The Tale of the Lost ‘Agent’
In the vast expanse of television history, there’s a corner reserved for beloved shows that ended far too soon. Marvel fans know this corner all too well. The year 2016 marked the loss of Agent Carter, a series centered around the character of Peggy Carter, played by Hayley Atwell. The untimely cancellation left audiences grappling with a cliffhanger that’s still fresh in their minds.
The potential fate of Chad Michael Murray’s Jack Thompson was an unresolved storyline that had audiences on edge. However, it was a more tender mystery, with fans whispering in corners and flooding the forums: Would Peggy and Daniel Sousa (Enver Gjokaj) finally reconcile their feelings for each other and carve out a path to love?
“I remember when I was filming it, the prop master had put a framed photograph on Peggy’s bedside, of Peggy with her husband and her children, and Louis de Esposito ran over just before we started rolling, going ‘take that out. We don’t know yet. We don’t want to limit ourselves by kind of suggesting this is who she’s married.’ And so that was taken out. And I thought, ‘OK, that’s really interesting.'”
A Dance Through Time: Peggy, Steve, and Sousa
Fans steeped in the rich lore of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) are well-versed in the bittersweet tales of love lost and found. Peggy and Steve (Chris Evans) shared their much-anticipated dance in Avengers: Endgame, a poignant moment that marked the end of a love story that spanned eras. Meanwhile, Sousa navigated his romantic journey with Daisy Johnson (Chloe Bennett) in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Though satisfying in their own right, these developments did little to quench the thirst for more insight into Peggy and Sousa’s untold story. During a recent interview for Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning, Collider’s Perri Nemiroff asked Atwell to divulge her thoughts on the unexplored possibilities of Peggy and Sousa’s relationship if Agent Carter had been given more seasons.
A Look into the Past: Peggy’s Marital Mystery in The Winter Soldier
While Atwell skillfully dodged the question of Peggy and Sousa’s potential future, she did provide a tantalizing glimpse into an intriguing behind-the-scenes moment during the filming of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. At that time, even the creators were undecided about Peggy’s marital status.
“And so that I think what they’re so good at, they’re so good at giving the audience what they want and exceeding the expectations. And I think that’s why they’re always aware of just feeding the amount of information that the audience need to know, to keep engaged, but also delighting them and surprising them with new information.”
Interestingly, despite Winter Soldier hitting the screens two years before Agent Carter’s debut, it seems Marvel was playing a complex game of chess with Peggy’s story, keeping all possibilities open. While it’s a reality we may never be privy to, it’s comforting to imagine a universe where Peggy and Sousa’s love story unfolded in its full glory across multiple seasons.
Peggy’s Unseen Journey: Empowerment, Recognition, and Hope
Although Atwell remained coy about the romantic intricacies of Peggy and Sousa’s relationship, she did articulate her hopes for Peggy’s character development in the hypothetical future seasons of Agent Carter. These aspirations revolve around the inspiring and empowering phrase Peggy is known for: “I know my value. Anyone else’s opinion doesn’t matter.”
“What a great thing to be spreading, for particularly younger people watching that going, oh, you can be brilliant at your job and not get the credit that you deserve, but that doesn’t stop you from cultivating a strong sense, a healthy sense of self-esteem.”
Atwell’s vision for Peggy encompasses more than personal growth; it includes greater societal recognition of her skills and worth, marking a clear parallel to the increasingly loud demands of audiences for stronger, more empowered characters on the front of their favorite shows.
Atwell’s Upcoming Ventures: An Ongoing Journey
While the beloved Agent Carter may have bid farewell, Atwell’s journey within the realm of action and drama continues. Fans eagerly await her next cinematic appearance, where she will share the screen with Tom Cruise in the latest installment of the ‘Mission: Impossible series, Dead Reckoning, set to premiere on July 12.
The film offers another opportunity for Atwell to enchant viewers with her magnetic presence and in-depth character portrayals, keeping the spirit of Agent Carter alive in their hearts.
Source: Collider
