When was the last time? Agatha Harkness—the centuries-old alpha witch, the original Salem Trials series, and the subject of the catchiest theme song on fake TV since “Too Many Cooks”—is imprisoned by Wanda Maximoff (aka the Scarlet Witch) in a small American town, left to play the role of nosy neighbor forever. However, everything comes to an end in the end, including the situational comedy, which is why the show’s creators Agatha all the time We’ve let Mrs. Harkness upgrade her programming. Gone is Agnes, that curious, fun character straight out of TV. Meet “Agnes of Westview,” star of the acclaimed drama of the same name. She’s a tortured homicide detective in a rural Northeastern town, plagued by personal demons, multiple unsolved dead-girl cases, and a steady diet of red wine and Wawa sandwiches. The opening song is a riff on Tom Waits’ “Down in the Hole.” The credits say it’s based on the popular Danish crime series. Wandavisdesign. The general mood is “just try to outdo everyone else.” this, “Kate Winslet!”
He loves Wanda VisionUnlike classic sitcoms, this cold open for Agatha’s solo show is both a spoof and a first-rate inside joke for TV fans. Unlike the inaugural entry of the Marvel/Disney+ Streaming Universe, which used old network comedies as a season-long anesthetic against aching grief, creator Jac Schaefer’s follow-up to a superhero tragedy pokes fun at the self-serious proceedings long enough to make you miss the irony once it’s gone. (It’s never been made clear why Harkness is now deviating from its regularly scheduled programming; we’re left to assume it’s due to a combination of dark magic, the passage of time, and Westview’s belated embrace of Peak TV.) Soon, that spell will be broken, Agatha all the time It will settle into a nice groove as a research adventure, and – according to the four episodes sent to the press – they will take full advantage of the supernatural sisters gathered for the task at hand. The witch is back!
More importantly, the star who played her was just that. You can’t underestimate Kathryn Hahn’s importance to Schaeffer’s side-questing subplot, even if you realize that her delirious turn in Marvel’s most powerful series to date has already made her the best actress in the MCU. Professionally, she’s deftly moved between a scene-stealing human gallery—her sardonic mumbling game is coherent—and a series of women struggling with deep identity crises (especially on the small screen; see Mrs. Fletcher, pretty little things, The exceptional I love roosterHere, she gets to do a bit of both, spouting plenty of caustic one-liners but still playing Agatha’s confusion, desperation and determination once she’s freed from her spell. It’s right in the actress’s shoes, between biting wit and fast-approaching nervous breakdown. “There are two Jane Does in this case,” Agnes the detective is told, before emerging from her mental fog. “What’s going on?” for you “Real name?”
Agatha can answer that question, thanks to two mysterious strangers. The first is Rio Vidal (Aubrey Plaza, who is no stranger to all things witchcraft), who first appears as a tired detective and then as a rival witch. She is the first to suggest that something more sinister lurks beyond Westview; the two also seem to have a tempestuous history with each other, including one filled with a lot of sexual tension. (Cast members have described the show as “the gayest project Marvel has ever done,” and these early episodes suggest that it may actually deliver on that promise.) Rio also mentions that a group known as the Salem Seven are looking for her, and unless Agatha can get her powers back soon, this witch is going to be blown away.
The other is a teenager simply named Tin (break heartsIn this series, we see Joe Locke — every attempt to say his name results in his lips temporarily stitching shut. However, longtime comic book readers will likely recognize who he is, and why his presence in Marvel’s ongoing multi-episode TV series might eventually be a big deal. Right now, he’s just an apprentice wizard, smart enough to figure out how to break the Scarlet Witch’s spell on Agatha but unable to harness truly powerful magic. That’s why he needs the help of Ms. Harkness. There’s a mystical place called “The Path of the Witches,” which, if someone successfully completes a series of tests along the way, “will grant you whatever you want, if you make it to the end.” The teen wants her to take him there so he can fulfill his potential. And if Harkness can help him in this quest, she might be able to get her vast powers in time to confront the evil that’s headed her way.
Zamata, Luke, Han, Loboni, Rob, and Ahn (from left)
Chuck Zlotnick/Marvel
But before the two can hit the road, they must assemble a group that meets all the necessary elements to make the journey. The fortune teller Lilia Caldrow (Patti LuPone, hitting all the right notes) will provide predictions. The potions come courtesy of Jennifer Kaley (SNL Veteran Sasheer Zamata, a lifestyle influencer with a failed skincare line. Protection spells will be handled by Alice Wu Gulliver (Ali Ann), a former police officer whose mother once wrote a Top 40 hit song about this supposed path to Wiki heaven. The spot of resident “Earth Witch” is quickly filled by Agatha’s old Westview neighbor, Mrs. Hart (This is the 70's show.Rio joins the team once they follow the road that is definitely not paved with yellow bricks, though it is not yet clear whether she is joining the journey as a friend or a saboteur.
From there, we get ensemble comedy, and lots of banter and complaining among the witches (“You’re the reason people think we poison apples, steal babies, and eat babies.” “Babies”). We are “Delicious!”, some songs, some scary interludes, a turn into some kind of Real Housewives of Hell The film was filled with adventure, adventure, references to nearly every witchcraft reference in pop culture, and a few songs. Wisely, Schaefer brought back Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, the duo behind the original hit “Agatha All Along.” Wanda Vision, She's composed some new tunes, including “The Ballad of the Witches' Road” and a slick '70s-style song that would make witch-friendly Stevie Nicks proud. Harkness first appeared in the MCU in a TV show that was all about the trauma and psychological wreckage she leaves in her wake, and there are hints that Agatha herself has a past colored by loss that slowly eats away at her emotionally.
What you won't get is a constant parade of Easter eggs, constant pushes toward future crossover stories, and a sense of being cheated – the latter alone makes this movie better than much of Marvel's recent output. Some of the most interesting and creative things in the MCU have happened away from the full-on assault on the franchise and in the TV fringes, where the stakes are a little lower (wolf in the night, stupid Guardians of the Galaxy It may have come from an Avengers-adjacent series with a plot that still resonates across multiple properties, but this new show’s mix of the company’s horror tropes, zany humor, and spotlight on a former supporting character feels more in line with those unique, one-off shows on Disney+. That high-concept joke at the beginning is enough to inspire a slow-motion clap, but Schaefer and company aren’t interested in repeating themselves any more than they are in setting up the next five movies or extending your superhero fatigue. Agatha all the time It may take its title from flashbacks, but everything else about the show (so far) suggests there's enough to dig into when all you have is Agatha, all the time.
