WARNING: This review contains spoilers for the first two episodes of Agatha All Along .
Three years ago, WandaVision breathed fresh life into the MCU, and it still stands out as one of the most unique and daring projects Marvel Studios had ever produced. Since then, Marvel has struggled to recapture that same magic on our screens—until now. Enter Agatha All Along, another bold, genre-bending creation from the visionary team behind WandaVision.
The series picks up roughly three years after Wanda trapped Agatha in her Agnes persona. Agnes now finds herself living out a bizarre, self-constructed true-crime fantasy, with the entire town playing along. In her mind, she’s stuck in a stereotypical small-town murder mystery. At some point, she even breaks character, offering sly observations that poke fun at the predictable tropes of true-crime dramas—like when she confidently asserts that the solution to the crime must lie in her small town, as is often the case in such stories.
We meet Rio Vidal (Aubrey Plaza), and the chemistry between Rio and Agatha is out of this world. Their exchanges are full of tension, which is hinting that they have a complicated, and possibly romantic past. What really stands out is Rio’s clear intent to kill Agatha, only for Agatha to casually reveal that Rio isn’t allowed to do so. This line immediately raises some questions—who could possibly make such a rule, and why is Rio bound by it? Is it magic, some kind of supernatural contract, or an external power keeping Agatha alive? Rio tells Agatha that she can't kill her and even suggests Agatha takes her power. Why do these witches can't kill each other? What kind of magic or force does Rio possess that could be so dangerous, even to a powerful witch like Agatha? Agatha All Along definitely knows how to keep the audiences wondering, just like WandaVision.
But that isn't the only mystery we are offered. Joe Locke's mysterious goth Teen seems to be the center of the show. He is the one who breaks Wanda's spell on Agatha, which raises some questions for Agatha because she doesn't seem to believe a random boy could just break a spell cast by the Scarlet Witch, one of the most powerful beings in the MCU. Locke's character also can't say his name, it is censored with some sort of sigil whenever he says it. And he is muted for Agatha when he wants to tell her about himself. The mystery aside, with his high energy and wits, Locke's "Teen" becomes the perfect scene partner for Kathryn Hahn's Agatha Harkness.
Teen convinces Agatha to form a coven to enter The Witches' Road, a place where you can get your one true wish after passing several deadly trials.
We meet Lilia Calderu (Patti LuPone), Jennifer Kale (Sasheer Zamata), and Alice Wu (Ali Ahn). All these witches Agatha seeks are at rock bottom, which makes it easier for Agatha to convince them although her intentions are completely different. It's a breath of fresh air to witness Agatha embrace her inherently manipulative and power-hungry nature. Instead of using the Darkhold as a plot device to reframe her as a redemptive anti-hero, Agatha remains true to her character—unconcerned with others and driven solely by her own desires.
While the focus isn't heavily on the primary antagonists, The Salem Seven, their brief introduction is enough to leave a lasting impression. The scenes featuring them are chilling and unsettling as their movements don't feel human at all. I am excited to see more of these vengeance seeker.
Agatha All Along masterfully revives the innovative spirit that made WandaVision a standout success. By picking up the narrative thread three years after Wanda’s spell and immersing us in Agatha’s true-crime world, the series not only honors its predecessor, but also carves out its own unique space within the MCU. The show’s exploration of witches, coupled with Agatha’s unapologetically ambitious nature, makes for a compelling watch.
Rating: 5/5
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