Agatha All Along starts off slow, but eventually becomes intriguing by the end of the fourth episode. But does that mean it is a good show if it takes that long for viewers to be on board? It should be noted that this review is based solely on the first four episodes of the nine-episode series.
WandaVision was such a massive hit that expectations are high for Agatha All Along. Throw in Kathryn Hahn reprising one of her most iconic roles and an extremely talented group of actors rounding out the cast, and they get even higher. Unfortunately, for those who go in hoping for a WandaVision level show, they are going to be disappointed. That said, any time Kathryn Hahn and Aubrey Plaza are together on screen, Agatha All Along is at its best.
Trailers for the series revealed that Agatha was going to be trapped inside of a true crime type of scenario at first. Thankfully this is long gone by the end of episode one as it just did not work for me. Some might love it, but it was too over the top and corny for me to appreciate. One of my favorite lines from what I have seen so far does occur in the first few moments of the first episode, so I can at least give them that.
Once Agatha Harkness snaps back into reality, she realizes she is without her powers thanks for Wanda Maximoff, also known as the Scarlet Witch. She collects a coven so that she can access The Witches Road in an attempt to regain her power. Each of those with her have something they wish to gain as well. On their journey they are tasked with different trials that they must pass in order to continue on.
Episodes three and four each surround the events of one trial, and I imagine this will be the same format until we get to the final few episodes of the series. The witches learn more about each other, and about themselves, thanks to the difficult situations they are put in. Episode three’s trial was supposed to deliver a sense of urgency, but for me, it got really old really quickly, and I found myself eager for them to just move onto the next thing.
Agatha All Along episode four is by far the best of the bunch that were given to press for review purposes. It feels as if we are finally getting somewhere. More questions have popped up, and this time, I am interested in what the answers might be. Aubrey Plaza’s character is very clearly not what she seems. It was apparent from the first moment she appeared that there is going to be a twist surrounding her – something she admitted herself by saying that her character’s identity is a spoiler, and that she was thrilled to her to play them.
My money is on Morgan Le Fey or the one and only Mephisto. For those who watched Legion, her mannerisms and actions are very much the same as her character in that series, so maybe she is the Shadow King himself. All we know for sure is that her and Agatha have a tumultuous relationship in which she must have betrayed her.
When it comes to the other mystery character, Teen, played by Joe Locke, there are only two real options of who he could be. Everyone is guessing that he is Wanda and Vision’s son, Billy Maximoff, also known as Wiccan. He is powerful, but untrained in magic. Whenever he tries to speak his name or explain any details about his life, a sigil that was put on him stops him from doing so. Another viable option of who could be is Agatha’s son, Nicholas Scratch. It is mentioned that something happened to him, but the details have not fully been revealed yet.
Agatha All Along is more mature than some of the Marvel series we have seen so far. There are some swear words and Agatha is naked at one point. This is to be expected because Agatha herself is very crass and rude. It is nice to get to see her just be bad, although by episode four she is already starting to get a bit of a conscious and shows some heart.
The ensemble cast is great, but the biggest issue is that they do not blend well together – at least not yet. Teen is adorable and quirky, and one of the best parts of the series. Hahn and Plaza shine together, but in the first four episodes they just have not had enough time together, as Plaza disappears for two episodes.
Now that they are back to sharing the screen, and more questions surrounding Plaza’s true identity and her past with Hahn, perhaps things will keep moving in the right direction. At this moment in the series, I cannot strongly recommend it, but I do have faith that the final five episodes will continue to get better. Here’s hoping that the twist surrounding the Teen and Plaza’s character pay off in a good way, and make the slow struggle of a start worth it.
NEXT: The Substance Review: This Movie Is Not For Everyone
About Agatha All Along
Set after the events of “WandaVision,” Agatha Harkness recruits some unlikely allies on her quest to regain her former powers.
Agatha All Along is now streaming on Disney+.
Agatha All Along starts off slow, but eventually becomes intriguing by the end of the fourth episode. But does that mean it is a good show if it takes that long for viewers to be on board?
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Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. She is also a Freelance Writer. Tessa has been in the Entertainment writing business for ten years and is a member of several Critics Associations including the Critics Choice Association and the Greater Western New York Film Critics Association.