Agatha All Along

The first two episodes of Agatha All Along left me wanting more. It is fun, humorous, spooky, mysterious and the practical effects really make everything come alive.

Whether it be mocking Jodie Foster in Mare of East town or camping it up as the devilish witch, Kathryn Hahn chews up every scene she's in as the titular anti-heroine. Supporting characters have only just been introduced but there is a strong chemistry felt among Agatha and her coven that I look forward to being explored more. Both Aubrey Plaza and especially Joe Locke have been scene stealers, as well. The MCU has struck gold with Agatha, and if the rest of the series can live up to the first two episodes then it will be a magically good time.

Plot

A spell-bound Agatha Harkness regains freedom thanks to a teen's help. Intrigued by his plea, she embarks on the Witches' Road trials to reclaim her powers and discover the teen's motivations.

Cast

Kathryn Hahn, Aubrey Plaza, Ali Ahn, Patti LuPone, Paul Adelstein, the always adorable Debra Jo Rupp and a cameo from Evan Peters! No cast problems here.

Verdict

Love it or hate it nobody can dispute that the MCU has accomplished something truly astonishing. Am I a fan? Yes. Am I a blind fan who defends it senselessly and claims it's all great? Absolutely not. Some is incredible, some is dire, it's a mixed bag and that's simply inevitable and should not be frowned upon. Taste is subjective, I didn't like Dr Strange, Black Panther or several others that were critically acclaimed for example.

Agatha All Along follows the fascinating Wandavision (2021) and I'm shocked it actually exists. Think of all the high profile Marvel heroes that have failed to get their own movie/show and yet Agatha Harkness has?! Very unexpected but I wasn't against it, this could have turned out to be a wonderful surprise I thought. I was wrong, but not entirely.

You see I like Hahn, she just tends to do movies I don't enjoy and her over acting style comparable with Kristen Wiig can get old fast. Sadly that's here in abundance, however the shows writers seem to tug the character and her personality left and right so dramatically throughout the shows 9 episode runtime that sometimes she's more bearable than the others. Thankfully a fantastic support cast manage to balance the tone out, except Locke who is for the most part awful. Yes he improves as the show progresses but overall I found him somewhat annoying and you can't have two annoying characters, especially when essentially they're the dual leads!

The show flips from marginally above average stuff to quite enjoyable, it keeps your attention, it kept me intrigued and yet at all times it felt like something entirely unidentifiable was missing and that frustrated me all the way until the very poor finale.

Agatha All Along is a passable watch, it's a novelty addition to the MCU, an acceptable companion piece to Wandavision but don't expect it to make a lasting impression.

Rants

This is one of those IMDB credits that you don't want to delve into the 1/10 reviews because you know exactly what you're going to find. Let's break it down, female lead, gay side lead, almost every character in the show is some description of LGBT, lots of diversity throughout and you can even see a trans lives matter banner in the final episode. Yep, the "Anti-woke" brigade love this one and reading their drivel, vitriol and absurd justifications for their intolerance is infuriating. Live and let live people, don't get upset about things where there is no victim. Think of your blood pressure if nothing else!

The Good

Great cast Some really enjoyable moments It's "Different" and the industry needs more of that

The Bad

Some characters can be a tad annoying Doesn't flow as well as it should Dreadful finale.

Rooted firmly in what made WandaVision an enticing watch, Agatha All Along delivers a familiar viewing experience, but goes about it in its own way.

The premise is deceptively simple--a down-and-out villain on a quest to restore her power. As the story unfurls, we see it's about much more than that, and even Agatha's seemingly straightforward motivations are reframed by the end. The story takes its time with the plot twists, but once it starts, it doesn't let up until the very last minute of episode 9.

Led by a career-defining performance from Kathryn Hahn, the cast works well separately and best as a group. Locke and Plaza are highly engaging as the mysteries of their respective characters centre and recontextualize the narrative.

This is a thrifty production by Marvel standards, as you can sometimes--not very often--tell. The broom riding sequence is janky, and the final confrontation has to mostly take place offscreen. This has an upside as it more or less forces the narrative to zero in on the emotional aspect and make us empathize with these characters. The finale in particular surprised me with how poignant and small-scale they allowed it to be, respecting the core of the show as it offers a solemn and mature look into Agatha's world not often associated with the superhero genre.

Overall, this has been a quality MCU offering that shows not all superhero tales need expensive fireworks to shine.

First, I find it interesting that people could leave one star reviews on a show that hadn't premiered yet. Looks like some are a bit pre-biased.

Be that as it may, the show is not the be all end all and it's not the meaning of life, but it's fun and it's very interesting and I can't wait to watch the rest of the series. Joe Locke is perfect casting as expected, Kathryn Hahn is amazing as always, and I'm looking forward to meeting the rest of the coven. It has the right notes of spookiness, especially for the Halloween season, and I think using the same exterior for the house in Bewitched from the 60s is an awesome call back. I'll be here every week.

The series Agatha All Along is a fascinating spin-off from WandaVision, created by Jac Schaeffer, and the first two episodes already provide an excellent glimpse of what's to come. As is often the case with Marvel productions, the cinematography is impeccable, raising the visual standard we've come to expect from the MCU.

The characters are incredibly captivating right from the start, sparking curiosity and a desire to learn more about each one. The actresses are perfectly cast in their roles, standing out with performances that bring both humor and emotion to the narrative.

One of the highlights is the music at the end of the second episode. The masterful blend of major and minor tones creates an unforgettable atmosphere, leaving a chill and an irresistible urge to keep watching. Once again, Marvel holds the audience's attention with a seamless combination of elements.

If you haven't started watching yet, this series promises to be one of Marvel's most enchanting. Don't miss it!