The newest of Marvel Entertainment’s long line of miniseries is Agatha All Along. The show follows Agatha Harkness, a witch who survived the Salem Witch Trials, three years after the events of WandaVision. She must join four other witches and a mysterious ‘Teen’ to travel down the “Witches Road” to gain back the powers they all have lost.
The first two episodes of the series were released on Disney+ on September 18th and will be continually released each Wednesday until October 30th. The series will feature nine episodes in total.
Following the release of Avengers: Endgame, Marvel Studios and the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) have been on a steady decline. While some movies and series have done better than others, the question has arisen of whether Marvel can be successful without the original six actors (Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, and Jeremy Renner). Fans also share their concerns that Marvel is more worried about releasing multiple films and TV shows each year. These productions, despite star-studded casts and large budgets, fail to incorporate good writing and CGI that previous films were noted for.
Regardless of the current problems Marvel faces, Agatha All Along offers refreshing content that audiences have been hoping for since 2019. Just in time for the Halloween season, the show includes a catchy and memorable soundtrack, jump scares, and suspense. The CGI aspects of the show blend with the practical effects almost seamlessly. The script features more mature language and content that isn’t often found in superhero films. The costume and set design transports audiences to the different settings along the road, jumping from a beach house to the 80s, and anywhere in between.
Audiences don’t have to be die-hard fans of Marvel to enjoy Agatha All Along. The series currently isn’t connected to other projects in the MCU’s Phase 5 but does have some tie-backs to earlier productions. It is recommended that audiences watch WandaVision and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness beforehand to better understand the show.
Before its release, Marvel fans online already seemed to have negative things to say about the show. While some questioned what its purpose was and why Agatha of all characters was chosen for a spin-off, others were hopeful that the success of WandaVision would make for an entertaining ‘sequel’. The negativity hasn’t halted since the show was released, however, most who take to the comment sections are adamantly refusing to even watch the show. Supporters of both sides of the argument are seen everywhere, but viewers shouldn’t be deterred from watching just based on online reviews.
Despite being a part of the MCU, no superheroes are present. The show paints a major shift away from norms, having no “big strong men” coming in to save the day. Most of the cast are women, something rarely seen in the past for comic-book adaptations. Agatha is played by returning actress Kathryn Hahn and is joined by many newcomers to the MCU, including well-known actors such as Aubrey Plaza, Patti LuPone, and Joe Locke. All of the actors fit perfectly into their characters and the storyline, able to create realistic depictions of people hundreds of years old.
While Agatha All Along might not be an Emmy winner, the show is entertaining and refreshing nonetheless. Audiences who are interested in mysterious journeys and suspense should tune in each week for the new episodes on Disney+.