Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for “Agatha All Along.”
“Agatha All Along,” while far from perfect, marks a step in the right direction for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The stakes are high yet self-contained, which is refreshing compared to other MCU films and TV series that concern the state of the entire multiverse. The show also contains plenty of moments of humor, and it manages to maintain a spooky and intense vibe while not taking itself too seriously.
The show centers around Agatha Harkness, a fan-favorite who first appeared onscreen in the show “WandaVision,” guiding a coven of witches down the legendary Witches’ Road. The coven accesses the Witches’ Road by singing an ancient song called “The Ballad of the Witches Road.” The road allegedly grants witches that survive its deadly trials whatever they desire most. At the start of the show’s double-episode season finale, the only characters left on the road include influencer Jennifer Kale, Billy Maximoff, Agatha and Rio Vidal, who was previously revealed to be the personification of Death.
The show grapples with many mysteries, which are explained with varying degrees of resolution by the finale. One mystery concerns Billy’s identity crisis, as after the events of WandaVision, his consciousness was put into the body of teenager William Kaplan. Billy himself is not quite sure who he is, but he desperately wants to find his brother Tommy. Agatha’s mysterious backstory also looms in the background, specifically about her son, Nicholas, and her former romantic relationship with Rio.
The eighth episode begins with Jen, Billy and Agatha finding their way off the road. Agatha and Billy break into a fight against Rio, in what seems to be a typical climax for an MCU show. The battle ends with Agatha sacrificing herself to Rio, allowing Billy to return home. Back in his bedroom, Billy sees objects that correlate to things he saw on the Witches’ Road and realizes that the Witches’ Road was actually manifested from his own unconscious mind.
Agatha’s backstory is finally revealed in the final episode. The first half of the episode is a flashback to the 1750s, showing the surprisingly sweet relationship between Agatha and Nicholas. “The Ballad of the Witches’ Road” is then revealed to have been created by Agatha and Nicholas, and it only later became mythicized. After Nicholas died at only 6 years old, heartbroken Agatha turned the myth of the witches’ road into a con, luring them in with promises of the road and then taking their power, killing them in the process. The episode then returns to the present day, where Agatha appears in Billy’s room as a ghost. The show concludes with the two agreeing to team up to find Tommy.
Although knowing Agatha’s backstory is fundamental in understanding both her character and the origins of the witches’ road, it suffers from the fact that it is only revealed in the final episode rather than having been woven in organically throughout the show. After the dramatic climax and reveal at the end of the eighth episode, the actual final episode felt like it was an afterthought that was only included for the purpose of info-dumping.
The show comes incredibly close to a unique depiction of death through the character Rio, as it alludes to a cycle of growth after death, but also ultimately fails to do so. During the flashbacks to Agatha’s past, Rio is depicted wearing the color green, which represents growth, and she is benevolent as she agrees to give Agatha more time with Nicholas. However, Rio’s brutal sadism during the final fight between her and Agatha undermines any nuance, turning her into a stereotypical villain. Rio does not appear in the present day after the fight, leaving her character arch unresolved.
The show’s strength lies in the characterizations of Billy and Agatha and the way the dynamic between the two shifts throughout the show. Billy is incredibly empathetic and kind, making the fact that he was responsible for the deaths of three characters who died on the road especially tragic. Agatha brings out a new side of Billy — a cynicism within him that he did not have at the start of the show.
In contrast, Billy brings out a sense of vulnerability within Agatha that she would really rather keep hidden. Throughout the show, Agatha constantly uses humor and sarcasm as a way to mask her true emotions. Despite this, it is clear that Agatha does care about Billy because he reminds her of Nicholas. Agatha’s mask finally breaks in the final scene, when expressing her vulnerability is the only way to convince Billy to stop trying to banish her spirit.
Despite a poorly structured finale, the endearing and hilarious character dynamics are a reason to watch the show. The intricate plot reveals a reason to watch it again, as viewers will find new foreshadowing details each time.
