Copyright Screen Rant
The MCU’s Multiverse Saga has been one of the franchise’s most divisive eras yet. On one hand, it’s led to some thrilling and creative projects like What If...? and Marvel Zombies, which push the boundaries of what’s possible in the Marvel universe. On the other, it’s also introduced an over-reliance on variants, a trope that’s rapidly worn out its welcome. While variant-heavy MCU shows and movies like Loki and Spider-Man: No Way Home were initially groundbreaking, the novelty quickly began to fade. Seeing different versions of beloved characters was fun at first, but repetition has turned it into a creative crutch. No character highlights this better than Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell), a once-beloved MCU icon whose reinvention transformed her into a duller shadow of her former self. In recent years, Peggy has appeared across the Multiverse as Captain Carter, a super-soldier version of herself in What If...? and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. While initially exciting when she made her superpowered debut, the truth is that Peggy was already an incredible character long before gaining powers, back when she was the star of her own 87% Rotten Tomatoes-rated show Agent Carter. Agent Carter Was One Of The Best Pre Disney+ MCU TV Shows Peggy’s Solo Series Proved Marvel Storytelling Could Thrive Without Multiverse Gimmicks Before WandaVision and Loki redefined Marvel television, Agent Carter was already setting a high bar. Premiering in 2015, the ABC series followed Peggy Carter in post-World War II America as she balanced office sexism, espionage, and emotional fallout from losing Steve Rogers (Chris Evans). Across two seasons, Agent Carter built a richly detailed world that didn’t need to rely on a Multiverse or the MCU movies. It wasn’t about superheroes or crossovers. Instead, it embraced stylish Cold War-era espionage and noir storytelling. The result was a sleek blend of spy thriller and character drama, anchored by Atwell’s commanding performance. What made Agent Carter truly special was its tone. The show mixed pulpy adventure with emotional storytelling, echoing the charm of classic serials but with a distinctly feminist edge. Peggy’s struggle to prove herself in a male-dominated SSR (Strategic Scientific Reserve) felt authentic and empowering. She was every bit the hero without needing a shield or serum. Supporting characters like Edwin Jarvis (James D’Arcy) and Howard Stark (Dominic Cooper) helped expand the early MCU timeline, adding humor and heart. Meanwhile, the show’s meticulous production design captured 1940s New York with stunning precision. Every costume, car, and set piece oozed period authenticity. Despite critical acclaim and a devoted fanbase, Agent Carter was canceled after just two seasons. Its untimely end left numerous storylines unresolved, but it also cemented the show as a cult favorite. Long before Disney+ made Marvel television mainstream, Agent Carter proved that small-screen storytelling in the MCU could be every bit as compelling as the movies - and it didn't need a Multiverse to do it. Peggy Carter Was Much More Interesting Without Powers The Original Peggy’s Strength Came From Her Humanity, Not Her Super-Soldier Serum Peggy Carter was never meant to be a superhero, and that’s exactly what made her so captivating. In Agent Carter, she wasn’t equipped with super strength or invulnerability. She relied on intelligence, training, and grit to take down Hydra operatives, double agents, and even Stark’s stolen technology. That vulnerability made her victories feel earned and human. By contrast, the Multiverse Saga’s version of Peggy, Captain Carter, trades complexity for spectacle. In What If...?, she becomes the recipient of the super-soldier serum instead of Steve Rogers, donning the Union Jack as the British counterpart to Captain America. Her origin story episode was visually exciting and thematically bold, but the concept quickly lost impact when Marvel started bringing her back repeatedly. Outside of later episodes of What If, Captain Carter returned in live action in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, only to be dispatched in seconds by Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen). The moment might have been meant as shock value, but it instead underscored how superficial these multiversal versions can feel. Instead of developing Peggy’s character further, Marvel turned her into a visual Easter egg. Hayley Atwell’s grounded portrayal in Agent Carter gave Peggy depth that no alternate version has matched. She faced prejudice, grief, and loneliness, all while building a life defined by purpose rather than powers. The show portrayed heroism as moral resilience, not physical superiority. When Peggy punched through bureaucratic glass ceilings, it resonated more than any multiversal battle ever could. The MCU’s decision to repeatedly resurrect Peggy as a super-soldier undermines the very qualities that made her beloved. She was fascinating because she wasn’t a superhero, and because she proved you didn’t have to be one to make a difference. The MCU Never Needed Captain Carter Captain Carter Highlights The MCU’s Growing Obsession With Variants Over Originality If there’s one thing the MCU doesn’t need more of, it’s super-strong heroes. The franchise already has an army of them, from Steve Rogers and Peter Parker to Carol Danvers and Thor. Captain Carter, at her core, is just another variation on a theme. While she worked as a clever twist in her What If...? origin story episode, her continued presence feels redundant. Marvel’s attempt to position Captain Carter as a feminist counterpart to Captain America misses the point. Peggy’s empowerment never came from matching Steve punch for punch. It came from her defiance in a world that constantly underestimated her. Giving her the serum strips away that nuance, turning her into a gender-swapped clone rather than a trailblazing original. Worse still, Captain Carter’s prominence in the Multiverse Saga reveals a broader creative issue. Yes, the idea of a British super-soldier was novel, but said character already exists in Marvel’s comic-book canon - Captain Britain. Instead of exploring new characters like Captain Britain, a fascinating comic book hero who embodies the intersection of mythology and national identity, Marvel keeps recycling variants of existing ones. It’s a symptom of the Multiverse era’s biggest problem: expansion without innovation. This approach sidelines fresh storytelling opportunities in favor of nostalgia and fan service. While it’s thrilling to see familiar faces in new forms, it often comes at the cost of introducing compelling, underused heroes who could enrich the MCU’s future.
