedy. Playing the mostly even, straight man to the zaniness around him works just as well as his goofy turn in WW. For him alone, I want this show to succeed. Munn is also pretty funny, as she has proven playing varied versions of herself in news-like entertainment. Ellis has always been wickedly funny in Sunny, and she basically kicks up that same character a notch. Woods was lucky that FF ended after only one season, because even if this series gets canceled, she will be better for it, broadening her range and cast-ability. Walton and MacArthur I don't know as well, but they round out the ensemble just fine. All six actors commit completely to the characters they play, and do it with talent. As such, I don't think any issues I have with the show relate to casting.

     In the pilot, Dave and Julia agree to a game night with the others so that they can have their anniversary free to themselves. As you might expect, things go badly, and soon their four friends are in their bedroom. Vance and Amy's plot makes sense, and their entanglement with the evening. However, Rex and Leigh just constantly show up, presumably so they get as much screen time as the rest. It's not that the couple is less funny, but they just weren't as involved in the story this week. Rather than allow the other characters room to breathe and work, it seemed like they were forced into scenes they needn't have been.

     This is just a pilot, so I won't delve too deeply or read too much into things. Every new show has bugs, and how good the series is depends on how quickly and well they work out the kinks. I will try Perfect Couples again next week and I hope you do the same, because despite some missteps, there is potential here.

     Perfect Couples airs Thursday nights at 8:30 p.m. on NBC.

Article first published as TV Review: Perfect Couples - "Pilot" on Blogcritics.

For frequent mini-reviews and occasional TV news, follow Jerome on Twitter.