Agatha All Along
By Sioph W. Leal
After the success of WandaVision, fans eagerly await to see Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn) awake from the aftermath of the Westview fight and attempt to reclaim her power. The mysterious Teen (Joe Locke), a character whose name we do not hear and whose past is unable to be heard, frees Agatha from the distorted spell and begs her to take him down the legendary Witches’ Road to face the magical trials that rewards a witch with what they’re missing—if they survive. Pulling together a powerless and desperate coven, they set off down the dangerous road to be tested.
The creativity that was much adored from WandaVision carries through to Agatha All Along, with the first episode leaning heavily into the true crime drama genre with the opening credits showing the characters over the actors and the rest of the episode fully immersing itself in that genre. Agnes, trapped as Agatha, is a detective forced to work with Rio Vidal (Aubrey Plaza), who tries to get her to wake up out of the spell, and we quickly learn the two have more history than being friends or enemies. While the first episode is the slowest of the four previewed, it isn’t a bad thing. Clearly it is a creative choice that works well and pays homage to the genre it is showcasing but is revitalised as Agatha literally strips away her former identities until it is only herself left. It’s a fun sequence and the first of many that showcases the artistic vision many superhero and superhero adjacent projects have lacked. Instead of the cookie-cutter MCU, we get a fun, visually changing show that explores all members of the new coven and not just Agatha, although she remains central to it.
It is no secret Agatha could headline the show on her own. Her wit, dry sarcasm, and magnetism are all still there, but with the new coven members, it's expanded. Unable to conjure the road on her own, Agatha recruits the divination witch Lilia (Patti LuPone), a potion witch in Jennifer (Sasheer Zamata), a protection and blood witch in Alice (Ali Ahn), and an unavailable green witch that Sharon Davis, formerly Mrs. Hart (Debra Jo Rupp), is tricked into taking the role of. Each one of them has fleshed out reasons for going on the journey down the road that Agatha and Teen are able to manipulate and exploit. The different personalities, histories, and reasonings are explored well in the first four episodes, creatively showing each new avenue of the road appearing as a house that is one of the witches’ specialities that they must overcome and beat without their powers.
As they venture through each new trial, it takes the form of a house with a different aesthetic and trial meant to confuse and endanger the coven with the tasks reflective of that. The first house seems reminiscent of an influence or typical LA celebrity, and the trial they must overcome is a poisonous task that inflates their faces to look like bad plastic surgery. There are more surprises, but as they progress, the houses become darker and force the coven to interact with and either rise to the challenge or succumb—and not all will make it out. The first four episodes only show the first two trials, and while the first was more comedic in nature but with a sombre result, the second ramps up the horror, pairing it with the coven as a musical group. There is some horror to the series that works perfectly with the covens’ personalities and is used to delve deeper into the characters. Despite the short runtime of episode three, it was one of the favourites because it perfectly captured the spooky Halloween vibe, cultivated a horror setting mixed with humour, and had some unexpected moments that gripped you to the screen.
When Locke was announced as Teen, many instantly suspected he would take the part of Wanda’s lost son, Billy, and while the first four episodes do not reveal the characters true names, there is a mystery to him that weaves its way into the plot of every trial. The mystery of Teen grows with every trial along the road, with some twists and supposed confirmations by episode four that only heightens the mystery and the link to the titular witch.
Agatha All Along is a perfect mix of spooky, funny, and mysterious that crafts a perfect blend while making moments of horror. The ensemble cast and characters work well together, and while Agatha is the star, the mystery surrounding Teen adds more to the story. Each episode follows a signature style when on the Witches’ Road that quickly changes with the aesthetic and genre of the trial. It keeps everything fresh, creative, and fun and will easily be a fan favourite from that and the cast.
Agatha All Along premiers September 18, 2024, on Disney Plus.
The first four episodes were screened for review.