Agent Carter: A Little Song and Dance

February 24, 2016 8:01 PM - Season 2, Episode 9

Peggy desperately tries to save Dr. Wilkes with a dangerous plan to stop Whitney Frost. But Thompson makes a surprising move that could destroy them all.

AV Club Review of episodes 8 and 9.

posted by toomanycurls (14 comments total)

"Hey Peggy, remember that rebar that you got stabbed with a couple days ago?"
"No."
"But that went right through you, I know it miraculously missed your vital organs but this is still a serious injury. At minimum you had muscle and intestinal damage, and only a 1940's nurse to treat you. Surely you must remember such a traumatic event?"
"I do not. Drop it."
posted by FallowKing at 10:21 PM on February 24, 2016 [6 favorites]

"Surely you must remember such a traumatic event?"

But I must dance!

Also, Automat! The return of my favourite set!
posted by Mezentian at 2:33 AM on February 25, 2016

I can't see Thompson in a scene without it automatically registering as blond Grant Ward.
posted by klarck at 6:22 AM on February 25, 2016 [6 favorites]

I can't see Thompson in a scene without it automatically registering as blond Grant Ward.

I think, thematically, you're not exactly wrong.
posted by leotrotsky at 7:15 AM on February 25, 2016

I can't see Thompson in a scene without it automatically registering as blond Grant Ward.

Every time he's onscreen my boyfriend does his best James Earl Jones impression and intones "This is CMM." It's made it very difficult to take the character seriously.
posted by everybody had matching towels at 7:45 AM on February 25, 2016 [1 favorite]

I actually like Thompson as the "real villain" pretty well - they've done a good job of establishing that he's not entirely a sociopath, but he's firmly on his own side and no one else's. Peggy got through to him pretty well by appealing to his self-image, but that just meant he rethought what was best for *him*, not what would be good for anyone else.
posted by restless_nomad at 9:53 AM on February 25, 2016

I actually like Thompson as the "real villain" pretty well - they've done a good job of establishing that he's not entirely a sociopath, but he's firmly on his own side and no one else's. Peggy got through to him pretty well by appealing to his self-image, but that just meant he rethought what was best for *him*, not what would be good for anyone else.

Wait, how is he a villain here? His flip on Red is only so he can trip the bomb and take out Frost. That's a tough call that has collateral damage in Wilkes, but it's by no means villainous. I'd argue it's a much safer and more reasonable choice than Peggy's goodie-two-shoes 'we have to save everyone' approach.
posted by leotrotsky at 7:24 AM on February 26, 2016 [1 favorite]

Yeah I don't see any villainy from Thompson, either. He is clearly ambitious and self-serving, but once he found clear evidence that Red was a traitor, he responded appropriately (and promptly had his memory erased.) Even without remembering that evidence, he accepted the circumstantial evidence and joined Peggy's team to do what needed.
posted by insert.witticism.here at 12:31 PM on February 26, 2016

Hah! You really think that? Interesting. I guess we'll see how it plays out, but I think he's ultimately going to be responsible for the downfall of the SSR and the reason SHIELD is formed, because he makes one too many utterly selfish decision.
posted by restless_nomad at 1:15 PM on February 26, 2016

I definitely think of Thompson as a villain. A bush league villain comparatively, who wants the boat to not be rocked too hard. A Spike to Whitney's Angelus kind of thing.
posted by humans are superior! at 1:34 AM on February 27, 2016

Thompson is a villain as so much as he represents the systemic sexism Peggy fights through on a daily basis. Where he's a shade worse than the average misogynistic dude is that he personally knows Peggy brings a good game but still undermines her most of the time. He's kind of the Draco to Whitney's Voldemort: a menacing representation of institutional repression but doesn't have a specific evil role.
posted by toomanycurls at 11:22 AM on February 27, 2016

I agree that he is a representation of the systematic sexism of the time, but I think he is a villain the same way Vernon Masters is a villain (a corrupt official willing to aid and abet wrong doing). That he has a "bridge too far" may be his redemption or just that he is a villain with limits.

He is a bully who will often happily strike at those weaker than him, but falls apart when put in a position of weakness - the surrendering soldiers he killed in a panic, the howling command freeze up during the firefight in season 1, the decision of expediency in killing Whitney Frost by bomb (killing a mostly innocent and a current ally in the process)

His general corruption in taking credit for things he didn't earn (however human it is) and his willingness to subvert his position on law enforcement for advancement. Hell, I felt like if Whitney's plot had been a little slower, he would have used that evidence on Carter.

Even his sexism is - I would argue - a more villanous variety. The chief, for example, was blinded by sexism, but over the season came to realize how valuable Carter was and started to rely on her. Thompson went through the same process, but ended up being threatened by her to the point of compromising (another) case by sending her to LA.

I'm not trying to claim he is all one thing or doesn't have motivations and reasons, but I would put him pretty firmly in the corrupt bureaucrat villain camp as it currently stands.
posted by humans are superior! at 1:16 PM on February 27, 2016

They missed a chance to have Sousa dance with his crutch. People I know who have a crutch (or crutches) dance with with them.

EDIT: Also, I found myself wishing Carter ended up with Dottie at the end of the dance. Sigh.
posted by small_ruminant at 5:13 PM on March 12, 2016

it's not much Angie, but I'll take it

(also the answer is you ditch those two and pick Angie, Carter. That's what you're going to do ;_; )
posted by vibratory manner of working at 9:45 PM on April 5, 2016