AgentCarter.netAgent Carter Explained: A Beginner's Guide to the Series
Agent Carter is an American spy drama set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). It aired on ABC across two seasons in 2015 and 2016 and follows Peggy Carter, the sharp, stubborn British agent first seen in Captain America: The First Avenger. If you want a stylish, character-driven corner of the MCU that needs very little homework, this is it.
What the show is about
The story begins in 1946. The war is over, Steve Rogers is gone, and Peggy is working at the Strategic Scientific Reserve (SSR) in New York, where colleagues treat her as a secretary rather than the capable operative she is. When Howard Stark is branded a traitor, she takes on secret work to clear his name, with his butler Edwin Jarvis as her unlikely partner.
The tone mixes noir, caper comedy, and period drama. Peggy fights villains, but she also fights condescension, and that second fight gives the series its heart.
Who made it
The series was created by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, the writers behind the Captain America films. Tara Butters and Michele Fazekas served as showrunners. Hayley Atwell leads the cast as Peggy, with James D'Arcy as Jarvis, Enver Gjokaj as Daniel Sousa, and Chad Michael Murray as Jack Thompson.
Seasons and episodes
- Season 1: 8 episodes, set in New York in 1946. See the Season 1 episode guide.
- Season 2: 10 episodes, set in Los Angeles in 1947. See the Season 2 episode guide.
That makes 18 episodes in total, so the whole series fits into a long weekend.
Do you need to watch anything first?
Not much. Watching Captain America: The First Avenger gives you Peggy's backstory, and our watch order guide explains the other optional extras. Everything else you need is explained on screen.
Where to start reading
If you finish an episode and want context, try our explainer on the SSR, the profile of Peggy Carter, or the full character guide. Streaming availability changes by country, so check your local services for current listings.
