Agatha All Along premiere review: Agatha Harkness is back with a vengeance (and a whole lot of humor!)

As a long-time fan of WandaVision and a self-proclaimed Agatha enthusiast, I must say that this show has exceeded all my expectations! The first two episodes were nothing short of captivating, with Kathryn Hahn’s performance as Agatha truly stealing the show.

We’re once again in Westview, dear Marvel enthusiasts, and it’s truly a delight! It’s been almost three years since the debut of WandaVision, where the enchanting villain Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn) first appeared. And here we are, under her mysterious charm once more.

As it’s been some time since the storyline of WandaVision concluded, let’s quickly revisit where the story of Agatha All Along begins. In the finale of that series, Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) enchanted Agatha, essentially causing her to forget her true identity and live as if she’s a character in a TV show universe. Conversely, the other residents of Westview were freed from this spell, but not Agatha, who attempted to seize Wanda’s powers and paid the price for doing so.

It’s a pretty awful yet fitting punishment, but the spell is broken with some witchy interventions, which proceeds to kickstart a fabulous two-episode premiere that reminds us that Agatha just might be the best Marvel villain we’ve ever had.

Agatha All Along Season 1, Episode 1: “Seekest Thou the Road”

Right from the start, there’s an undeniable element that sets this show apart – the pairing of Kathryn Hahn and Aubrey Plaza. Their interaction is simply stellar, and it’s tough to imagine anyone else but Plaza embodying her character so perfectly.

As the story unfolds (in a nod to HBO’s Mare of Easttown), Agatha is submerged in her cop role, grappling with misery, unhappiness, and simply getting by from one day to the next. However, it isn’t until a murder occurs in the quaint town of Westview that events begin to take an unexpected turn.

Enter Aubrey Plaza’s character, Rio Vidal.

Initially, we encounter her as a detective investigating the latest homicide with a federal badge, yet there’s something intriguing about her beyond her profession. A subtle unease envelops her character, masterfully portrayed by Plaza, and it soon transpires that she is not the federal agent she appears to be (although did we ever truly believe otherwise?). Instead, she is a sorceress holding a grudge against Agatha, stemming from past events. At first glance, Rio seems sympathetic towards Agatha’s plight, but it later becomes apparent that her intentions are not as benevolent as they seem. It appears at the outset that she wants to free Agatha from Wanda’s enchantment, yet it also seems, initially, that she aims to shake Agatha from under Wanda’s spell.

In that instance, Joe Locke’s character “Teen” steps into the scene, radiating an over-eager fangirl energy towards Agatha. It’s him who breaks Agatha free from the Scarlet Witch’s enchantment, suggesting he’s much stronger than initially perceived. Yet, his cheerful and vibrant demeanor is so unexpected that it’s hard to imagine him as the one to change Agatha’s TV-themed character, Agnes, back into the detested purple witch we all know.

With Agatha’s transformation back into her powerful witchy self, reminiscent of the various TV personas she played on “WandaVision,” it’s clear we’re buckling up for an exhilarating journey!

Prior to “Teen” assisting Agatha excessively, he observes the initial skirmish of the season between Agatha and Rio. Although Agatha regains her memories, she recognizes Rio, and it’s disclosed to us viewers that Rio is not a friendly figure.

Rio launches a fierce assault on Agatha, marking the end of the season opener while hinting at something grand ahead. Initially, it’s important to note that witches are forbidden from killing one another. Instead, they can engage in intense battles without taking each other’s lives. This could make for an intriguing storyline as the season progresses.

The fight closes with Agatha manipulating her way out of the duel by saying she is at a disadvantage—but how long will that last?

Agatha All Along premiere review: Agatha Harkness is back with a vengeance (and a whole lot of humor!)

Agatha All Along Season 1, Episode 2: “Circle Sewn with Fate / Unlock Thy Hidden Gate”

One captivating aspect drawing viewers into the charm of Agatha All Along is its mystery that unfolds alongside our viewing experience. Just like with WandaVision, many of us spent countless hours speculating about future events and making predictions, only to find most of those theories unraveling as the actual storyline unfolded. It’s refreshing to see that Agatha and the rest of the cast seem equally clueless about what lies ahead, including the true identities of some characters.

If you’re following along like me, you’ve likely been pondering about the identities of Rio Vidal and “Teen,” wondering if she could be connected to Mephisto or perhaps Nicholas Scratch, or even one of Wanda’s sons. The show leaves many possibilities open, but I’m just here for the fun ride. That being said, based on the mix of kindness and detachment that “Teen” has shown so far, I have a feeling he will be the one Agatha should worry about the most in the end.

In the second installment of the debut season, I found myself predominantly focusing on Agatha and “Teen” as they embarked on a mission to recruit witches for our freshly established coven. Our ultimate goal was to tap into the Witches’ Road, but we couldn’t activate it until our coven had assembled in unity.

Best place to find witches, apparently? Going to a psychic.

During their journey beyond Westview, Agatha and “Teen” call on Lilia Calderu (Patti LuPone), who swiftly identifies Agatha. Lilia shows no interest in joining their coven. Despite Agatha’s efforts to convince Lilia in the instant, all she manages to extract is a roster of witches to enlist.

They guide “Teen” and Agatha towards other potential witches they wish to enlist for the Witches’ Path, among them being Jennifer Kale (Sasheer Zamata) and Alice Wu-Gulliver (Ali Ahn). However, Agatha encounters strong opposition due to her controversial background, as the other witches are well-aware of her past transgressions.

Nevertheless, this doesn’t prevent them from showing up at Agatha’s house and deciding to become part of her coven. Despite her being possibly untrustworthy, there’s an alluring force and charm surrounding Agatha that draws everyone towards her, urging them to walk the Witches’ Road with her.

In the second episode, one of the most amusing plot twists arises when Agatha deliberately overlooks the last name on her witch recruitment list. Although they don’t explicitly reveal who it was, it seems clear that Rio was on that list. To prevent bringing Rio in, Agatha enlists her neighbor, Mrs. Hart (played by Debra Jo Rupp), as a replacement. Though she isn’t actually a witch, she fits the bill for now. We can’t wait to see how this works out. The inclusion of Debra Jo Rupp’s character in the group is flawlessly imperfect, and her innocence about the situation and readiness to go along with things make her quite endearing.

Gathering with our coven, we finally arrive at the moment where the iconic series tune, “The Ballad of Witches’ Path,” is played out. We’ve been anticipating this song since its premiere at D23 in August, and it has been a staple for weeks. In the show, the performance exceeds all our expectations!

In the game of life, I summoned a gateway to the road, leaving me alone as the Salem Seven stormed Agatha’s abode. Once the enchanting melody faded and some heated witchcraft debates subsided, the door materialized just in time, warding off the unwelcome dementor witches. As the door swung shut, it sealed Agatha and her coven within their sacred space.

What follows is a captivating and exhilarating spectacle that leaves us yearning for more – we can’t get enough of Agatha All Along. They have now reached the Witches’ Path, evoking a sense of nostalgia reminiscent of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and we are eagerly anticipating every step!

To sum up, I can’t say enough positive things about the premiere episodes of Agatha All Along. Hahn delivers an exceptional performance that surpasses my initial expectations, and her captivating portrayal of Agatha as a cunning and deceitful character makes you find yourself rooting for this sneaky villain despite yourself.

For a while now, we’ve been yearning for a fresh villain narrative like Agatha All Along, and the initial two-episode debut certainly validated why Agatha merits her own series. With plenty more to unfold, there’s already an uproar of theories and discussions circulating (please, no spoilers!). I can hardly wait to discover what additional surprises lie ahead in the upcoming weeks!

Grade: A

2024-09-19 23:42