Some of the best romantic pairings have come from literature. As fangirls, the written word has often been a refuge for us, and reading about our favorite characters finding love can be a beautiful experience. In our third collab of the month, we share a few of our favorites.

(If you see a blank space, it's probably a spoiler. Highlight it to read.)

Izzy Stevenson

Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks

From the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

Lupin (left) and Tonks (right). Illustration by Mary GrandPre.

I’ve always been a fan of characters who you would never expect to be a couple, but at the same time feel perfectly matched. When I first started shipping Lupin and Tonks at the start of Order of the Phoenix, I expected my OTP to be considered a crack ship. He was older, calm, and shy; she was youthful, outgoing, and rebellious. But I couldn’t help it. Something about it just felt right. You can imagine my surprise when the author revealed she also apparently felt they belonged together. Tonks and Lupin may have had some rocky patches in their relationship, to say the least; but to me, they’ll always be my miracle ship that became canon against all odds.

Marianne Dashwood and Colonel Brandon 

From Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

Illustration of Col. Brandon visiting Marianne by C.E. Brock.

At the start of Sense and Sensibility, you would never think of pairing Marianne and Colonel Brandon. They young woman is frivolous and highly emotional, with her head in the clouds, and doesn’t think too highly of the calm and somber older man. Colonel Brandon on the other hand has fallen deeply in love with Marianne, though his dream of earning her heart seems hopeless. But as time goes on, and Brandon reveals more of his inner character, we see a depth of emotion inside of him that only Marianne can match. 

Sophie and Howl

From Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

The cover of the audio book for Howl’s Moving Castle

Sophie and Howl are, at the same time, the most lovable and most incorrigible people. Howl is independent, chaotic; and despite secretly being brave and kind, he has set himself up as a coward and a dangerous villain. Sophie is structured, bossy, clumsy, and refuses to stop interfering in Howl’s life even when her help consistently results in disaster. Needless to say, the two can’t stand each other or get enough of each other. Normally I’m not a huge fan of love/hate relationships, but it just works so well with them. Oh, and Sophie is also cursed to look like an old woman and needs Howl’s help to turn back into her normal self. As you can imagine, the resulting tale is both hilarious and endearing.

Jaime Heller

Ah, so many choices. Narrowing down all the possibilities to two or three is a lot harder than it looks!

Here are my recent favorites that just won’t leave my heart alone:

Luca and Lia from the River of Time Series (Lisa T. Bergren): These two. Oh my heart. I might be completely biased because Luca swept me off his feet as he swept Lia off her feet. What a heartthrob. But I feel that these two crazy kids balance each other and complement each other. Luca can make her laugh; and she stuns him with every action she makes. Talk about swoon-worthy.

art by lostie815

Cress and Throne from the Lunar Chronicles (Marissa Meyer): As much as I adore the other couples in the Lunar Chronicles (Scarlet and Wolf are a close second), my heart skips with joy when I think about Cress and Captain Carswell Throne. Cress is adorable with her hugecrush and fangirling over him; and Thorne is just the type of sly, charming man to make anybody happy. While I’m not sure how they’ll romance story will end up, my fingers are crossed that they do end up together. Because deep down—past his snarky scoundrel-ness—I think Thorne cares about Cress (or maybe that’s me hoping he cares for her).

Special BROTP mentions: Legolas and Gimli (obviously from Lord of the Rings), Liesel and Max (from The Book Thief), Lucy Pevensie and Mr. Tumnus (obviously from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe).

Mirriam Neal

For some reasons, it’s harder for me to have a book OTP than it is to have an OTP from a TV show or  even a book-to-movie series. When I DO have a book OTP, it tends to be pretty unpopular (and sometimes blatantly illogical but WHO CARES, they have CHEMISTRY). So I hunkered down and came up with a proper list of the OTPs that wrecked my life.

art by Loki-Ellahell

Katniss Everdeen and Finnick Odair (The Hunger Games)

I know. I know. Everyone adores Finnick/Annie and Katniss/Peeta or Katniss/Gale. And I’ll admit, Finnick/Annie are beautiful and I love that pairing – but honestly, this is one of those ‘yeah, I know it doesn’t happen and yean, I know there’s no reason for me to ship this except I DO, DAGNABBIT’ OTPs. They’re both tributes and both emotionally damaged, suffering from PTSD and the loss of loved ones. They’re both emotionally needy even though they try to act as if they aren’t. They’re both selfless and have courage and skill in spades. They have beautiful chemistry (especially in the movies)…and so Katniss and Finnick (Kinnick? Finniss?) remain a sad, doomed, beautiful OTP close to my heart.

Gwindor and Finduilas (The Silmarillion)

He loves her. She doesn’t love him. He dies. I still can’t talk about it.

Rica Wiersema

(Spoilers present in white text: highlight to read.)

1. Ella of Frell and Prince Charmont of Kyrria

Book: Ella Enchanted

     Despite the horrendous mess of a movie that Miramax tried to create in 2004, this book was still one of my favorite fantasy reads growing up because it thoroughly fleshed out the originally-shallow legend of Cinderella (which I normally dislike, I might add. I would love to go into detail about why the movie Ever After is the best film adaptation of the Cinderella myth, but this is about book OTPs, so that's a tale for another time).

     Not only did Ella Enchanted allow the romance between Ella and Charming to start early and grow naturally, but it also included a phenomenal plot twist by placing Ella under an spell/curse of obedience to any and all commands. The breaking of the curse is one of the most romantic and beautiful moments of fairytale magic I’ve ever read… so of course, the movie horrifically changed it.

     In the book, Charmont eventually gets down on one knee and, unaware of the curse, says simply, “Marry me, Ella.” Though he didn’t mean it to be, it was an order… and one that Ella did want to follow. But she knew that if any of his enemies were ever to find out about the curse, they could force her to put him and the kingdom in danger — perhaps even murder Charmont. Because of this, she knew that she couldn't marry her true love and childhood friend at any cost, so she stood rooted to the spot and was put through horrific pain for trying to resist the spell… but at last she was able to put her foot down and shout, “NO! I WILL NOT MARRY YOU!”

With the spell broken, she’s at last able to run around the house, cheering and yelling over and over, “I won’t marry you!” to the confusion of many, many people… but of course, now that the curse is no longer a threat to Charmon’t safety, she’s free to marry him and live happily forever afterwards.

     The breaking of the curse in the book is such a phenomenal portrayal of a selfless love that so many people overlook in romance… and it’s so much better than the film adaptation. But it’s hard to understand unless you read for yourself.

2. Podo Helmer and Gwendolyn Igiby

Book[s]: The Monster In the Hollows, Book III of The Wingfeather Saga

     Frankly, where do I begin with these two? Half of their story wouldn’t even make sense without having read the entire series, and the other half of their story is practically wrought with major spoilers. Their entire romance is told as a flashback, in the third book of a four-book saga. But I’ll do my best:

     Podo Helmer was a largely self-made man who ran away from home to grow up as a thief in the East Bend of Skree. He spent much of his adult life as a peg-legged pirate of Symia, doing many things that he would eventually come to regret in his later years.

     One day when he came to the port city of Ban Rona, he saw a most beautiful woman and left the sea forever… but their story isn’t near as simple as that.

As it turns out, that beautiful woman had a pretty ugly personality, and during their courtship he fell in love with her gentle, homely housemaid Gwendolyn instead. However, to prove his love for Gwendolyn, he had to take a historic beating from the very closed-off, rough-and-tumble inhabitants of the Green Hollows.

     But in the end, Podo earned Gwendolyn’s hand. The wild pirate was slowly tamed by the plain young lady from Ban Rona, and she introduced him to a world of honor and selfless love for family that he hadn’t known growing up. Also, their daughter went on to marry the High King of Anneria.

     But then Gwendolyn was lost to battle when the great nameless evil, Gnag the Nameless, invaded from the east and attempted to destroy every kingdom in his path. Podo then became the central protector of his three grandchildren… particularly his pint-sized granddaughter Leeli, who sang like a songbird and had a lame leg just like him. She and her mother were the only pieces of Gwendolyn that he had left.

     Podo went on to guide his family through battles and betrayals as a wild-but-wizened old man, fighting to his last breath to keep his family safe… all because of the love that one woman taught him about all those years ago.

Sarah Munson

My truest OTP is me with a book. Yup. That right there is true love. Within the pages of countless novels, though, I’ve found so many couples to fall in love with. I could probably write my own book filled with my favorite fictional pairs, and all the reasons I ship them.

When I got Agent Sky’s email saying we were doing a collaborative post on book OTP’s, I was giddy, and also a little overwhelmed. There are so many good books, with so many stellar couples! How could I choose? I have at last narrowed my choices down to a couple of couples. (Which is my ridiculous way of saying I’ve selected two couples to talk about.)

The first is one from my favorite book series, the River of Time by Lisa T. Bergren. If you read my Valentine’s Day link-up post, you know where this is going. Yes, I am once again talking about Lia and Luca. I really tried to stop myself from picking them again, but what can I say? Luca and Lia are right at the top of my OTP scale. They instantly have a spark, but they know how to be friends first. They’re at ease with one another, and spend many scenes teasing and bantering. When Lia and Luca are together, laughter is often present. Yet they know how and when to be serious, and their mutual understanding is perhaps more attractive than their shared sense of humor. Each deeply trusts and respects the other; even when they disagree or fight, they don’t attack the other person’s weaknesses. I love that no matter what they face, these two are more than romantic partners; they are an enduring team. Also, when I was struggling to come up with a “celebrity” couple name for Lia and Luca for the link-up, Jaime came to my rescue and christened the pair Evangeluca. I think it’s perfect, just as Luca and Lia are for one another.

My second couple is more famous, being from one of the best-selling series of all time. I fully ship Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley. I was cheering for Ginny from the moment she arrived at Hogwarts, though I was glad she and Harry don’t become romantically involved until the latter part of the series. Both have very strong, somewhat stubborn personalities. They’re fighters, brave even when they don’t want to be, and deeply devoted. Their connection to one another is far stronger than simple romance. They’re united in their values, experiences, and even some struggles. Harry and Ginny first get to know one another without the pressure of a relationship, so when they do eventually start going together, each already understands the other’s strengths and weaknesses. They look out for one another, making sacrifices and hard choices, even giving up their budding love for a time. Ginny and Harry do not have a smooth road, but overcoming every obstacle ultimately brings them closer together. And despite all the dark times, they still have fun together and know how to cheer one another up. Theirs is a love that grows gradually, continues steadfastly, and lasts eternally.

Sky Destrian

While I tend to ship people more in movies or TV shows, there are a couple book couples that have stolen my heart. 

1. Augustus Waters & Hazel Grace Lancaster

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Move over, Romeo and Juliet. This is the heartbreaking OTPs to end all OTPs. It really hit me how much I shipped them when I watched the movie. The way they connect and become deeper friends, then fall in love, is so beautiful. 

I related a lot to Hazel Grace--her quietness, her hesitancy to fall in love. Augustus is one of the sweetest boys. The way he cares for Hazel, even though she resists at first, is so beautiful. He reads Hazel Grace's favorite book and falls just as in love with it as she is, then takes her to Amsterdam so that they can find out the true ending.

If you are somehow unspoiled by the ending of this book and haven't read it yet, I highly recommend it. Then go watch the movie. There will be tears.

2. Sam & Grace

The Shiver Trilogy by Maggie Stiefvater

(Heads up, I haven't read Linger and Forever yet.)

I read Shiver last month and fell head over heels in love. With the prose, yes, but also the main couple, Sam and Grace.

These two complete each other. Sam is an a sensitive, artistic boy, and Grace is pragmatic, good with numbers and figures. It shouldn't work, but it really does. Their slow descent into love is one of the most beautiful things I've read in a long time, and when they finally admitted to each other that they loved each other, my shipper's heart was completely happy. I look forward to reading the sequels. You'll be hearing more from me about it, I'm sure.

What are your book OTPs? Tell us below in the comments!

Well, Agents, it’s time for our final mission: A recap of the Agent Carter season finale.



I cannot believe eight episodes are over already! I was desperate to know how it would end, but I’m not ready to accept that is has ended now.

Here are the facts on how the last escapade plays out (as always, there are explosive spoilers ahead. Proceed with caution at your own risk.)

Episode 8: Valediction

At the start of episode 8, Agent Carter goes in alongside Thompson and Sousa to investigate a murderous scene at a theater.

Forty-seven people were found dead in gruesome ways. The theater manager has no idea what could have killed them, since the auditorium doors were locked from the outside. After a quick review of the bodies, Peggy concludes these people killed each other. But why? Inside the destroyed theater, Agent Sousa uncovers a canister of noxious gas. Some of the substance sprays him in the face, and he suddenly goes off in a rage, attempting to kill Agent Thompson before another officer knocks out Sousa. Back at the S.S.R., Sousa recovers from the effects of the toxin, and the team continues to investigate how it was used in the theater. They know Ivchenko stole a major supply of it, and now that they’re aware of its effects, they need to figure out where he plans to unleash it. Their work is interrupted by the arrival of none other than Howard Stark, escorted by Edwin Jarvis. (Yes, Mr. Jarvis has a first name that I continually forget about.)

Howard is immediately arrested, and blamed for all the destruction his inventions have caused. He rightly accepts the blame and explains it’s why he’s returned. The gas is called Midnight Oil, he says, and it’s what was used in the battle of Fennel to cause an entire troop to wipe each other out. Stark saw the effects and has to stop it from happening again. Since Ivchenko is after Stark, Howard is going to face the situation. The agents reluctantly realize they need Stark’s help and so they formulate a plan to reel in Ivchenko (whose real name is Fennhoff) and his assassin, “Dottie.”

The plan goes awry, and Howard ends up captured by the Russians. The team quickly deduces that Fennhoff is planning to use one of Stark’s private plans to spray Times Square with Midnight Oil during the V-3 celebration. Ivchenko/Fennhoff reveals that his brother was killed in Fennel, thanks to Midnight Oil, and so the Russian survivor is now bent on revenge.

He brainwashes Stark and Howard’s plane takes off before Peggy and her team can stop him. Peggy gets into a vicious fight with Dottie, and Fennhoff escapes.

 

Agent Sousa and Thompson bring the man down, while Peggy finally defeats Dottie by pushing her out a window. Peggy attempts to break through Howard’s trance over the dispatch, but he insists he is doing the right thing and is bringing back Captain America. 

Meanwhile, Jarvis, the only one who knows how to pilot, has Stark in his sights. The butler is ready to shoot down Howard if necessary, but Peggy refuses to give the order, trying desperately to snap Stark back into reality. At the last minute, he breaks out of hypnosis, saving his life and also sparing Jarvis from taking it. (Stark is indignant when he later learns about the plan. But hey, I would have shot him down for the greater good, too!) Fennhoff is thrown into prison, wearing an odd metal gag to keep him from speaking. After all, Agent Thompson was right when he said, “If he talks, you’re dead.” At last, Fennhoff can’t tell people to focus! Dottie (or whatever her real name is) somehow manages to get away.

As for the S.S.R. team, Agent Thompson becomes chief and takes all the credit for their mission’s success. He does offer Peggy her position back, though she doesn’t accept. At least, not yet. I can’t imagine the S.S.R. without Agent Carter forever! In the meantime, Stark gives her one of his “smaller” penthouses and Angie moves in as her roommate. Howard goes on to destroy his inventions, not trusting any government with them after his past experiences. He already believes Captain America’s blood is lost, and in a way, it is. Jarvis nabbed it and turns it over to Peggy, saying she’s the only person who he can imagine taking care of it. She’s touched, and later spills it into the river, releasing Steve at last, with the words, “Goodbye, my darling…”

Let’s pause a moment and listen to the sounds of our hearts breaking.

Now, to keep them from breaking further, I do have a glimmer of hope. The end of Agent Carter neatly tied up a lot of loose ends and details, but it left some dangling. Fennhoff’s cell mate is the scientist Arnim Zola- the guy we remember from working with Red Skull. They begin to communicate through writing, as Fennhoff can’t talk. And Peggy says she doesn’t believe they’ve seen the last of Dottie. Furthermore, I expect Leviathan reaches further than Fennhoff and the blonde assassin. And since Peggy hasn’t officially returned to the S.S.R., her next moves are a question still open. This all leads me to believe there will be a season 2 after all!

So take heart, agents. Our mission may not be over yet!

Speaking of loose ends, here are a few loose thoughts I jotted down after the finale:

· HOW did Dottie live? I’m pretty sure she’s not fully human. Either that, or she is dead and someone else carried her away. Given the bloody footprints, if that were the case, I’d bet it was another female operative. 

· I’m not completely satisfied that Dottie and Fennhoff lived; however, I can overlook it or even approve if it means I get another season of Agent Carter.

· Fennhoff’s main motive in unleashing Midnight Oil was revenge. I would have preferred him to be after something else as well, but I suppose revenge can be vicious enough on its own.

· It was awesome seeing Agent Carter team up with Agent Sousa and Thompson as equals! Sousa really had me worried when Fennhoff seemed to have him hypnotized; but it turns out that Daniel Sousa is far cleverer than I credited him for. As for Thompson, he was great on the mission but hasn’t changed entirely. I had a pipe dream of Peggy becoming head of the S.S.R., but the position seems to suit Thompson. Even if his ego irked me immensely at the end.

· I love Peggy’s response when Daniel asks how she puts up with Thompson taking the credit. She knows her value; no one else’s opinion matters in that case.

· Howard Stark is definitely Tony Stark’s dad. If anything proves it, it’s the scene in the lab. “This should be kept in the dark. And this should be kept cool! And this- it’s fine now.”

· Jarvis is dearer to me with each episode. He really stepped up to get the job done, and although his next mission is to organize the spice cabinet, he’s proven himself to be more than a butler. He’s also proven that he has one of the strongest characters in the show. As he states before giving Peggy Cap’s blood, “I owe Mr. Stark a great deal, but he does not own my integrity.”

Well, agents, I think we can say our mission is accomplished. 

Now excuse me while I go cry some more of Peggy and Steve.

Goodbye, my darlings.

Hello, Agents! My mission tonight is recapping episodes 6 & 7 of Agent Carter. I’m rather dazed because next week is the season finale, and it feels like the end of Captain America all over again. However, I’ll do my best to focus on what’s happened in the last two episodes rather than what may be ahead!

Grab your badges for clearance, and let’s get to this! (However, before I give you full S.S.R. access, I ask you to make sure you are already caught up on Agent Carter. It’s impossible to write a recap without revealing major plot points, so this will spoil the show if you haven’t seen it yet. Now, if you are up to date with our favorite British agent, you may proceed.)

Episode Six: A Sin to Err
Agent Carter is back in New York, and back on the trail of her investigation. Armed with some information from her Russian mission, she tries to learn more from Dr. Ivchenko, the psychologist she and her team rescued from the barracks in Episode 5. Peggy doesn’t get much from him, as he apologetically explains that he didn’t have much access to Leviathan’s plans. He shares tidbits of information, but Agent Carter is so fervent about getting answers, that Chief Dooley reprimands her and sends her out of the office.  She shares her suspicion that a female assassin from Leviathan killed Agent Krzeminski, and the chief green lights her to chase the hunch. Peggy also believes this female operative was used against Stark, so she partners up with Jarvis to investigate the many women Stark has been entangled with over the last six months. It’s a long list, and Jarvis endures a good deal of abuse from each lady on it, since Stark always leaves the break-ups to the butler.

While Peggy and Jarvis are searching for the female Leviathan agent, another case is cracked back at the S.S.R. Agent Sousa has uncovered that Agent Carter is a double agent. Chief Dooley dispatches several men to track her down. Peggy Carter is now considered a fugitive. Several men come after her and Jarvis, but she fights them off, with a bit of assistance from the butler. 

She and Jarvis make a run for it, only to run straight into Agent Thompson. His newfound friendship with Carter no longer matters. He’s back in S.S.R. mode, and he’s ready to make an arrest. After being in combat beside Peggy in Russia, he shouldn’t underestimate her skill, but he does. It results in Peggy knocking him unconscious in an alley, which Agent Sousa sees. If anyone wants to believe the best about Agent Carter, it’s Daniel Sousa, but there seems to be nothing left to redeem her. Since Peggy won’t fight him, and he won’t shoot her, she gets away again. 

She and Jarvis split up, with Peggy heading back to her apartment. Jarvis tells her not to go, rightly saying it’s the first place the S.S.R. will search for her, but Agent Carter can’t be kept away. She has to get back the vial of Steve Rogers’ blood. Tearing through her apartment, she stuffs the item in her satchel just as the S.S.R. is reaching her door. To the land lady’s dismay, Agent Thompson kicks in the door, ready to catch Agent Carter. Instead, the apartment is now empty.The only evidence of Peggy being there is the gaping hole in the wall. Her land lady now believes that she’s a menace, and allows the other agents to ask the neighbors for information. Peggy is out on a ledge, balancing beside the windows. She manages to alert her friend and neighbor Angie to what’s happening, just as the S.S.R. comes knocking on Angie’s door. 

Ever the actress, Angie spins a tale about Peggy visiting her grandmother, and Angie grieving her own grandmother. It’s dramatic and emotional enough to get to even Agent Thompson, and the men quickly skedaddle away from the weeping waitress.

 Once they’re gone, she helps Peggy into the apartment. It’s enough for Peggy to catch her breath and share a brief parting with Angie, who tells "English" she’d like to hear the whole story one day. Then Peggy is on the run again. She’s nearly out of the building when Dottie Underwood encounters her.  At first, Dottie plays the sweet, concerned neighbor, but then she turns vicious and knocks Peggy out. As she’s fading, Peggy realizes Dottie is the Leviathan operative. Dottie is about to murder Peggy when Agents Thompson and Sousa interrupt. Dottie recaptures her innocent, clueless persona, and the agents haul Peggy away. 

They’ve unknowingly saved her life, but now, she’s their prisoner. Leviathan’s assassin, alias Dottie Underwood, is still on the loose.To make matters worse, the seemingly innocent rescued Russian doctor is actually a scheming, evil and manipulative leader of Leviathan. He’s already pried information from one agent, and caused that man’s death. Furthermore, he’s been communicating with Dottie from inside the S.S.R. How can Peggy bring them down when she’s imprisoned there?  

This was an edge-of-my-seat episode, and I couldn’t pull away from the tension for even an instant. Two things I have to mention, though, are actually more entertaining than intense:
1)      Jarvis. Just Jarvis. He’s always fantastic, but watching him help Peggy investigate Stark’s exes was really quite comical. Also, the scene where he pays a kid to leave him alone was both hilarious and adorable. (sadly, I couldn't find a gif or video clip.) Lastly, he’s able to mostly hold his own where action is involved. I think I need a British butler/partner in crime like this guy.

2)      Angie’s performance and Thompson’s reaction. First, Angie proved that she belongs on stage. Her act saved Peggy for the time being, and if not for Dottie, it would have allowed Peggy to get away entirely. Also, Thompson’s reaction was priceless. Somehow, the dramatic young woman gets New York’s most arrogant agent to talk about his grandmother. (Angie: “What’s your grandmother’s name?” Thompson: “Gam-gam.”) And his attempt at comforting her was so awkwardly amusing.

You have to see it to fully understand. Click here for the video clip. 
And overall, I ate up the general suspense. I’ve gone on about this episode long enough, but it was definitely one of the most intriguing. (Although I seem to feel that way every week!) Now onto the seventh!   

Episode Seven: SNAFU
 Agent Carter is under arrest and being interrogated by her former S.S.R. peers. Agent Sousa is the first to question her, and while he was once the closest thing Peggy had to a friend in the organization, that’s now gone.  It’s evident that his anger and betrayal are driving him as much as his duty to the S.S.R. as he presses for answers, to no avail. Chief Dooley doesn’t get much information from Agent Carter, either, and Agent Thompson doesn’t make any more real progress. 

Thompson's attempts at interrogating Peggy were probably my favorite to watch, because there are evident shifts in his character. A few episodes ago, he would have held nothing back. Now, it’s almost as if his job pains him. He tries to persuade Peggy to give him answers by reminding her how he’s behaved in other interrogations. She fires back that if he wants to hit her, this is his chance, and she lifts her cuffed wrist as proof. Yet even though Chief Dooley told his agents not to go easy on Carter “just because she’s a girl,” and even though Thompson is known for being brutal in interrogations, Agent Thompson doesn’t want to hurt Peggy. Maybe it’s a small thing, but I really like how his character is slowly becoming more human. He’s been a jerk more often than not, but he’s growing on me in ways too. But enough about Agent Thompson! This is a review for Agent Carter! For her part, I was proud of how she handles herself through the questioning. She's finally able to express her frustrations over all she's endured at the S.S.R. When they doubt her ability to carry off an investigation under their noses, she calls them on how they've always overlooked her. Her temper is firing, but she manages to remain confident and in control of the situation.  

 

The session is getting nowhere for the S.S.R. when something unexpected happens: Jarvis arrives. He gets past the S.S.R.’s phone company cover, calmly stating he’s been there before for questioning. The pretend switchboard operators try to get rid of the butler, until he announces he’s come with the signed confession of Howard Stark. 

That’s his pass to see Chief Dooley, and soon Peggy knows that Jarvis has arrived. As it turns out, she isn’t thrilled that Stark has sent a confession, taking the full wrap and leaving Peggy to look like a “patsy,” or damsel in distress. Chief Dooley isn’t as delighted as Jarvis had hoped, either. Instead of trading the signed Stark confession for Peggy, he decides to detain both Peggy and Jarvis until Stark arrives- if he does. The agreement is, if the tycoon turns himself in, the now-fired agent and the butler will be free. With the deal gone sour, Jarvis privately confesses to Peggy he panicked and wrote the confession himself and Stark is not coming. 

She’s quite upset at first, but Jarvis reminds her there was “panic involved,” and Peggy quickly sees that he was only trying to aid her. Since the plan went awry, they need another way out. While they’re being held across from the chief’s office, Peggy noticed Dr. Ivchenko by the chief’s window. The psychologist is tapping on the windowsill, and Peggy quickly recognizes it as Morse code. She jots down the message, with Jarvis reading over her shoulder. (Another surprise: He can read Morse code! Is there anything this butler can’t do?) The code reveals the S.S.R. is in danger! Peggy tries to warn Chief Dooley, who refuses to listen initially. She finally spills the full story, gaining back some trust. Ultimately, it’s when Peggy hands over Captain America’s blood that Agents Sousa and Thompson realize she’s on their side this time. 

They go to check out the building where Dr. Ivchenko’s contact is presumed to be, but while they’re gone, the doctor gets to Chief Dooley. In episode six, the Russian psychologist revealed his power as a hypnotist. He used this ability to cause one agent to commit suicide; now he uses it to control the chief. Dr. Ivchenko ends up with a Stark invention, and then he leaves the chief with an experimental military vest and a final directive. Agents Thompson and Sousa nearly catch Dottie, who was the one communicating with Ivchenko. She makes a mad escape, though, and Ivchenko rejoins her with the invention and the two get away.  Chief Dooley, still under mind control, imprisons Carter and Jarvis in the interrogation room. 

They’re cuffed to the table, and the chief breaks the key in the lock. There’s no way out. Thinking fast, Agent Carter asks Jarvis how he would feel about lifting the table and smashing the mirror glass. He agrees, and after a few delays, they shatter the divide. It’s only then that they realize they’re still cuffed to the table. Agent Thompson comes in, and Peggy tells him they need to find the chief. Thompson frees the prisoners and they rush to Chief Dooley’s office. The chief is inside, wearing the Stark vest experiment. It’s glowing orange, and instantly, we can tell it’s not good. Jarvis confirms it when he explains that it’s an unstable prototype. The idea was to keep soldiers warm. The result was a vest that locks on and overheats to the point of explosion. It isn’t sensitive to anything external, so ice won’t cool it. Tampering with the locks or wires only speeds up the process. There’s nothing anyone, even the scientists, can do. Burning up, Chief Dooley gives one agent a message for his wife. Then he turns to Carter, and makes her promise to complete the mission. She does so, and then Chief Dooley shoots out a window, jumping through as the vest explodes.

The other agents are saved, but the chief is lost. Now the losses and stakes are higher than ever. Restored to the S.S.R., and working alongside the other agents and Jarvis, it’s up to Agent Carter to bring down Leviathan- once and for all. I called episode six intriguing, but episode seven was intense and a bit insane. It’s stuck in my head, and I desperately want to see Leviathan cut down. While Dr. Ivchenko has got to go, I seriously want to see Dottie get hers. I also want to see Agent Carter become the official leader of the S.S.R., and I’d like Agent Thompson to remain the less arrogant, somewhat kinder version he’s revealed on occasion. I’m sure episode eight will satisfy me in many ways, except one: I’m not ready for Tuesdays without Agent Carter. Sigh. 

I'll see you for one more S.S.R. mission next week! Until then, stay alert and don’t trust anyone who tells you to focus. Also, be wary of new neighbors who seem too good to be true. They’re possibly assassins. Now I’m off to work at the “phone company”! ;) 

Valentine's Day is officially behind us, but since the holiday came and went so quickly, I'm still thinking about it. I confess, I'm rather relieved my news feed won't be clogged by pictures of couples and their various flowery or chocolaty gifts anymore. I also won't have to hear phrases like "Single's Awareness Day" until next February.
All of this did get me thinking, though. Valentine's Day is supposed to be about love, yet we typically view it as a couple's holiday exclusively. And while romantic love is certainly wonderful and important, it's not the only kind of love. In fact, it may not even be the strongest. To help illustrate this, I'm looking to none other than Disney. True, Disney has given us some of the sweetest and most iconic couples of all time. We discussed that earlier this month here on the Fangirl Initiative.
But Disney also gives us the stories of everlasting love found in families and friendships. I could cite examples from countless films, but for this post, I'll focus on one of the most recent releases: Frozen.

It's been talked about a lot, but I'd like to share my own little insights on the love in this movie. Frozen reminded me that love is so much more than romance. Love is...

1. Friendship. Anna and Elsa are sisters by birth, but friends by choice. As kids, they are inseparable. They have matching dolls, enjoy each other's company, and are always there for one another. After an accident divides them, both grow up missing this friendship. It never fully fades, though, and by the end of the movie, they're back to having fun together as both sisters and friends.

2. Having things in common. From building snowmen, loving warm hugs and chocolate and giggling at the same jokes, Elsa and Anna share a lot. A great part of love is about what we share.

3. Having and accepting differences. This is perhaps an even greater part of love than sharing likenesses. Anna and Elsa are similar in some ways, but also opposites. Anna is bubbly, extroverted, trusting, and a bit clumsy; Elsa is quieter, introverted, cautious and elegant. Anna is "completely ordinary (in the best way!)" and Elsa has magical ice powers. Yet they never try to change each other. Even when Elsa has frozen the summer, Anna tries to change the situation not her sister. Although I'm trying to avoid discussing romance, I have to point out that Anna and Kristoff are also very different. Instead of judging those differences, though, they're drawn to them and balance one another out.

4. Being honest, even when it's hard. Elsa tells Anna she can't marry a man she just met, although it means Elsa is risking her newly regained friendship with Anna. Elsa isn't trying to dash her sister's hopes; she's telling her the truth because she genuinely cares about Anna's future. Imagine if Elsa had gone along with idea of Anna marrying Hans! Frozen would have been a far different film.

5. Protecting the person you care about. In the song "Do You Wanna Build a Snowman?" I always feel sorry for Anna when Elsa tells her to go away. But it must have been hard for Elsa to send her little sister away, too. Since Elsa couldn't control her powers, she did what seemed like the only alternative: Locking herself away to keep Anna safe. I've heard people call Elsa's parents abusive for keeping her in her room, but I disagree. They didn't know how to help her, so they thought keeping her away from people who wouldn't understand was the solution. Elsa was already terrified of hurting others, so they assumed that protecting her from people would limit her anxiety. They were trying to protect both of their daughters out of love.

6. Forgiving. Elsa and Anna each have reasons they could stay angry with one another, but instead, they let it go. Love can't exist alongside grudges, and both Anna and Elsa know this. Anna, especially, forgives Elsa over and over. This isn't simply a trait of Anna's personality, since she isn't as generous towards Hans. It's a choice she makes out of love for her sister.

7. Putting someone else's needs before your own. For a somewhat clueless but adorable snowman, Olaf defines love with true insight.

I love that in Frozen, love isn't a feeling. It isn't reserved for first sight, couples or duets. Love is a verb. It's a choice that characters make over and over, as they put each other first. In some way or other, just about every character (except Hans) does this throughout the story. Elsa is willing to live in isolation to keep her sister safe. Anna will literally climb mountains to find Elsa, even when everyone else believes she's a monster. Kristoff is willing to let Anna go to her "true love," even though it means he's giving up his own true love. Olaf is so determined to save Anna, he nearly melts himself.

And at the end, Anna sacrifices herself to save Elsa. Love is sacrifice, and Frozen reminds us of that over and over.

Love is indeed a force that's powerful and strange. And true love exists in many forms: In romance, yes, or being "in love", but also in parents protecting their children, friends sticking together, sisters forgiving one another, and making sacrifices for the people we care about most. Even the most anti-Valentine's-day person has to admit, true love really does thaw a frozen heart.

And that's the kind of love worth melting for, even after Valentine's Day.