What 'Agent Carter' Can Learn From TV's Other Comic-Book Shows

Though ratings have been a little soft, there's every reason to believe Agent Carter will earn a second-season renewal. After eight episodes, it has created solid characters and a unique setting to tell new stories. Most of all, it has allowed Peggy Carter to give us the female hero Marvel and DC have been unwilling to give us in movie form.

Here, then, are some lessons the show can learn from the successes (and failures) of the remaining bumper crop of superhero shows on TV currently. Some of them are things the show is already doing, and some of them are things the show couldn't do in the first season. So don't think of them as critiques: They're just requests from a fan who wants to see this show succeed.

Arrow — Every superhero needs a family

Yes, even lonely vigilante types. Without Roy, Diggle, and Felicity (and now Laurel and Thea and… Malcolm Merlyn?), Arrowis just Dirty Harry with a bow. Give Peggy a partner for backup, a techie to give her gadgets, a mentor to lean on. (We love Jarvis as much as the next guy, but Ms. Carter needs more help than he can give.) And let Peggy have a love interest, because pining away for a lost love is so 16th-century Shakespeare.

The Flash — Don’t forget the special effects

That doesn't mean you have to have the Chitauri invading New York every single week, but a few well-placed laser beams go a long way. Super-science and madmen bent on world domination are old-fashioned, but that’s part of Captain America's — and, by extension, Agent Carter's — charm. Even something as simple as the mysterious orb that seems high-tech (but only contains a vial of blood) hits that childlike place in us that wants to see magic happen onscreen.

There’s a sweet spot between James Bond and Flash Gordon that hasn't been touched in years — and this is the only show that could possibly do it. Think about it: Agent Carter could finally quiet the fans who have been clamoring for years to see M.O.D.O.K.

Related: 'Agent Carter' Showrunners Preview Peggy's Leadership, 'Defining' Moments in Season Finale

Gotham — Let your villains own some real estate

Gotham is a prequel, so it can't give its bad guys ice guns and the power of flight. To make up for it, they've giving the villains enough screen time to create multilayered and compelling characters. In many ways, Penguin is the most fully realized person on the show, and it's electric when he crosses paths with the hero, Jim Gordon. Carter's Dr. Faustus and Dottie came late in the run; next season, get to the baddies early and give us a reason to love to hate them.

Watch a preview of the season finale:

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. — Remember that you're part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe

It was tougher for Agents when it first started — most of the recognizable faces that could have boosted ratings with a guest role would cost more than the average budget for a single episode. Now, though, there's also Daredevil and Jessica Jones and Power Man and Iron Fist over on Netflix. Those shows should definitely be referring back to Agent Carter, and vice versa — leave more boxes filled with 0-8-4s for those future heroes to uncover. Heck, there are still Infinity Gems left to find, right?

Constantine — Make sure to capture the spirit of the source material

Constantine does a fine job of nailing the look of the titular character, but not much else. Peggy Carter is essentially a new creation — the TV version pays little heed to the comic book version of the character — which means that the source material is Captain America: The First Avenger. It's the story of an exceptional woman dealing with the tribulations of a post-WWII America that makes Agent Carter unique, but don't forget the things that made us fall in love with her in the movie. Keep that swashbuckling spirit that the show nailed in the "Howling Commandos" episode. Make sure to explore the reality behind the myth like the "Captain America Adventure Hour" continues to do. Basically, keep doing what you're doing, just do it more.

The season finale of Agent Carter airs Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 9 p.m. on ABC.