In 1947 New York, Chief Jack Thompson and Agent Peggy Carter of the SSR apprehend Soviet spy Dottie Underwood, after setting her up during an attempted bank robbery. Newly appointed Chief Daniel Sousa of the Los Angeles SSR office meets with Detective Andrew Henry, who has discovered a woman's body in a frozen lake during a heat wave. Sousa, doubting his inexperienced subordinates, asks Thompson for backup—Carter is sent. An autopsy shows that the body glows in the dark, likely caused by Isodyne Energy's particle accelerator. Carter learns from Isodyne scientist Jason Wilkes that the woman was a physicist there who had an affair with Isodyne owner and prospective senator Calvin Chadwick. Underwood is taken into FBI custody, with Thompson's mentor Vernon Masters warning him that the SSR will soon be replaced by a new, peace-time organization. Henry attempts to kill Wilkes, but is killed himself by a police officer; Henry and the officer were hired to cover up the murder by Chadwick and his actress wife Whitney Frost following the former's affair.
Production
Development
On May 7, 2015, ABC officially renewed Agent Carter for a second season.[1] In January 2016, Marvel announced that the first episode of the season would be titled "The Lady in the Lake", to be written by Brant Englestein, with Lawrence Trilling directing.[2]
In January 2016, Marvel revealed that main cast members Hayley Atwell, James D'Arcy, Enver Gjokaj, Wynn Everett, Reggie Austin, and Chad Michael Murray would star as Peggy Carter, Edwin Jarvis, Daniel Sousa, Whitney Frost, Jason Wilkes, and Jack Thompson, respectively.[2] It was also revealed that the guest cast for the episode would include Currie Graham as Calvin Chadwick, Lotte Verbeek as Ana Jarvis, Lesley Boone as Rose, Sarah Bolger as Violet, Bridget Regan as Dottie Underwood, Sean O'Bryan as Det. Andrew Henry, John Gilbert as elderly teller, Kurtwood Smith as Vernon Masters, Edward Deraney as SSR agent #1, Kevin Ashworth as Agent Fisher, Angela Cristantello as receptionist, Bruce Katzman as medical examiner, Alex Alcheh as rookie cop, Matt Braunger as SSR lab tech and Jonathan Lavallee as commanding officer.[2] Gilbert, Deraney, Ashworth, Cristantello, Katzman, Alcheh, and Lavallee did not receive guest star credit in the episode, while Everett and Austin received guest star credit instead of regular starring. Boone and Regan reprise their roles from earlier in the series.[3][4]
Release
Broadcast
"The Lady in the Lake" was first aired in the United States on ABC on January 19, 2016.[2]
Reception
Ratings
In the United States the episode received a 0.9/3 percent share among adults between the ages of 18 and 49, meaning that it was seen by 0.9 percent of all households, and 3 percent of all of those watching television at the time of the broadcast. It was watched by 3.18 million viewers.[5]
