In 2021 Marvel released its first show on the streaming platform Disney Plus titled “WandaVision.” Starring Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany, we see characters Wanda (portrayed by Olsen) and Vision (portrayed by Bettany) living a perfect suburban life when they start to suspect that not everything about their life is true. After an action-packed season finale where we see a show-down between Wanda and witch Agatha Harkness (played by Kathryn Hahn), Agatha is left defeated and powerless.
Three years later, Marvel has released a new series, a spin-off of WandaVision, titled “Agatha All Along.” Directed by Jac Schaeffer, the two-episode series premier sets up the journey that Agatha will take throughout the show.
Episode One, titled “Seekest Thou the Road,” shows Agatha Harkness, or Agnes, stuck in a police procedural fake reality as she tries to solve the murder of a Jane Doe.
Episode One: Seekest Thou the Road
Episode One was underwhelming compared to what I thought the first episode of a show like this would have. Though I thought the fake reality part was a little cool —especially since it was a reference to WandaVision— not a lot happened that was enough to keep me fully interested and engaged.
Despite this, there were still some things that I enjoyed from this first episode.
One thing that stuck out to me throughout was Kathryn Hahn’s acting. As the episode goes on, the false reality starts to break. One way we can see that is through the changes in facial expressions from Agnes to Agatha that Hahn is able to display.
Something else that I enjoyed from this episode was the music. When there was something intense going on, intense music played, and when something comedic was happening, upbeat and witty music played. The music choices throughout the episode really helped with portraying the mood of what ever scene was on.
Playing “Season of the Witch” by Donovan was also a perfect addition to the show’s soundtrack.
Even though Episode One didn’t have too many likable qualities and didn’t necessarily get me excited for the show, Episode Two definitely did.
Episode Two: Circle Sown With Fate/Unlock Thy Hidden Fate
In this episode, Agatha recruits the help of Teen (played by Joe Locke) to search for a coven to go down the Witches’ Road in hopes to regain her powers. Throughout the episode, we are introduced to three new characters: Lilia Calderu (played by Pattie LuPone), Jennifer Kale (played by Sasheer Zamata), and Alice Wu-Gulliver (played by Ali Ahn). We see that each character has their own motive as to why they need to join Agatha on this journey.
What I loved the most about this episode was seeing all the characters and their interactions with each other.
Whether serious or witty, each character had their own distinct personality and style that makes them feel real. As soon as they were each introduced, I fell in love with each character. The chemistry shared amongst the actors (most notably Kathryn Hahn and Joe Locke) really helped with me getting excited for the show
Episode Two ends off with Agatha’s completed coven singing a ballad to open a door to the Witches’ Road titled The Ballad of the Witches’ Road.” The harmonizing between Hahn, LuPone, Zamata, Ahn, and Debra Jo Rupp, mixed with the intensity of the fight between Locke’s character and the Salem Seven, really tied together this episode.
Episode Two was a lot more enjoyable and engaging compared to the first episode and it was a better setup for the show. When the credits started rolling, I thought to myself, “Is the episode is already over?”
With only two episodes out so far, “Agatha All Along” was able to captivate my interest and get me excited about the characters and their storylines. I look forward to seeing how the rest of the show will unfold.
Come back in mid-November for a full review.
