In 2021, the landscape of the MCU was very different. The COVID-19 pandemic had just reached some stability, a new decade had just begun, and Marvel Studios had a slew of projects ready to kick off their post-Endgame run. Enter WandaVision, the first Disney+ and Phase 4 series, which takes the world by storm and becomes a cultural phenomenon for 7 weeks. The show was critically acclaimed and helped give Disney+ a massive boost in original programming as The Mandalorian wasn’t going to put out a new season for another year. Each week, social media and Reddit forums were full of fans exchanging theories about what was happening in Westview. While the ending was undoubtedly underwhelming for many and most of those theories didn’t come to fruition, one person stood out from the pack: Kathryn Hahn. Her performance as Agatha Harkness instantly became a fan favourite and a spin-off was put into development right away.
3 years later, the MCU is very different, for better and for worse but Marvel is banking on that to change, even if it means striking the iron when it’s cold. Agatha All Along might be about 3 years late, but does that mean it’s bad? Not at all. It brings me joy to report that after a bumpy start, Agatha All Along will take you on a fun ride. Kathryn Hahn is electric as Agatha and holds her own. Along for the ride and stealing scenes is Joe Locke and Aubrey Plaza does her thing and delivers the goods. It might not be perfect, but when it’s all said and done in a few weeks, people will understand that Kevin Feige signing Jac Schaffer to a deal might be one of his best moves in years.
Sarah Haley Finn has a knack for casting and oftentimes, her job in the Marvel system goes overlooked. However, I think her talent and contributions shine in Agatha. It’s a very ensemble-heavy show with a cast that delivers solid performances and has great chemistry. As mentioned earlier, Hahn is fantastic in her highly anticipated return as Agatha Harkness, delivering a surprisingly layered performance with just the right amount of camp. Marvel also has a history of casting younger actors like Iman Vellani and Hailee Steinfeld perfectly in roles that nobody else could do better. Well, they’ve done it again with Joe Locke. The Heartstopper actor is easily the breakout of this cast, becoming a scene-stealer that provides a new layer to the story and will undoubtedly be a fan-favourite in no time. From the very first episode, Aubrey Plaza exudes charisma and becomes the most interesting character on screen, consistently shrouded in mystery and mystique. The rest of the ensemble, including Debra Jo Rupp, Sasheer Zamata, and the wonderful Patti LuPone, are perfect pieces that complete the puzzle of Agatha’s coven. They work so well together that their performances are a testament to the fact that the right cast can make or break a show
Production design is something Marvel Studios has always excelled in, and I am happy to report this is the case with Agatha. Every set feels like it’s ripped straight from the comics and the return to Westview is more than welcome, with familiar set pieces. Visual effects are also on point, especially when the coven gets into their more supernatural adventures, and, without spoilers, the costumes are spectacular, especially in the fourth episode (you’ll get it once you see it). Everything looks very practical as well, something that is a welcome addition after the shoddy CGI effects of the last few years. While it may not look fully real, I’ll easily take it over a polygonal monstrosity any day. Plus, it adds to the campy tone the show is going for, which I liked!
Where the show stumbles right now is the hook and the pacing. From the first 4 episodes, the show isn’t necessarily bad, far from it. However, I found that aside from seeing more of Agatha herself, it has yet to warrant its existence from a story standpoint. It takes a bit to get going and get me hooked but even by the end of episode 4, I still find myself wondering why this exists, as fun and well-acted as it may be. I’m hoping that my sentiment changes as the remaining episodes come out but for now, I still have more questions than answers, and not in a good way.
Agatha All Along is a devilishly good time. For Marvel fans, this is the perfect way to kick off a spooky season and thanks to a strong trio of performances from Kathryn Hahn, Joe Locke, and the bewitching Aubrey Plaza, it’s just enough to keep you interested for weeks to come.
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