Agatha All Along Is Another Example of Marvel Seeking Success Through an Unexpected Route: Not Looking Like Marvel

After releasing Echo in early January, Disney+ debuted Agatha All Along, the second Marvel show of the year, on Wednesday. After seeing the first two episodes, I can say they’re a pleasant surprise, quickly establishing it as one of the best series Marvel has ever made. This means it stands alongside WandaVision and rivals the best moments of Loki, Moon Knight, and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. However, Agatha All Along is more consistent and doesn’t suffer from as many ups and downs as the rest.

Agatha All Along focuses on the villain from WandaVision, the foundational series of the Marvel Cinematic Universe TV shows starring Vision and Scarlet Witch. It’s undoubtedly one of the great finds of the best MCU, which leaves Captain America and the Infinity Gauntlets behind. The series centers around the perfidious witch Agatha Harkness, portrayed by Kathryn Hahn with considerable malice and a mischievous spirit. This character pays well-deserved homage to Marvel’s sorcery led by Doctor Strange.

Harkness lives banished in an imaginary world, similar to the punishment suffered by Scarlet Witch in WandaVision. As she recovers her memory, she decides to gather an improvised coven of witches to escape her enemies and regain her powers. She’s accompanied by old rivals and a peculiar teenager full of secrets, who seems to know more about her and the dark arts than it appears.

The series starts with references to both pop witchcraft and terrifying sequences of nightmares and hallucinations. Once the main plot kicks in (right at the end of the second episode), it balances light humor and nods to Marvel witches. However, it might not be everyone’s cup of tea, especially if you prefer the action and political commentary of Falcon and the Winter Soldier or the adult themes of Loki and Moon Knight.

Find the Differences

• Agatha All Along is most similar to other Marvel series led by women, such as Ms. Marvel and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. This isn’t just because it has a woman as the protagonist but also because of its corrosive and irreverent tone. In other words, just like The Acolyte and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Marvel doesn’t seem to care too much about what the fans want. Given previous outcomes, this might not be a positive sign (The Acolyte was canceled, and every The Rings of Power episode has been criticized so far). However, it indicates that Marvel is trying to avoid looking too much like Marvel.

Meanwhile, it seems that Disney has realized that despite their moderate box office success, the post-Endgame path (Black Widow, Eternals, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever) hasn’t been entirely successful. These choices have limited the MCU’s possibilities. Agatha All Along may not be a perfect product, but it at least deviates from the typical epic tales of redemption and a dark past. Though it still retains some elements, given that it’s a Marvel series and not an A24 production, it mainly explores alternative narratives.

In this regard, Agatha All Along incorporates meta-humor similar to that of She-Hulk. Although it doesn’t fully embrace it like WandaVision did, the first episode skillfully mimics Nordic thrillers, complete with fantastic opening credits. It also delves into a form of pop witchcraft with references to folk horror, including a memorable song sung by witches that feels like it could be from a family-friendly version of Robin Hardy’s 1973 movie The Wicker Man soundtrack.

Moreover, the show features a cast that’s fully aware they’re deviating from the traditional Marvel storyline. This has caused some controversy among die-hard fans due to the strong feminist and LGBTQ+ themes portrayed in the series. For instance, the show introduces openly gay characters and also hints at a lesbian relationship between two prominent witches, Agatha and Rio Vidal (who Aubrey Plaza interprets spectacularly).

This new direction may not appeal to everyone. The show isn’t perfect, given that it’s still a Marvel series, and there’s only so much risk you can take in the MCU. However, it offers a refreshing take, with more freedom and creativity beyond the typical special effects and repetitive action sequences. It’s a step in a new direction for Marvel, but I fear it’ll be thwarted as soon as the review bombing and the backlash from “true” fans arrive. But for now, let’s enjoy the jokes about Salem, family members, and new-age candles.

Image | Disney

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