Hayley Atwell is back in action this week in season two of the stylish television series Agent Carter, a spin-off from The Avengers and Captain America movies.
The first season was a critical success, but the viewing figures were not quite so impressive, putting it on the bubble for a return. However, American TV network ABC decided it was worth giving the show a second chance.
Atwell returns as Peggy Carter, former girlfriend of Steve Rogers (Captain America), who now smites America’s foes as an agent of the SSR (Strategic Scientific Reserve) – the precursor to SHIELD.
In the first season, we watched her slowly gain stature among male colleagues who initially saw her as little more than a glorified secretary, despite her wartime heroics. She also starts to come to terms with the apparent death of Steve, the love of her life.
This season, Peggy moves from New York to Los Angeles, where she will look amazing as she dives into fresh danger – the bright lights of Hollywood mask a sinister threat, it turns out – and, just maybe, meet a new love.
Atwell says we can expect to see a more confident and intense Carter in the City of Angels.
“She’s a glamorous lady,” she says. “She’s always perfectly turned out and I think she’ll fit in with that LA crowd quite well.
“There will be new challenges. I think it’s going to be much more interesting to give her deeper ‘heart of darkness’ stuff to have to fight, because that develops her as a character and develops the story.”
In the opening episode, with the help of her boss, Chief Daniel Sousa (played by Dollhouse star Enver Gjokaj), Peggy investigates a bizarre murder involving Isodyne Energy, a mysterious company involved in nuclear tests in the desert, even as she is reunited with some familiar faces.
Look out, too, for fan-pleasing references and links to the rest of the Marvel Universe. For example, we are promised there will be a connection to the upcoming Doctor Strange movie, starring Benedict Cumberbatch as the sorcerer supreme, which will be released in November.
Marvel's comic-book rivals DC, meanwhile, are not resting on their TV laurels. With Arrow and The Flash still riding high in the ratings, a second spin-off, Legends of Tomorrow, starts this week in the United States after months of set-up in the other two shows.
Take an assortment of heroes and villains, some with super powers, pop them in a time machine and pit them against a 4,000-year-old supervillain who has been pulling the strings of world leaders throughout history. Sit back, put your feet up and enjoy the fireworks.
"I think it's just fully insane" in a great way, says showrunner Phil Klemmer, well-known for his work on cult TV hits Veronica Mars and Chuck.
Legends of Tomorrow begins with roguish time traveller Rip Hunter – played by British actor Arthur Darvill, who is no stranger to time-hopping shenanigans after starring as Rory Williams in Doctor Who for three years – travelling back to our time from the London of 2166, an era in which Vandal Savage (Casper Crump) has conquered the planet.
Hunter has travelled back in time to recruit a team that will prevent the villain from destroying the world – and time itself.
“I’ve been tasked with assembling an elite team to travel through time, to capture Savage before he grows into the monster he has become,” says Hunter. “Of all the people who ever lived, I chose you eight. I certainly hope you won’t let me, and the world, down.”
The Flash (Grant Gustin) and Green Arrow (Stephen Amell) will put in guest appearances, but don’t make the cut for Hunter’s chosen team, which includes:
Firestorm: The nuclear-powered hero who emerges when professor Martin Stein (Victor Garber) and Jefferson Jackson (Franz Drameh) fuse their bodies and minds.
The Atom/Ray Palmer: Brandon Routh (who starred as the Man of Steel in the 2006 movie Superman Returns) plays the scientist and inventor, who created a power-suit that allows him to fly and shrink to subatomic size.
White Canary/Sara Lance: Caity Lotz portrays this powerful vigilante martial artist, formerly known as Black Canary before her death and resurrection on Arrow.
Heat Wave and Captain Cold: Former Prison Break co-stars Dominic Purcell and Wentworth Miller play the villainous duo, who wield guns that give them power over heat and cold, respectively.
Hawkgirl and Hawkman: Broadway actress Ciara Renée and Falk Hentschel play reincarnated ancient Egyptian warriors who are destined to be together throughout time.
“The way we’ve imagined Vandal Savage is he’s an immortal, shadowy figure who’s been sort of slyly winding his way through history and never attracting the direct attention of the world of mortals, but at the same time, affecting events,” says Klemmer.
“He’s been at all of those moments where history was hanging in the balance. Week to week, we’re trying to intercept him throughout the ages for the purpose of saving the world. But half the time, we’re trying to correct the things we’ve screwed up along the way.”
• Marvel’s Agent Carter begins at 9pm on Wednesday, January 20, on OSN First HD. Legends of Tomorrow begins on February 17, also on OSN First HD
artslife@thenational.ae
Back in the nick of time
Not even the mightiest superheroes can escape the biggest threat to audience enjoyment – the midseason break.
The good news is that our favourite shows are slowly starting to return after the festive break. Here’s what we can expect when new episodes resume.
Supergirl
Get ready for a new face: former Glee star Blake Jenner will play Adam, oldest son of Cat Grant (Callista Flockhart). We can also expect Kara (Melissa Benoist) to face a twisted, Bizarro version of Supergirl, who sets out to destroy her. Oh, and did we mention Kara will take a shine to Adam?
• Already back on Wednesdays, 9pm, OSN First HD
The Flash
Time-bending villain Zoom’s desperate need for speed will soon be explained when season two resumes this week. We can also look forward to Hollywood filmmaker and comic-book fan Kevin Smith directing an episode, which we will most likely see in May. While we won’t see any more of the telepathic Gorilla Grodd this season, executive producer Andrew Kreisberg has hinted that he will be back for a multi-episode arc in season three.
• Returns on Wednesday on OSN First HD
Arrow
In season four's mid-season finale, Team Arrow faced the wrath of the mystical Damien Darhk, who tried to kill Felicity, Diggle and Thea with poison gas. We're not done being afraid of the Darhk, says Arrow showrunner Marc Guggenheim, who promises a twist/big reveal. Also watch for rabble-rousing Batman villain Anarky to make the leap from comic-book page to TV.
• Returns on Wednesday in the US. No UAE broadcast date available. The first three seasons are available on Netflix
Agents of SHIELD
Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) returns a changed man from the alien planet where he had his shocking showdown with traitorous former SHIELD agent Grant Ward, and is psychologically struggling with the fate of Rosalind. Oh, and a new creature is coming our way with the power to destroy the planet. Sounds like the agents will be busy.
• Due to return in March on OSN. Exact date to be confirmed