Agatha All Along (Marvel Television, 2024)

Marvel’s most ambitious project from phase five. 

Written by Maria Paula Acosta

After her standout role in WandaVison (Marvel Television, 2021), Kathryn Hahn's Agatha Harkness became a fan favorite, thanks to her charismatic portrayal. In November 2021, during a Disney+ event, Agatha All Along (2024) was announced as the spin-off of the successful series WandaVision. The show would explore more of Agatha’s story. Audiences are introduced to a more mystical, magical and darker side of Marvel. The series picks up three years after the events of WandaVison. Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn) is trapped under the spell of  Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) in Westview. As the plot advances, new characters are introduced. Aubrey Plaza stands out with her known humor and in addition, new witches join the coven with the participation of Joe Locke.

Spoilers ahead

One of the most compelling elements about the series is the transition of a powerless Agatha in a completely different reality being a detective. Her strong and resilient character makes her a captivating protagonist, a woman who refuses to be intimidated by anyone, especially with men. The show keeps the same formula and beginning as WandaVision, a fictional reality product of Wanda. Unlike WandaVision, Agatha All Along starts off slower, gradually picking up the pace as the episodes progress leading to a strong ending.

Episode one starts with Agatha believing herself to be police detective “Agnes”, working alongside with her neighbor in a new crime scene case, in which the Jane Doe is believed to be Wanda Maximoff. Rio Vidal (Aubrey Plaza), an FBI agent, comes to help Agnes with the case. Agnes and Rio seem to know each other very well from way back. During the night, a teenager (Joe Locke) breaks into Agne’s house looking for “The Road”. Believing it was linked with the murder investigation, Teen is taken down to the station for an interrogation, leading to Agatha's spell breaking, bringing her memory back and realizing her powers were gone. Rio comes back to kill Agatha but she begs to wait until her “purple” (referring to her powers) comes back. Desperate for having her powers back, Agatha recruits a group of witches who all have reasons to go to the Witches' Road. Needing someone else, Agatha decides to recruit her gardener neighbor who has no idea what’s going on and was previously on WandaVision. After performing “The Ballad of the Witches' Road” by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, the coven embarks on a mission to finish The Road.

The main cast is gradually introduced, initially without much background, but over time they develop and contribute significantly to the series. Kathryn Hann stars alongside a large female cast – Aubrey Plaza (Rio Vidal) , Patti LuPone (Lilia Calderu), Sasheer Zamata (Jennifer "Jen" Kale), Ali Ahn (Alice Wu-Gulliver), Debra Jo Rupp (Sharon Davis) – reinforcing the feminist themes from creator Jac Schaeffer, emphasizing female representation. Plaza plays a key role who brings a lot of mystery, creating a compelling tension and electric chemistry on screen with Hann. The narrative and writing ensures the development of each character in a way that feels organic, giving them a spotlight moment.

As the episodes unfold, a new trail emerges, exploring the backstories of the characters. Initially, I wasn’t fully convinced by this approach since I was hoping for more action featuring Agatha’s past, which we got later on. In order to get to the end of the Road, they have to face a trail which is focused on witchcraft and members of the coven. Teen (Joe Locke) is another character who stands out throughout the series, a young man who has a lot of potential as a witch. At first, his character seemed out of place and without much relevance. His character grows significantly, becoming a vital piece for Agatha to reclaim her power, forming a dynamic partnership.

From the beginning, the series establishes its premise and a straight-forward plot that was expertly developed throughout episodes full of revelations. 

Episode 8 and 9 delivered a majestic plot twist and climax, ultimately revealing that it was Agatha all along. The Road comes to an end, leaving characters behind. Rio is fully revealed as Death and Agatha's ex-girlfriend. Teen is revealed as Billy Maximoff (son of Wanda Maximoff) and turns out, he created The Road subconsciously to find his brother Tommy. The pieces of the puzzle began to fall in place. 

Agatha is known for her selfishness and her desire for power above all else. Yet, Billy seemed to grow under her guidance, forming a mother-son and mentor relationship, leading to Agatha’s “Kiss of Death” with Rio. 

In the final episode, more of Agatha’s backstory is revealed. “The Ballad of the Witches' Road” was created while raising her son Nicky, who died at a young age after Death gave him more time. After his death, Agatha continued to use the ballad to steal the witches’ powers through centuries. While the main story concluded in a beautiful way, some storylines were never explored. 

Certainly, there is more of Agatha’s past and present. Her relationship with Rio or her guilt about losing Nicky. There is only so much that can be covered with 9 episodes. Despite that, Agatha All Along achieved a significant amount with a small budget, blending the different departments really well. From the set design, to the musical numbers, to the cast chemistry, everything about this show brings a refreshing energy to Marvel.

Agatha reincarnates as a ghost meaning death does not mean the end. Teasing for a possible season 2 or leading us onto the next project. Will Agatha come back?

Photo credits to The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Los Angeles Times, Forbes, The Wrap, and Collider.