I've had all these Agent Carter meta pieces I've wanted to write since the first season ended, and now that the second season is nearly upon us, I guess I should get around to that
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I found his character absolutely maddening at every step because ultimately he was not as interested in being efficient or effective as he was in appearing a certain way, having a certain reputation or seeming. I consider a person whose priorities lie in that direction to be a false and problematic person, someone I would definitely not want in my life or my workplace. The boss dude had a better head on his shoulders; it's sad what happened to him. That would have been a fitting end for Jack Thompson (instead of the boss dude), but instead he benefits from it.
Yeah. I don't think Chief Dooley was less sexist than Thompson, but he was a pragmatist. If Peggy could deliver the 107th, then he'd let her go on the Russia mission. He didn't have this image of either her or himself that he had to prop up. Thompson on the other hands, cares a lot about image.
Indeed. I prefer people who can be pragmatic at all times because it means that given the right circumstances they will be able to overcome whatever socialized biases they have carried with them. Characters who are attached to a particular bias and unable to be practical minded tend to be unattractive to me. I mean I know they are totally realistic...I just don't LIKE them, you know? I revel in the celebration of reason, so I want those impractical biased characters to face consequences which reward pragmatism. >.>
(I should note that I didn't really mean the Dooley has no image of himself or Peggy. Of course we all images of ourselves and those around us. And Dooley doesn't see the real Peggy. I meant that he doesn't let those images interfere with doing the smart thing in 1x05.)
I really don't like Thompson at all, but I find him interesting, and think the writers doing what they did with him, having him confront a redemption arc and run screaming in the other direction was a daring choice.
While watching Thompson triumph was frustrating on a lot of levels (and, oh, it did frustrate me), I think it was actually a smart decision, for reasons I intend to get into in the bit I hope write tomorrow.
To be really honest, the worst thing about that moment isn't that he sticks with his toxic masculinity (this is a term I don't quite understand, so excuse me if I didn't quite use it right) in that last moment when he could have given Peggy credit. It's that Peggy sort of makes it less of a crime with her "I know my value, anyone else's opinion doesn't really matter." line. Because she's deflecting from the issue of Thompson's betrayal, and focusing instead on some random ass bigwigs who show up for a grand total of one scene
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This is a not bad introduction to toxic masculinity, if you want it. But, in essence it's the way that masculinity is defined as aggressive, hard, violent, and fundamentally superior to women. That's something that, of course, is destructive to women and insufficiently "manly" men, but is also destructive to the men who subscribe to it.
I have a whole other (admittedly very small) meta piece on that line of Peggy's and the way it relates to the entire season, so maybe I should just wait. But, essentially, I felt like while that line is nowhere near as inspirational and positive as fandom (and unfortunately, it appears the writers) think it is, but it does make sense for Peggy's personality and time + place. When Thompson looks back guiltily at Peggy, she smiles sadly and looks away. She knows what he's going to do, and she doesn't expect any better of him. And not expecting any better of him IS letting him off the hook, but I believed it for Peggy. She's also been much softer towards Thompson than I would be. And she has all of 1940'
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I found his character absolutely maddening at every step because ultimately he was not as interested in being efficient or effective as he was in appearing a certain way, having a certain reputation or seeming. I consider a person whose priorities lie in that direction to be a false and problematic person, someone I would definitely not want in my life or my workplace. The boss dude had a better head on his shoulders; it's sad what happened to him. That would have been a fitting end for Jack Thompson (instead of the boss dude), but instead he benefits from it.
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I really don't like Thompson at all, but I find him interesting, and think the writers doing what they did with him, having him confront a redemption arc and run screaming in the other direction was a daring choice.
While watching Thompson triumph was frustrating on a lot of levels (and, oh, it did frustrate me), I think it was actually a smart decision, for reasons I intend to get into in the bit I hope write tomorrow.
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I have a whole other (admittedly very small) meta piece on that line of Peggy's and the way it relates to the entire season, so maybe I should just wait. But, essentially, I felt like while that line is nowhere near as inspirational and positive as fandom (and unfortunately, it appears the writers) think it is, but it does make sense for Peggy's personality and time + place. When Thompson looks back guiltily at Peggy, she smiles sadly and looks away. She knows what he's going to do, and she doesn't expect any better of him. And not expecting any better of him IS letting him off the hook, but I believed it for Peggy. She's also been much softer towards Thompson than I would be. And she has all of 1940' ( ... )
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I'm assuming you're referring to Agent Carter and the Exceptional Woman, which I have now read, so yeah c: I'll comment on that there.
Well, I guess we're together in that XD
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