A delightfully dark and twisted good time | Entertainment

This evaluation accommodates full spoilers for Agatha All Along episodes 1 and 2, “Seekest Thou the Road” and “Circle Sewn with Fate Unlock Thy Hidden Gate”

They all the time say the sequel is darker. That’s definitely true for Marvel’s WandaImaginative and prescient follow-up, the ominous and delightfully depraved Agatha All Along. After being defeated by Wanda Maximoff within the earlier collection, Kathryn Hahn reprises her function because the evil but deliciously entertaining Agatha Harkness – and this time, she’s much more sinister. One would possibly suppose that dropping her magic and spending three years trapped by the Scarlet Witch’s spell would humble Agatha, however she wastes no time breaking free and enacting a brand new scheme to revive her misplaced energy. Agatha All Along’s two-part premiere does a wonderful job of continuous the story of WandaImaginative and prescient whereas constructing out the witchy facet of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

WandaImaginative and prescient wowed us with the way in which it parodied totally different eras of tv to inform Wanda’s story of constructing a household, and Agatha All Along continues that pattern to catch us up with Agatha. She’s been trapped in a variation of the TV world Wanda created for herself, forcing her to behave out the lifetime of a fictional character with no reminiscence of who she truly is. Spoofing Mare of Easttown is an impressed selection, as a result of it permits us to comply with “Agnes of Westview” as she investigates a homicide, which additionally forces her to research the cracks in her weird new actuality. Hats off to Hahn for actually nailing Kate Winslet’s junk-food-eating, line-cutting, hard-nosed investigator whose hair has by no means identified the contact of a comb. The present’s homicide thriller parts are utilized nicely, too, to arrange a chilling second in regards to the former homeowners of the traditional guide of dark magic generally known as the Darkhold.

Helping Agatha escape is the mysterious goth teen identified solely as “Teen,” performed with earnest enthusiasm and an lovable quantity of naivete by Joe Locke. He’s the foolish man to her straight lady, a goofy Agatha fanboy desperate to be taught extra about witchcraft regardless of her treating him with utter disdain. He sees her as a mentor however she sees him as, in her phrases, a pet. They’re an enjoyably odd pairing introduced collectively by a shared objective of eager to stroll the fabled Witches’ Road to be granted what they're “missing” – which they every declare is the ability they need. Who needs to wager that what they need isn’t what they want, and the paranormal street will find yourself giving them one thing else totally, just like the magic of friendship?

As for the id of Teen, the going fan idea says he's none apart from Billy Kaplan, grown-up son of the Scarlet Witch, who within the comics is a teenage superhero sorcerer generally known as Wiccan. It appears WandaImaginative and prescient and Agatha All Along present creator Jac Schaeffer understood that his id could be some extent of nice curiosity to followers, so somewhat than beat across the bush, the present explicitly acknowledges this and makes it a thriller Agatha should clear up. It’s a really self-aware strategy, however maybe it can show to be a clever one, contemplating how we followers are likely to obsess over these sorts of issues, which may distract from the precise story being advised. (Who else remembers endlessly theorizing about WandaImaginative and prescient’s lacking witness, aerospace engineer, obvious Mephisto references, and faux Pietro, just for them to finish up not mattering?) Doing it this manner, it doesn’t matter whether or not you’re tuned into Marvel Comics lore and already know the reply or not, as a result of Agatha doesn’t know. The enjoyable comes from watching her attempt to determine it out, and we will all calm down a bit as a substitute of spending our each waking hour on YouTube watching idea movies.

It’s virtually humorous to observe Agatha attempt to shoo Teen away like an annoying pest when she has actually no associates or allies to talk of. Her checklist of enemies, however, is wanting scary and rising quick. We don’t know a lot in regards to the Salem Seven but, however their tremendous creepy entrance does its job by giving Agatha critically harmful adversaries to concern. Then there’s fellow witch Rio Vidal (Aubrey Plaza), who invades Agatha’s TV-world and helps her escape – solely to assault her whereas she’s susceptible. Rio and Agatha’s face-off within the kitchen virtually crackles with electrical energy. They clearly have a juicy previous, and it’s plain to see that assembly once more brings quite a lot of intense feelings to the floor. It does appear a tad too straightforward for Agatha to speak Rio out of attacking her, particularly after Rio spends a lot time and effort monitoring her down and serving to break Wanda’s spell, so right here’s hoping we’ll be taught extra about their troubled relationship and why Rio was so prepared to alter her thoughts.

Why Do Rio and Agatha Hate Each Other?

The factor to find out about Agatha Harkness is that almost all witches aren’t large followers. The entire power-stealing schtick doesn’t actually sit with them nicely, and that’s earlier than you take into account that she stole the ability of and killed her personal mom and coven again in 1693 (as seen in WandaImaginative and prescient). All that in thoughts, there appears to be one thing extra between Agatha and Rio. Once the previous is freed, the latter instantly assaults her and finally sends the Salem Seven to take care of Harkness and her indiscretions. Still, Rio was an lively participant in breaking Agatha out of Wanda’s spell. Why assist her solely to kill her? If I hated somebody with all of my being, then I’d be delighted to observe them toil away trapped in a spell that rendered them powerless and apparently insane! – Amelia Emberwing

Read the remainder of Agatha All Along: Is The Scarlet Witch Actually Dead and Other Burning Questions

In order to entry the Witches’ Road, Agatha is pressured to assemble sufficient witches to create a brand new coven, which proves tough because of her status as, you realize, a infamous witch-killer. Watching Agatha go about recruiting Jennifer Kale (Sasheer Zamata), Alice Wu-Gulliver (Ali Ahn), Mrs. Davis/Hart (Debra Jo Rupp), and Lilia Calderu (Patti LuPone) proves to be devilishly enjoyable. She’s a powerless witch on the finish of her rope, but she will be able to’t cease it with the pretentious perspective and scathing remarks, even to avoid wasting her personal life. She does obtain success, however in essentially the most Agatha method attainable: with insults, lies, and emotional manipulation – all whereas sporting a venomous smile on her face. It’s this recruitment drive sequence that proves why Agatha deserves her personal present: she’s the nastiest piece of labor the MCU has ever seen.

That mentioned, episode 2 does really feel a tad rushed because it tries to squeeze in sufficient time for Agatha and Teen to go to the entire witches. With so little time spent convincing them to hitch, it’s arduous to imagine they’d all select to indicate up like they did. Still, it’s fascinating how every witch has a specialty that focuses on a distinct facet of witchcraft. I’m acquainted with the thought of a witch being good at potion-making and one who can learn the longer term from a crystal ball, however what’s the ability of a safety witch? Color me intrigued.

Agatha All Along’s two-part premiere does a wonderful job of continuous the story of WandaImaginative and prescient

The premiere ends with Agatha and her reluctant coven singing “Down the Witches’ Road” to open a magical gateway, making nice use of the ensemble musical expertise. You don’t solid Broadway legend Patti LuPone as a witch if she’s not going to make use of these pipes to chant some spells! Their stunning voices and the haunting melody give immense energy to the tune and deliver the premiere to a implausible climax. The tune’s tone is miles away from WandaImaginative and prescient’s breakout hit “Agatha All Along,” but isn't any much less catchy.

Other Thoughts

-During the primary scene, the tune that Agatha hums within the automotive and the music that performs after is the tune to “Down the Witches’ Road.” I like how Agatha is already on the trail to the Witches’ Road even earlier than she is aware of it.

-The sequence the place Agatha breaks freed from the spell by going again by all of her WandaImaginative and prescient guises, culminating with the black-and-white Agnes, was freakin’ superior.

-It was neat to see the residents of Westview once more, and how they deal with Wanda’s identify just like the characters of the Wizarding World deal with Voldemort’s. When Agatha passes by the plot of land the place Wanda’s home was once, we will see it’s been vandalized with anti-Scarlet Witch graffiti. That’s what you get for traumatizing a complete city.

-Agatha’s signature necklace was revealed to be a locket containing a lock of hair inside. When Teen is begging Agatha to take him together with her to the Witches’ Road, it’s not till she pauses to take a look at the locket and will get misplaced in thought for a second that she modifies her thoughts and agrees, so one thing about it will need to have nice private significance to her.

-Rio Vidal just isn't a personality from the comics, so I’ll have an interest to be taught extra about her and see if a connection to the comics is finally revealed.

-When Agatha tears down Teen’s “WELCOME COVEN” signal, all of the letters come down besides the “W.” Could that “W” stand for Wiccan?

-Agatha’s new costume and hair model on the finish of episode 2 are a direct homage to Agatha's basic comedian guide look.

-Mrs. Davis was so, so cute throughout the musical efficiency. “Am I supposed to know this song?” And then the way in which she excitedly bounces round and begins to sing alongside as soon as she learns the phrases? Protect her in any respect prices!

-Remember when the MCU tried to deal with magic prefer it was tremendous science and not precise magic? I’m glad that’s prior to now now, as a result of watching the supernatural nook of the MCU being constructed out like this has been nice.

-Marvel Witch Songs: 2. Star Wars Witch Songs: 0.