Agatha All Along (2024-Present)

*Premise spoilers.*

I realized that I never actually talked about Agatha All Along after it came out—a serious oversight that needs to be remedied! Like a lot of MCU fans, I approached this show from the perspective of, “Not sure we needed this, but okay, I guess.” And like a lot of MCU fans, I came out of it going, “Man, that is some top-tier post-End Game Marvel content!” This witchy series features a terrific cast, intriguing mysteries, and awesome/inventive production design. I loved it!

What’s It About?

A teenage Wiccan comes to Westview, freeing Agatha Harkness from the hex Wanda Maximoff put on her. In exchange, he wants her to take him to the Witch’s Road, going through its legendary trials to achieve his heart’s desire. Reluctantly, Agatha agrees, assembling a slapdash coven to face the Road with them.

Who’s In It?

Kathryn Hahn returns as Agatha, of course. It’s fun to get a whole show where Agatha is being herself—still duplicitous and frequently working an angle, but also getting more of a look at the real her. I haven’t seen Heartstopper, but Joe Locke does a nice job as the mystery boy who comes to Agatha in search of the Road. He and Hahn have a good back-and-forth together. All the witches in Agatha’s new coven are simply fabulous: an “I don’t have time for this” Sasheer Zameta, a guarded Ali Ahn, a kooky yet compelling Patti LuPone, and an unhinged Aubrey Plaza. All excellent, no notes! The show also features some appearances from WandaVision’s Westview townsfolk.

What Do I Love About It?

·        Once the premise is established, it might seem like the show is relatively straightforward. As the witches walk the Road, each new episode brings the latest in a series of trials, one tailored for each witch’s magical specialty: potions, tarot, etc. Each trial is dangerous, and each has its own unique visual aesthetic. That gives us a basic template to follow, but as the show takes us through it, things get much more complex and compelling.

·        All the design elements are done so well! The various looks served by the Road are interesting and cool, with each episode offering up a new theme for the production design and costumes. The music—especially the Ballad!—serves the story really well, I like each’s character’s look, and for the most part, the magic looks neat.

·        The “different vibe for each trial” thing keeps the episodes visually interesting, but it also opens up possibilities for the storytelling as well. The witches find themselves in locations as varied as a 1970s(?) recording studio and a 1980s slumber party. There are flashback episodes to give greater context to key characters, unraveling their mysteries, and there’s one episode that plays with time/non-linear storytelling in the most fantastical way (while also giving us the witches dressed as famous cinematic witches!)

·        The character work is terrific! I can honestly say I found all the witches really engaging, thanks to the combo of the excellent acting and strong writing. And while I was entertained by Agatha in WandaVision, I didn’t really come out of that show eager to learn more about what makes her tick. This series, however, brings so much more to her character. It’s genuinely great to see more of her in action, watch how she interacts with other witches, and explore her past.

Warnings

Violence, language, sensuality, drinking, disturbing images, and thematic elements.