Agatha All Along brings back one of the most beloved characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe – Kathryn Hahn’s Agatha Harkness. Three years after Agatha enchanted everyone with her scene-stealing performance as Wanda and Vision’s charming neighbor in WandaVision, Hahn takes center stage in a follow-up series that fans have been clamoring for.
WandaVision creator Jac Schaeffer is once again responsible for telling a unique story in the magical corner of the MCU and, with Hahn and a stellar cast, has created one of the most enjoyable and deliciously intriguing Marvel shows yet.
Agatha All Along premieres September 18, 2024 exclusively on Disney+. This review covers the first four episodes of the eight episode season.
Official Synopsis:
The infamous Agatha Harkness finds herself down and out of power after a suspicious goth Teen helps break her free from a distorted spell. Her interest is piqued when he begs her to take him on the legendary Witches’ Road, a magical gauntlet of trials that, if survived, rewards a witch with what they’re missing. Together, Agatha and this mysterious Teen pull together a desperate coven, and set off down, down, down The Road…
The infamous Agatha Harkness finds herself down and out of power after a suspicious goth Teen helps break her free from a distorted spell. Her interest is piqued when he begs her to take him on the legendary Witches’ Road, a magical gauntlet of trials that, if survived, rewards a witch with what they’re missing. Together, Agatha and this mysterious Teen pull together a desperate coven, and set off down, down, down The Road…
REVIEW – An Enchanting Ensemble Makes Magic
With a star as charismatic and beloved as Kathryn Hahn, it would seem like an easy thing to build a successful show around her. But the execution of such a thing is much harder than it looks. Taking a hugely popular supporting character, and bringing her to the forefront of her own story is challenging, because often scene-stealers are best in smaller doses. Add the fact that WandaVision is considered one of, if not the, best Marvel shows created, and Agatha All Along comes with a lot of pressure.
Fortunately, Jac Schaeffer, who also wrote and directed episodes of the series, is more than up for the challenge. The first step was surrounding Hahn with an incredibly talented cast, which includes Joe Locke, Sasheer Zamata, Ali Ahn, Debra Jo Rupp, Broadway legend Patti LuPone, and Aubrey Plaza, who just might be the only one who can rival Hahn’s popularity.
The cast is not only amazing individually, but have a crackling chemistry that really can’t be manufactured or predicted. Each member of the Agatha All Along main cast has numerous moments to shine, and they each consistently elevate the performances of those around them. It’s truly a master class of ensemble performances and storytelling.
Rupp, who was another delightful character briefly seen in WandaVision, also plays a larger role here, and her enthusiasm and joy are infectious. Ahn and Zamata are excellent balances for each other and the cast as a whole. Zamata, who has an extensive comedic background and was a cast member on Saturday Night Live, plays Jennifer Kale with an understated hilarity. Kale is actually one of the more grounded characters on a show that as many over-the-top elements, and he reaction to those elements very funny. Meanwhile, Ahn’s character Alice has a relatable vulnerability and strength that makes her one of the more warm and likable characters.
Many audiences will undoubtedly be eager to see what Aubrey Plaza brings to the MCU, and while her character is seen relatively sparingly in the first four episodes, what’s clear from the beginning is that this Witch’s Road is a perfect path for her talents. Plaza is fiendishly delightful with her trademark humor with slightly sinister intentions. It’s not an accident that Marvel Studios provided the first four episodes for screening purposes, and the fourth ends with Plaza set to take a more prominent role in the story.
Locke, whom many fans know from Netflix’s aptly named Hearstopper, is interesting in the series because he represents both the audience proxy, as in enthusiastic fanboy of Agatha‘s witchcraft, and what seems to be the central mystery in Agatha’s story. Locke brings a genuine and endearing quality to the group of mostly jaded witches.
Of course one can’t talk about the cast without addressing Hahn, who does a fantastic job of inverting her performance in WandaVision. Where Agatha stole every scene in WandaVision with flair, in Agatha All Along, Hahn is content to pick her moments and allow her co-stars to shine. Don’t get it twisted, it’s still “Agatha all along,” but her ability to ensure that all of the characters around her are given proper spotlight is rare and welcome.
There are still plenty of extremely silly and intentionally cheesy moments in the series that will fail to resonate with some viewers, and through half of the season, little of the overarching storyline or its villain is revealed. Some may find the mystery not intriguing enough to keep them invested. In particular, the story heavily teases the true identity of Locke’s “Teen”. However, the actual reveal and how it’s handled will likely have a significant impact on how the series overall is evaluated. With several years of Marvel shows under our belts at this point, we know that strong starts do not guarantee strong endings.
Having said that, Agatha All Along stands apart from many Marvel shows in that it makes the most of the episodic format, using each episode to further develop the characters as well as deepen the intrigue of the larger story. Many have criticized the Marvel shows for creating feature films and trying to cut them up into episodes for a series, and that is thankfully not the case here.
Agatha All Along shows once again what an exceptional story-teller Jac Schaeffer is, and certainly proves that she deserves her own corner of the MCU. Between WandaVision and this series, Schaeffer has established a genuine understanding of the mystic world within Marvel, as well as the deep character elements that are so critical to a show’s success. With apologies to Benedict Wong, Schaeffer is truly the Sorcerer Supreme and Master of the Mystic Arts.
RATING: 4.5/5 Pocky
Ron is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of POC Culture. He is a big believer in the power and impact of pop culture and the importance of representation in media.
