"Agent Carter" Recap: "Valediction"

Written by John Edward Betancourt

THIS IS THE EMERGENCY SPOILER ALERT SYSTEM...YOU ARE ADVISED TO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK...

It was a bittersweet evening when it comes to Agent Carter. While we were treated to another quality episode that managed to finally bring all of this season's plot points together, this episode also served as what I hope will be the first season finale for the show.  So let's get right down to it and break down the wonder of last night's "Valediction".

In this episode, the SSR was still reeling from Chief Dooley's untimely death, but were given little time to mourn as they were called in to investigate the wholesale slaughter at the movie theater thanks to Dottie and the good Doctor. While checking the carnage out, Agent Sousa takes a blast of Item 17 to the face and quickly finds himself ready to murder anyone near him before being knocked out.  

Thankfully he recovers and he and Peggy return to the SSR as Agent Thompson begins to work on what their next move will be to capture Ivchenko, when suddenly Howard Stark appears, ready to help bring the Doctor down. At last we are given the answers to the Battle of Fennel, it turns out Stark stumbled upon the wonder of Item 17, aka Midnight Oil and it was used against the Russians without his consent, leading to the fight between he and the General, and it is also revealed that Leviathan's plot against him is essentially about revenge and that Ivchenko is actually a man named Johann Fennhoff. 

It leads Howard to use himself as bait, pulling together a press conference where he is exonerated of his crimes, with the SSR keeping close watch as they wait for Fennhoff and Dottie to make their move. They manage to kidnap Howard with a diversion, leaving the good doctor and Howard alone in one of Stark's private airfields.  The plan is simple, to hypnotize Howard and have him unleash Midnight Oil over Manhattan during a celebration downtown. Thankfully Peggy and the SSR arrive, subduing the Doctor, wounding Dottie before she escapes, talking Howard out of his hypnosis, and of course saving the day. 

The episode ends in classy fashion, with Peggy staying away from the SSR after all happy with her accomplishments regardless and she and Angie get put up in one of Stark's penthouse estates as thanks for helping clear his name. Peggy also says goodbye to her love Steve Rodgers at last, dumping the last vial of his blood into the river after Jarvis gives it to her.  But not all is well that ends well, for in the final moments of season one, we are treated to one of the best cameos on television I can remember as Fennhoff, now in an impressive getup to prevent him from talking is welcomed to prison by his new cellmate...Doctor Zola.  Yes, Toby Jones reprised his role in awesome fashion for a brief moment to talk with Fennhoff about sharing ideas on paper.

Either way, this was a satisfying finale to the show. If by chance it doesn't get renewed, and I hope to hell it does, this would serve as a fine series finale. But while we had everything wrapped up in a neat little bow, there is simply so much story to tell when it comes to Peggy Carter.  After all, we are no where near the beginning of S.H.I.E.L.D. and quite frankly, television needs a character as strong and awesome as she is. Here's to hoping this isn't the end of her adventures, until next time.  

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