Agent Carter: Thoughts on the Show So Far

Source

Caution: Minor spoilers ahead.

I have been anticipating Agent Carter ever since I heard about the show.  I've also been worried.  Let's face it - the women superheroes still don't get their due in live action media.  I'm not saying Marvel has completely let down it's female heroes - but they sure as hell took their sweet time about giving us a female lead in any of their films and shows.  Someday I hope to live in a world where a female superhero movie is considered bankable.

First of all, I want to make it clear I will not be nitpicking the historical inaccuracies here.  Yes it's the 1940s but it's the 1940s in the Marvel Universe.  This is comic book science fiction and shouldn't be held to the same standard as a traditional period piece or something "based on a true story." 

But moving on.  We have our star.  The woman on whose shoulders the weight of the show rests.  So to speak.  And Atwell does a fine job.  She brings Carter to us as a whole person.  A woman who is strong, smart, and capable.  But also human.  She cries.  She makes mistakes.  She never wishes she were a man.  She may have moments of doubt but she still believes in herself and is rightly pissed that her co-workers don't.  She is keenly aware of what is expected of her as a woman and resents it with every fiber of her being.  She seems to be a wonderful combo of two of my favorite childhood heroes: Nancy Drew and Emma Peel.

Swap the gun for a magnifying glass and it's Nancy Drew.

We have our co-star: Jarvis.  Who actually points out Carter doesn't have to carry the weight of the world alone and indeed Jarvis (James D'Arcy) helps her carry the show quite well without stealing it from her. It's clear she's the hero and he really only wants to be allowed to provide her with support. They seem to be hinting there's a lot more to Jarvis than we've seen so far and I'm interested to find out what it is.  

We also have Carter's female friends.  Civilians,  so she can't really talk about her SSR work with them.  And we lose one of them right off.  Still, I like Angie (Lyndsy Fonseca) and hope that Carter learns to how to balance personal and professional so she can have female friends.  That said, I'm also suspicious of the new tenant.  Is she really a ballet dancer?

As the story progresses I want to get a better picture of the men in Carter's office.  I want to see more of who they are and why they treat her as they do.   Are they really completely unaware of her capabilities?   Do they view her as taking the place of a better qualified man?  Do they see it as a waste to let her in on work that might advance her career when they figure she will probably just retire when she marries?  Perhaps all three?  Will she ever earn their respect or will she have to continue to manipulate and work outside the system to make any difference?

There are great moments through out the show.  When the lone male co-worker who seems to have some respect for Carter defends her she thanks him and tells him not to do it ever again.  Carter doesn't want to be defended.  She doesn't need a hero, she is her own hero.  She was there before Captain America ever existed.  (Am I the only one irritated by the promos that identify Cap as Carter's Hero?) 

source

Another moment is where Carter tells Jarvis she used to have a sense of purpose.  It's a thing which all soldiers face after any war.  To have to return to civilian life and do something ordinary.  She once helped win a war.  She had seniority and respect.  Now she's filing and answering phones.  It's hard on soldiers but can you even imagine how much harder it was on women like Carter?  Women who would have probably married or worked in a shop but because of the war were called into the service of their country?  Who found the opportunity to be someone they never imagined or perhaps imagined but never thought possible.  And then the war is over and where are they?  They are asked yet again to do their patriotic duty and to give their jobs back to the men.  Possibly not even being able to tell anyone about what they did during the war - not because they didn't want to but because their government required them to keep secrets that wouldn't become public knowledge until decades later.  Their silence leaving people to assume that they were no more than a secretary.  Or no more than Captain America's girlfriend.

I also love the radio show.  It's ties in quite well with the underlying themes of perception and assumption.  It's a good reminder when most people look at Peggy Carter they don't see an Agent.  Not only because of her (assumed) history with Cap but because of her gender and looks. Which can be frustrating for her but also an asset at times.

I think it's not at all surprising when Stark asks for her help Carter jumps at the chance.  She's bored and wants to do something important again. Stark is part of a good time in Carter's life.  Oh yes, it was the war but she had purpose then.  Carter is also under the impression that Stark respects her - something that her male coworkers don't.  Of course if Stark really did respect Carter, then wouldn't he have told her the whole truth?  Whatever that might be?

I'm impressed so far and have high hopes for the rest of Agent Carter.  I also hope other Marvel (and DC for that matter) women finally get their due in quality shows and movies.  

Because I needed another beret*

I'd been on the fence about the book Knitting Vintage.  While I am all for reissues of original vintage patterns I sometimes find "Vintage style" patterns not all that interesting.  I found a used copy and looked through it and while some things I will very likely never make there were enough patterns I wanted to make to justify the price tag.  My first project ended up being the Hollywood Style Beret.  I love berets.  They are quick knits that use little yarn.  They are also warm, easy to wear in a variety of ways, and great for packing.  I mean I love fancy vintage toppers but you can cram like a dozen berets in the same space one hat would take up and no worries about crushing anything.  Or at least that's what I tell myself when I cast on for yet another beret.

I used yarn left overs which somewhat limited my color choices so I lucked out in finding two colors so eye searingly bright. 

Related to the business of using leftovers I've come to the conclusion I am not a stasher.  I mean, I have a stash and it's handy and all but I like to shop for yarn and visit my LYS and well having all that yarn around kind of stresses me out.  It's like some sort of to do list hanging over my head and it isn't like I don't have lots of other things to do.  Knitting should be fun, not stress, yanno?  So I am trying to use up what's there.  But even with my tiny stash it might take awhile.  Especially since I have a habit to ripping out whole projects if I no longer use the sweater or hat or whatever. 

I am absolutely certain that I made a few mistakes here and there - sometimes I had a pesky extra stitch but I just added it into the decreases.  I can't see/don't care to notice those mistakes so it looks fine to me.  The lace pattern is super simple and the results look all fancy and impressive.  Which is pretty cool.  I like a challenge.  I also like mindless travel/tv knitting.  Ravelry Link.

*Yeah, not really.

Handmade gifts for Christmas 2014

Since most of my crafty/knitting post have been cosplay related lately I decide to share some of the little gifts I made this year.  I set myself the challenge of working only from the stash and I am proud to say I met that challenge.

When it comes to making gifts it can be very time consuming so I like to make sure that what I make is a winner out of the gate.  I prefer knowing someone specifically wants something so when being observant fails I just flat out ask.  That was the case with my brother this year.  He told me he wanted little Jawa named Blizz.    I found a few crochet patterns but none knitted ( Please know I don't hate crochet I just can't do it, and yes I've tried) so I had to make this up as I went.  Having knitted plenty of little dolls/animals - it wasn't that hard.  There was some ripping out here and there.  And now I realize he's not wearing a cape.  Oh well, my brother loves it so that's what's important.

Second up is for my dad.  This is the fourth hat I've made him.  It's super boring 2x2 ribbing but sometimes you just want boring.  This yarn was leftover from this sweater.  It seemed a little light so I dug up the Kool aid I have stashed from when I used to dye things with it.  For the hat I used one green packet, two blue packets, and about one third of a grape packet.

Next is a cowl for a friend.  It's leftover sock yarn and done entirely in seed stitch with some little yarn overs here and there.   I wanted something light enough to be worn indoors because I didn't want her to have to remove it every time she goes inside.  Plus, living in southern NM, making it light weight means she can wear it for a much longer time than the few days/weeks a year it's actually cold.

Finally, the one sewn one.  Again, for a friend.  She has just gotten into sewing and was lamenting she couldn't find a big pincushion.  I could have bought her one but I figured I'd try making one instead.  I used this tutorial.  Or rather I read it through once and then had at it.  It's not perfect, but it should do the job.

My great uncle's yearbooks -1939

Remember ages back (July) when I posted the first one?  No?  Here's a link.

The observant might note that the last yearbook was 1937.  What happened to 1938?  Your guess is as good as mine.  Either he just didn't buy one that year or it got misplaced.  I do have 1940 and will get around to posting it.  Probably six months from now.

This year the theme was "Then and Now." 

Each section begins with an illustration of "Then" on the left page . . .

. . . and a photo of "Now" in the right.

This year my great uncle played varsity - he's in the front, number 70.

Being a junior, this year he also got a solo photo.  He looks very cool.

Continuing with the theme of "Then and Now" are photos of teachers and staff "Then"  I made this extra large so you could see all the details.

This is the Junior Safety Council - who have awesome coats. 

Male cheerleaders, just because.

I'd love to meet the new Nash.

This particular yearbook was ephemera heavy.

The back of the Jinx dance ticket.  In case you can't read it, it says "Whopee, I finally danced"

I'm assuming this "arrest notice" was a way of "collecting" one's date to the dance.  The address on it is in a residential area.  Bonus, the dark haired young lady in the white sweater is the one whose name appears on the arrest notice.

But what of Peggy Landis mentioned in the last year book post? A Margaret Landis is standing behind the brunette looking left.  Mystery solved?  Anyway I love Peggy's hairdo. 

Then and Now: Peter Pan

Source

My friend and I always talk about how when you watch something you haven't seen since you were a child you see things completely differently.  There are things that went over your head or didn't stick in your memory at all.  Inspired by my viewing of Peter Pan Live! I've decided to start a series that might end up being only this one.  After all, it all depends on me watching something I haven't seen since I was a child and having a lot to say about what I remembered it was like and what it really was like.

What I remember:

I remember the Darlings running away from home.  I remember lots of flying - "Think lovely thoughts."  I remember thinking Tinkerbell was horrible.  I remember the song about Neverland, and the "I won't grow up" song.  I don't recall if I wanted to run away with Peter but I do recall wanting to fly. 

What I realized:

Actually, Tinkerbell isn't really all that bad when you measure her against other characters.  Sure, she's jealous of Wendy and tries to have her killed and she is strangely possessive of Pan, but she's makes more sense than either of the two leads.

Let's start with Pan.  He is the hero, right?  The whole play is centered around him and his joyous youthful adventures.  You are supposed to want to run away with him, right?  But if he is the symbol of everything wonderful about childhood, well then he fails.  He's selfish, cruel, and shows a remarkable lack of curiosity.  He actively mocks learning.  In song and dance even.  Pan does what he likes and doesn't much care about the consequences.  I've worked with children for years and I have to say I am offended.  Yes, kids can be like that at times - but so can adults.  I suppose there's a reason Pan has a whole syndrome named after him but there are actually plenty of wonderful qualities associated with childhood and Pan seems to possess none of them.

Now Wendy is so strange that I can't decide if this is because gender roles have changed so much or she is just horribly written.  She is clearly in love with Pan and runs away with him.  Ignoring the fact that she brings her brothers with lets talk about what she does when they get to Neverland.  Does she get to run around and have adventures with everyone?  No she has to be a mom.  She goes to Neverland not avoid growing up, but to play at growing up.  Pan is father and "husband" but he is hardly a supportive partner to Wendy - frequently mocking her efforts to act as mother - a role he specifically brought her to Neverland to fill.  Wendy is an effing doormat.  So when she finally escapes Neverland does she get to go off an have adventures?  No she has a daughter and sits every night in her childhood nursery waiting for the return of the selfish brat that she still hasn't gotten over after all these years.  And when he finally returns what does she do? She offers up her entire female line as some sort of sacrifice to Pan.  Does she completely forget that she nearly died in Neverland or does she not care that she's sending her child to a dangerous place with a forgetful and careless boy?  Is this some wacky form of Stockholm Syndrome?

Since Pan doesn't change (and he wouldn't have to grow up to grow as a character) the only way the play really works for me is if Pan is presented as a tragic figure.  Showing how his unwillingness to grow up denies him the opportunity to fully enjoy and participate in life.  But then you have Wendy there still adoring him and waiting for him and giving him her children.  Which makes it feel like the play is trying to present Pan as an ideal.  But he isn't.  He's not even very much like a real child.

I don't know how much was rewritten for this version - I do know that they added a song.  (But only because I watched a behind the scenes thing -as I mentioned, my memory of the songs is hazy. ) I think if I'd been in charge of the rewrite I would have changed the ending.  Let Wendy go off and live a life and have her own adventures.  Let her really grow up and not fixate on the boy who kidnapped her and her brothers.  Let Pan return to an empty nursery and wonder where she is.

I am not saying I totally hate Peter Pan - in terms of cultural literacy I think the play is very important.  But I have to say I see things very differently through adult eyes.  Perhaps that's because I'm a stodgy old grown up now. 

Who'd happily climb a tree and still wants to fly.

On a semi - related note Tom & Lorenzo are doing Musical Monday's again.  They did Grease last Monday which I think is the perfect example of a movie looks totally different through grown up eyes.  I've seen it plenty of times since becoming a "grown up" but I just might tackle it at some point for this series.