The boss witch is back! Agatha All Along is a devilish good time, delivering the supernatural goods right in time for spooky season.
Agatha All Along Review
It's been three years since WandaVision landed on Disney+ ushering in a new era for the MCU. The show wowed us with its clever use of sitcom eras mixed with supernatural vibes. Going toe to toe with Wanda was Agatha Harkness, a powerful witch in her own right who also happened to have one of the catchiest songs on the planet. But this witch is more than just a jingle–even if I still find myself humming “Agatha All Along” randomly– and contrary to trolls' beliefs that is not why she got her own show. Agatha is an intriguing character in the comics and Kathryn Hahn brought her to life in a way that demanded more screen time. Who is she really? Aside from a small bit of backstory, Agatha remains an enticing mystery, and curiosity may kill the cat but dammit we need to know.
Agatha All Along is a devilish good time. It's darker and more ominous than its predecessor WandaVision, fully embracing the supernatural thrills and witchy fun to deliver a new spooky season hit. Reprising her role as the wickedly entertaining Agatha Harkness, Hahn seamlessly steps back into the role. This time around, Agatha is even more devious, cunning, and snarky. Getting defeated by a superior witch may have humbled some but not our Agatha. She is hellbent on regaining what she lost even if that means teaming up with others for a group project: walking the Witches' Road. I get it girl, I don't like working with others either.
Last time we saw Agatha, she was put under a spell by Wanda that kept her in Westview leading a fictional life. Three years later, we see that Agatha, going by the name Agnes, is a detective for the Westview Police Department. From its opening title sequence, it's clear that this show is taking a page from WandaVision's book. This time around, we are seeing a spoof of Mare of Easttown, with Hahn imitating (and nailing) Kate Winslet’s hard-nosed Mare Sheehan. The murder mystery works well to set up the big reveal that forces Agnes to reconcile with her “reality.” With the help of “Teen” (Joe Locke), a fanboy of hers and wannabe witch (warlock/wizard), Agatha is broken free from Wanda's spell. She is quick to dismiss him but insists she takes him to the Witches’ Road, a fabled place that is said to grant those who survive it what they are “missing.” In order to access the road, Agatha will need to assemble a coven of witches with different specialties including the mysterious green witch Rio Vidal (Aubrey Plaza).
After the witches *reluctantly* gather, the path to the road is opened thanks to a hauntingly beautiful song, “The Ballad of the Witches Road.” “Agatha All Along” might have just been a gag but this song has a purpose, something that goes beyond you don't have Patti LuPone in a show and not have her sing. At first I didn't think it was as catchy as “Agatha All Along” but after the second watchthrough I was hooked. Can't wait for it to make it onto the Disney Halloween playlist on Apple Music.
Once they step foot on the road, the show's format is laid out: each episode will mark a different trial on the road. Each trial is tailored to a specific member of the coven and their abilities. Like a poisoning means Jennifer Kale (Sasheer Zamata) must step up and figure out how to get ingredients for a potion, using only what she can find in a modern day beach house. Not only is each trial specific but so are the aesthetics of the location. A beach house is fun but how about what is essentially a recording studio complete with Stevie Nicks approved 70s glam rock attire? By switching up the stylings of each episode, they all feel unique and fresh, much like the varying sitcom eras gave WandaVision a distinct vibe. I've only seen the first four episodes but this approach has me excited to see what's next.
Beyond just surviving The Road, Agatha must also watch out for the Salem 7, a terrifying group of “vengeance seekers” who are after her, likely due to the fact she murdered her former coven. But the biggest mystery of all is the one surrounding Teen. He drops knowledge about his life throughout the episodes but if directly asked a question, such as “who are you?” he is incapable of answering it. Naturally comic fans immediately zeroed in on the fact he is likely Billy Kaplan aka Wiccan, the son of the Scarlet Witch. It makes the most sense, but there is also another thread creator Jac Schaeffer has worked in there that would make him more valuable to Agatha. I'm team Wiccan for many reasons, the least being it fits the best narratively for the show. But I love that Schaeffer has put the “mystery” of his identity front and center rather than leave it to breadcrumbs only eagle-eyed comic fans might notice. This won't be another Mephisto situation.
Aside from Hahn, there are a few familiar Westview faces in Agatha All Along. Most are just fun little cameos but Debra Jo Rupp's Mrs. Hart gets to tag along with the witches as an honorary member. At least that's what she believes, it's totally not because they needed another body in the group. The new cast fits right into this quirky yet foreboding world with ease. Their dynamic is magical, as they play off one another, fully leaning into the spooky camp of it all. Watching the haughty Agatha interact with the witches she is forced to rely upon is endlessly entertaining. Zamata gives as much sass as she takes. Ali Ahn's Alice Wu-Gulliver is a tough one, mostly unbothered by Agatha's posturing. The aforementioned great Patti LuPone's divination witch Lilia Calderu knows what Agatha is up to and calls her out each chance she gets.
Unlike the others, Plaza's Vidal is given an air of mystery not only about her intentions but also her relationship to Agatha. Are they former lovers turned enemies? And if so what exactly happened? I'm sure that secret will be revealed in time, but while we wait we get to enjoy Plaza devouring each scene she magics herself into. Vidal reminds me of a slightly more subdued Lenny, her wildly unhinged, depraved character in Legion (one of my favorite Marvel shows to date). Hahn strides back onto the screen as Agatha, chewing the scenery every chance she gets. Whether she is whipping her trench coat around, rolling her eyes, or mocking those around her, Hahn's performance naturally pulls you in. Agatha is alluring, dangerous, and we are 100% caught in her web.
Verdict
Agatha All Along is one devilish, witchy, ominous, and thrilling good time. It's funny, even campy, but also sinister and serious. That balance along with incredible set designs, costumes, and performances from the core cast make it a must watch. For my fellow spooky season friends, it's bound to become a Halloween time favorite, joining the ranks of other top witchy picks like The Craft and Practical Magic. As far as the greater MCU is concerned, it isn't clear if Agatha will connect at all beyond Wanda's eventual return (yes I don't believe we have seen the last of her) but there are fun Marvel as well as witchcraft lore easter eggs woven throughout the series that are fun to spot. It's a worthy sequel to WandaVision, giving fans something distinct, fresh, and pleasantly wicked.
Agatha All Along episode 1 and 2 are now streaming on Disney+.
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