Through Many Miles/Of Tricks and Trials

I like Marvel phases I-III and used to collect comic books, so obviously this show isn't for me, but it has a stamp of "Marvel" on it, so here we are... By this point the anticipation that Kathryn's charm may appear has run its course, and we're mostly left with an episode consisting of explanations of world rules and stale Marvel humor- "So THAT just happened" kind of jokes. It's likely fun for some people.

Ep3 is probably my least favorite so far. The dialogue and acting are better than previous episodes, but this one really feels like a low-budget comedy/drama series on Netflix/Amazon like "The Good Place" or "Upload". The music also stuck out in Ep3 for sounding particularly generic. "Can I get some more staccato violin plucks?"

The other thing that annoys me about the writing is that whenever they go off on a tangent about "My witch powers XYZ takes your ABC powers because of EFG" it reminds me of a child learning to talk, explaining their action figures to me- I understand enough of the words to nod my head and go along with it, but I have no idea what they're talking about or where it's going or why; and that's effectively my reaction to the show.

Agatha All Along, Ep3: So that just happened.

The witches are on the road. Suddenly their dream house appears as the witches turn to the Real Housewives of Oz.

It is not going to be plain sailing despite Sharon finding her dream kitchen in the house.

There is even some classy wine to drink. Agatha knows it is a trick. The rest end up with horribly contorted faces.

To get back to normal they need to make an antidote. Before that Agatha needs to gluck some wine.

In essence this was an escape room scenario. With digs at some of the Hollywood executives, those who like their plastic surgery.

It was fun yet at times laborious. I also think that you cannot have a trial as the episode of the week for the rest of the series. It will get tedious.

I was a little bit worried that they wouldn't do enough with the premise they set up in the first two episodes. I was luckily mistaken. I love what they're setting up here. The costumes, set design, and story are so incredible, and the camaraderie that the characters have with each other is very enjoyable. I love when shows have a large number of main characters, but still manage to handle each one of them with respect towards their backstories and relationships with other characters. These trials are going to be so interesting to watch, especially since every episode has its own theme. I've been loving this show so far, and I can't wait to keep loving it.

I really enjoyed the first two episodes and was excited to see what would come next.

Unfortunately, this episode didn't live up to the anticipation. It felt disjointed, with random elements thrown in seemingly just to spook the characters, only for elements to conveniently disappear without resolution later on.

Overall, it reminded me of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, where things quickly spiraled into chaos purely for dramatic purposes, only to be resolved just as conveniently by the episode's end.

As others have noted, there were too many forced jokes in every scene, which started to turn the characters into caricatures. Marvel used to do funny puns effortlessly, with impeccable timing. Here, the humor felt forced and unnatural and at times rather mean.

I hope the remaining episodes will get better, but it seems the tone and pacing have already been set, which is a bit concerning.

This episode was unexpected with its choices to drive the story but it deserves merit for its effective exposition. I can't give it the highest rating because the series spans 9 episodes, leaving room for further judgment. This episode was pivotal in character development, delving into their traumas. Personally, I would have preferred more action to steer it towards a more horror-oriented direction. Nonetheless, being only the 3rd episode, the show benefits from a slower pace for world-building and character depth, an area Marvel has been lacking in. The show has 9 episodes so it has the luxury to run slower and it is something needed given the large cast. The episode excels in revealing the unique personalities and backstories of the cast.

It's frustrating that immediate answers aren't provided, but if that were the case, we would be running post-credit scenes from the 4th episode. On that note, the story's progression introduces promising setups for future episodes. The conflict centered around trust among the characters was a refreshing choice over a more conventional approach.

Can Marvel finally receive praise for this? The set pieces and effects are impressive! Marvel's departure from hastily re-shot scenes and reduced use of CGI indicates a good sign. Also, Agatha's character consistently reinforces her antagonist side, yet the episode adds depth to her story by revealing her traumas. Moreover, the official name drop of a long-awaited character is a significant WIN for comic fans. These details add excitement to watching the show, with anticipation building for how they will further develop the plot and cast, potentially delivering big surprises.