I always like the Phil Coulsen character in the Marvel Universe, and so when I heard that they were going to make an Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. show starting in 2013, I decided to check it out. My initial reaction was muted, as it really felt like the ensemble cast just wasn’t gelling right. There were awkward interactions between the characters, and some of the dialogue really lacked in substance. After a few episodes I was concerned if this show would really turn around. But then, thankfully, it started to pick up steam when the tie-ins with Thor and Captain America started to add some real sense of danger to the world that the characters were living in. When everything exploded, and we discovered that some of the characters were actually not the good guys, it really found it’s stride. This second season has been just as good, and I’m looking forward to the return of the show in a few weeks and it’s reveal that there will be Inhuman tie-ins. I think that added dimension will really give a chance for some of the characters to develop and get more depth.

But, that’s not what I wanted to talk about today. In the hiatus between the first and second half of the seasons of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., we’ve been graced with another show from the Marvel Universe, Agent Carter. Peggy Carter made her debut in Captain America and has popped up on occasion in other films and in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. The premise of this 8 episode series is to show how she helped with the founding the S.S.R. (Strategic Scientific Reserve) which led into what became S.H.I.E.L.D. This means that the show is set in the late 1940’s, and the styling and production of that era is stunning. The look and feel of everything in the show makes you feel like you’re watching something from long ago, yet with modern high-definition quality.

The era in which the show is set also means that there are very different social dynamics taking place. In fact, a major premise of the show is that Peggy Carter is living in a man’s world, and no one really wants to give her a chance to prove her worthiness. This leads her on an adventure to establish herself as a major force within the agency; often butting heads with her male co-workers. She’s joined by Jarvis, the butler of Howard Stark, who adds a great stoic dimension to the show, but yet finds himself enthralled with some of the dangerous adventures that they are having. Only knowing Jarvis from the new Iron Man movies, as a computer intelligence that assists Tony Stark, it was great to put a face to an archetype that’s carried throughout the universe.

The writing on the show is crisp and not overly formulaic. Although you discover many of the mysteries at the same time as the characters, they’re not overly complex. It’s still a comic book show after all. What the show does really well though is to portray people trying to save the world, without all the magic and technology of modern super hero movies and shows. These characters have to huff it on foot and do old fashioned investigations to find the answers to the big puzzle. Seeing people use their brains to solve a problem, instead of just asking Google, makes the show that much more endearing.

That’s not to say the show doesn’t have it’s flaws. Some of the characters are stereotypical and caricatures of well-worn tropes. There are also moments when characters show a knowledge that you feel is beyond what they really should have known. However, as I said before, it’s still a comic book show, so don’t go into this expecting Oscar level drama.

Finally, the one thing i really like about this series is that it’s short. I really enjoy shows that get to the point, and don’t feel that they need to drag you along for 20+ episodes in a season. Agent Carter is 8 episodes, and it tells a great story in the time that it’s given. The best compliment to a show would be that you want more of it. After 100 episodes of some series, you don’t really care if they keep making it. Agent Carter is a refreshing change in that traditional American TV show landscape.

Tonight is the eighth and final episode, and since I watch it on Hulu, I probably won’t get around to watching it until tomorrow. Knowing American TV producers, I’m sure there will be more Agent Carter shows, but hopefully they’ll keep them short and to the point, and maintain all the crisp writing that has made this interlude a ton of fun.