Agatha All Along (Disney+) – Review

This review is based on the first four episodes of Agatha All Along.

Marvel’s television offerings have been a mixed bag since its first series, Disney+’s WandaVision (2021), set a high bar way back in 2021, dazzling audiences with its genre-melding format and gripping weekly mystery. The dynamics between Elizabeth Olsen’s Wanda Maximoff and Paul Bettany’s Vision served as the show’s beating heart, and their strong presence – especially the former – breathed life into a limited series that defied expectations. But there was also no denying that it was another character who ended up stealing the spotlight – Agnes, Wanda’s nosy neighbour played by the always excellent Kathryn Hahn, who turned out to be the mastermind Agatha Harkness, well, all along. 

In a bid to flesh out the crafty, intriguing, and charismatic individual comes Agatha All Along, a spin-off that aims to recapture the innovative spirit of its predecessor. Leveraging the nostalgia and narrative groundwork laid by Jac Schaeffer – who also helms Agatha All Along – in WandaVision, this new outing revisits familiar themes and styles by focusing on the titular Harkness, portrayed with delicious villainy by Hahn of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003) and Glass Onion (2022) fame. Hahn’s prowess in dramedy shines through yet again, with her performance embracing the grandeur necessary for a larger-than-life character. However, the series isn’t completely able to break free of WandaVision‘s shadow, and doesn’t ooze enough personality to chart a new path down the MCU’s Yellow Brick Road… at least, not in the first four episodes.

Set three years after the finale of WandaVision, Agatha All Along finds an amnesiac Harkness under a punishing spell cast by Wanda, trapped in a fabricated reality without her powers and memories. Hahn’s portrayal of the evil witch, who sardonically navigates a Mare of Easttown-inspired existence as ‘Agnes of Westview’, is a highlight, showcasing her adeptness at melding dark humour with a nuanced depiction of entrapment. The series cleverly uses a murder mystery as a conduit for Agatha to dissect her peculiar predicament, merging elements of popular crime dramas à la True Detective (2014–present) with its own eerie narrative fabric.

Initially, Agatha All Along seems poised for a slow burn, mirroring series creator Schaeffer’s preferred pop culture homage approach. However, it swiftly shifts gears from the outset and dives headfirst into the world of witchcraft, perhaps acknowledging the need to move beyond its predecessor’s gimmick. With Hahn reprising her role, Agatha’s past as a pariah in the witch community is explored in depth, setting her on a desperate quest reminiscent of The Wizard of Oz (1939) as a new coven travel along the mystical Witches’ Road to reclaim her powers, and the coven’s desires. 

Seeing as how she is now all alone, Agatha begrudgingly assembles her own motley crew of witches, each bringing a unique flavour to the cauldron. American Horror Story (2011–present) veteran Patti LuPone revels in her role as the eccentric fortune teller Lilia Calderu, while actress-comedian Sasheer Zamata (Woke, Saturday Night Live) brings a modern touch as the wellness guru Jennifer Kale. Ali Ahn (Orange Is the New Black, Billions) rounds out the coven as the stoic Alice Wu-Gulliver, a former cop with a hidden connection to the supernatural. As the witches navigate a series of bizarre, trial-filled landscapes, the show offers a visual and thematic homage to a pantheon of witch-centric classics, including Hocus Pocus (1993), Practical Magic (1998), The Craft (1996), and modern witchy tales (The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and American Horror Story: Coven) alike.

However, there are times where the show’s quirkiness comes across as excessive and lets its ‘rag-tag team’ formulaic trope detract from its charm. The introduction of Teen, Agatha’s eager goth fanboy portrayed by Heartstopper’s Joe Locke, aims to add mystery and a youthful touch, but his role often serves more as a heavy-handed expository device than a fully-realised character. The occasional struggle to balance world-building with narrative momentum also leaves viewers wondering if Agatha All Along trusts them to connect the dots on their own.

Amidst a stacked cast, it’s Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Recreation, The White Lotus) as eccentric witch Rio Vidal who shines brightest. Plaza, no stranger to Marvel projects after her turn as supervillain Shadow King in 2017’s Legion, injects humanity into her complex character – a feat made even more impressive by the potential for one-dimensionality in lesser hands. Though underutilised in the early episodes, her magnetic presence commands attention when things start to pick up. 

In particular, her relationship with Agatha makes for an interesting study as the pair exhibit electrifying chemistry, crackling from the first encounter in the series with an intoxicating blend of sexual tension and echoes of a toxic past, making each scene they share rich with potential. While claims of Agatha All Along being the “gayest” Marvel show to date are bold, early episodes with both characters offer a tantalising preview of what could be a spellbinding relationship in the next five episodes.

Of course, with only four of nine episodes available for review, it’s difficult to fully gauge the show’s potential. So far, the series flirts with a lighter, almost campy tone reminiscent of The Addams Family (1991) or Death Becomes Her (1992), leaving one to hope for a darker, more compelling narrative in the remaining episodes. 

While parts of the story may feel predictable and underwhelming, Agatha All Along thankfully steers clear of the heavy-handed lore and multiverse references that often bog down Marvel projects, focusing more on character development instead. Still, not all characters are built the same, so some will inevitably receive less attention or be less fleshed out. 

As a whole, the show remains a breezy watch that’s perfect for those who revel in the spooky spirit of the Halloween season – humorous and far from feeling like Marvel homework, though some names and references are fun to catch if you’re a fan. Perhaps the series will transcend its current limitations and truly enchant its audience with a deeper dive into its magical cauldron of mischief as it continues to unfold.

Agatha All Along is now streaming on Disney+, with new episodes releasing weekly.