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Agatha All Along Episode 3 review: The witches face their first trial on the Witches Road

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As someone who’s been a die-hard Marvel fan since the days of Iron Man one-liners and Captain America shield-throwing, I have to say that “Agatha All Along” is truly bewitching! It’s like a potent brew concocted from the best elements of WandaVision, Loki, and a dash of classic horror. The name drops alone are enough to send any Marvel fan into a frenzy, but the clever twists and turns keep me hooked week after week.

This past episode of Agatha All Along was so eerie it felt like a pre-Halloween special in September! Honestly, there were numerous suspenseful scenes that left me startled and off-balance. I absolutely adored the atmosphere of this week’s installment, and I can hardly wait to see what’s in store for the season finale airing on Halloween eve.

This week’s episode of the enchanting Marvel/Disney+ series has sparked plenty of conversation, but what stands out most is the significant nod – the very name we’ve been secretly discussing, speculating about, and passionately pondering since the debut of WandaVision three years ago. Despite feeling a little disappointed at that time, the writers and creators of Agatha All Along are now compensating generously by having a character casually bring up this name. Let’s delve deeper into it shortly!

Last week, we left our interesting coven of witches at the cusp of beginning their trek down the Witches Road. It was a wild and musical ride to that point, but they made it, with Teen (Joe Locke) and Mrs. Hart (Debra Jo Rupp) in tow.

This week marked the initial trial for the Coven+2, and it lived up to all our expectations from a series like this. So, let’s delve into the most significant events of “Through Many Miles of Tricks and Trials.” (MAJOR SPOILERS FOLLOW!)

The coven faces its first trial

Something special about this coven of witches resonates, and it becomes even clearer in the season’s third installment. Despite seeming illogical, they coalesce effectively; now that they operate as a witchy team, this episode lets them fully unleash their powers to confront the turmoil ahead.

In this retelling, the initial witch trial unfolds swiftly, balancing on a tightrope between fear, excitement, anticipation, and humor. It’s an unusual yet beautifully mismatched blend that truly appeals to me.

At the heart of the trial is one of show’s many mysteries: who the heck is Teen? The coven (and us!) are dying to know, but despite Teen sharing that information openly, a sigil prevents his voice from carrying out so others can hear. We saw this sigil in the season premiere but Agatha (Kathryn Hahn) did not address it at the time, and she continues to stay mum about it here. It appears that not even Teen knows this is happening. Peculiar, isn’t it?

It appears that many believe the main theories suggest that Teen could be the Scarlet Witch’s child. However, with the mention of him in this latest episode, there’s been an increase in conjecture regarding his identity. I’ll delve into that topic shortly.

As Jen (Sasheer Zamata) proceeds along Witches Road, she spies a house off in the distance. Once the witches step inside, they transform into characters reminiscent of those from “Big Little Lies,” or as referred to in this episode, “Huge Tiny Lies.

Time is scant to ponder the reasons behind it, as a puzzle emerges, wrapped in an envelope bearing this message: “My numerical worth matters. I’m not enjoyable on my own. I confuse your thoughts. My tactics are widely recognized.” Does anyone sense a hint of Loki? (The character Loki from Marvel is known for his trickery and mind games.)

As the puzzle is verbally presented, a bottle of wine and accompanying glasses magically appear, inviting sharing. Excited by the prospect of festivities (though I must apologize, young friend, you’re not yet old enough!), Jen trails behind him and engages in an intriguing dialogue with the teen.

From the very start, it’s evident that Teen admires Agatha deeply. The reason behind this affection isn’t immediately clear, but there seems to be an undeniable connection between them. This bond hints at a significant revelation, and in this particular episode, Jen might have dropped some subtle hints about what it could be.

Jen reveals to Teen that Agatha opted to give away her child in exchange for getting the Darkhold. This revelation rattles Teen, but it is what Jen says next that rattles us: she mentions that Agatha may not even know or recognize her own son if he showed up (could it be Teen?!). Nothing is known about this child, according to Jen, including if he is alive or if perhaps he has become…“ an agent of Mephisto.”

If you’ve been following Marvel’s Disney+ series from the very beginning, this was a significant instance. A brief mention of a name sent fans into a frenzy for hours, speculating about Mephisto and flies and potential appearances in WandaVision. However, their theories didn’t pan out. But when we finally heard that name, I couldn’t help but hope it won’t be the last time we hear it.

What is the witches’ first trial?

Following the thrilling mention, the witches proceeded to sip on the wine, with exceptions for Teen, who’s underage, and Agatha, who chose abstention. The contents of this wine induced terrifying, intensely vivid hallucinations of people from their past in everyone who consumed it. It was a chilling few moments, undeniably unsettling. I had more than a few sudden surprises, to put it mildly.

Drinking the wine not just causes hallucinations, but also triggers allergic symptoms such as swelling on the face and lips. Jen figured her sole solution was to concoct a remedy using magical components, which could be sourced from common items (like petroleum jelly). It’s an amusing sequence as they scramble to gather ingredients while simultaneously battling intense, terrifying hallucinations.

After Jen collects all necessary components, she concocts the potion in the sink, but soon discovers it needs to be heated. Teen’s clever suggestion of using a sous vide device becomes essential at this point. With all components assembled and one last ingredient – Teen herself – the potion is activated, ensuring the witches’ survival for another day.

Nonetheless, Mrs. Hart, more accurately identified as Sharon Davis, barely manages to secure the potion after she faints due to a hallucination that leads her to cry out Wanda’s name (I must say, these name mentions are quite entertaining!). It appears everything is fine when the witches exit the house (which mysteriously transforms into being submerged underwater) through the oven. Fortunately, everyone escapes without injury, or so it seems…

Upon returning on the Witch’s Path after their initial ordeal, there was much cause for rejoicing. Yet, this elation proved fleeting as it seemed that Sharon had…perished?

Agatha All Along, why must you steal Sharon from me so abruptly? I hope this is just another illusion!

I’m absolutely enjoying this program, everyone, and I’d wager that you are too! It brings me back to the anticipation and excitement during WandaVision, where we’d be on tenterhooks waiting for the next twist or character appearance. This is something Marvel excels at, and I truly hope this series allows them to return to their best form.

As someone who has been captivated by tales of magic and enchantment since my early childhood, I must say that this series is truly living up to my expectations and then some! The Witches Road, as it unfolds before me, promises a journey filled with mystery, adventure, and perhaps even a touch of the supernatural. Having traversed many a fantastical landscape in my imagination, I find myself eagerly anticipating each new episode, hoping to uncover more about this enigmatic road and its inhabitants. The suspense is almost palpable, and I can’t help but feel that something truly magical awaits me on the Witches Road!

Catch new episodes of Agatha All Along every Wednesday on Disney+ at 6 PM PST.

Grade: A

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2024-09-26 09:41

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