Agatha All Along is the MCU’s latest television miniseries, directed by Jac Schaeffer, starring Kathryn Hahn as Agatha Harkness, Joe Locke as an unnamed teen, and Aubrey Plaza as Rio Vidal. The ongoing series premiered on Disney+ September 18, 2024, and is set to end on October 30th. The show focuses on the character development and emotional journey of Agatha Harkness, an antihero previously featured in WandaVision, a prior MCU production. The story follows Agatha’s journey to recover her magic powers by traveling the mysterious Witch’s Road. Joined by Unnamed Teen (Joe Locke) and a cast of old and new teammates, all with exciting potential character arcs, Agatha (and company) hope to not only regain their power, but also to rediscover themselves and remake their identity as a whole. With spectacular acting from all, the miniseries is one that truly enhances the MCU experience.
Since its conception, Agatha All Along has transitioned between a number of titles, including ‘House of Harkness’ to ‘Coven of Chaos’ to ‘Darkhold Diaries’. Working titles included ‘My Pretty’ and ‘The Lying Witch with the Great Wardrobe’, all fitting titles for this series. The songs of the miniseries, including the song that made the series’ title, were produced by husband-wife team Robert & Kristen Anderson Lopez, who previously worked to make the Frozen and Frozen II soundtrack for Disney. Unlike other MCU productions, Agatha All Along seeks to use practical effects rather than special, making it less expensive than other Marvel projects. Less expensive production paid off, as more money was used to create meaningful costuming and a filming quality that provides a fittingly horror-like and suspenseful atmosphere, able to draw a viewer in for hours at a time.
The first episode alone was already mind-blowing in terms of production, perfectly capturing the gritty, dreary, crime procedural atmosphere of an Agent Agnes (Agatha) on a mission with Agent Vidal to uncover the mystery of a dead body. Dialogue between the characters spoke volumes, with seasoned actors ‘over-acting,’ creating an odd and uncomfortable tone, leaving the viewer full of questions.. The mysterious Agent Vidal later helps lay hints to Agatha about the unreality of her dream world, citing inaccuracies and gaps. The break-in of a teenager into Agatha’s home further aids her in dismantling the illusion placed upon her, keeping the viewer on the edge of their seat. When Agatha finally removes herself from her dreamscape, the stunning catharsis of her discovery of the truth, and the final fight scene truly demonstrates the peak of Marvel’s cinematic skill.
By the second episode, Agatha has already proven herself to be an entertaining character, quickly building a coven of witches to travel the Witch’s Road, alongside her unnamed teen sidekick. With this new coven meant to help Agatha (and themselves) unlock their locked powers, a diverse cast of intriguing backstories, character arcs, and narrative potential is gathered. Witch interactions now take place in suburban lightning, and cheeky humor fits well into the new atmosphere provided. New characters are added into the cast: Lilia Calderu (Patti LuPone), a prophetic grandmotherly witch from the medieval age, Jennifer Kale (Shasheer Zamata), a more modern potions witch with a track record of producing non-safety standard candle products, and Alice Wu-Gulliver (Ali Ahn), a protection witch with a disappeared rock-star mother.
Suspense remains high in the third episode, where hooking scenes in the first Trial along the Witches’ Road reveal character backstories and motivations, from missing parents to missing children, contributing to the growing friendship between the characters at hand. The Trial showcases the life-and-death stakes for the characters, and hits home even further thanks to a plot twist that leaves viewers reeling. .
Agatha All Along’s audience approval rating has been solidly popular, with an 83% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and receiving 9.3 million views in its first week on Disney+. The Marvel fan base has eagerly welcomed the miniseries into the larger MCU movie continuity. Overall, I believe that Agatha All Along is a great production, having a streamlined plot that doesn’t require extensive prior knowledge of the MCU in order to understand and enjoy. Some downsides included the jarring CGI when it appeared, all the more noticeable in a production that tried to restrain from using it. Furthermore, the humor, especially in what could have been the climax of the first episode, was often inappropriately placed, breaking the immersion. Yet overall, I found watching Agatha All Along to be an enjoyable experience. The series paid homage to comics as well as the other movies in the MCU franchise, referencing the Salem Seven, but confusingly replacing Agatha’s cat familiar with a rabbit.
Agatha All Along is a series that deserves 4 out of 5 stars. Entertaining, immersive, and with clear love and dedication put in by all involved in the production process, the show is sure to provide enjoyment to all audiences. Whether the viewer is a dedicated MCU fan, or has been in a coma since Iron Man I, they are sure to enjoy this series.
