'Agatha All Along' Season 1 Episodes 1 & 2 "Seekest Thou The Road" & "Circle Sewn With Fate / Unlock Thy Hidden Gate" Spoiler-Free Review
Spoilers ahead for 2021's WandaVision, but spoiler-free for Agatha All Along.
The newest series for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Agatha All Along, premiered on September 18th, 2024, on Disney+.
The show marks the first sequel to WandaVision, which followed Wanda Maximoff and Vision from The Avengers franchise.
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There will be at least one more WandaVision spinoff, with a series focused on Vision scheduled for 2026.
At the end of WandaVision, the dark witch Agatha is Wanda stealing her Darkhold book, hexing her, and trapping her in the delusion of Westview. Agatha All Along is set about three years after these events in WandaVision, and then following Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Wanda’s actions in The Multiverse of Madness are expected to have a grave impact on the characters still stuck
The first two episodes of Agatha All Along were directed by WandaVision creator Jac Schaeffer. “Seekest Thou the Road” was written by Schaeffer and “Circle Sewn with Fate / Unlock Thy Hidden Gate” was written by Laura Donney.
Several actors reprise their roles from WandaVision in the new series. The multi-faceted Kathryn Hahn returns as Agatha, alongside Emma Caulfield Ford (Dottie), David Payton (Herb), David Lengel (Phil), Asif Ali (Norm), and Debra Jo Rupp (Mrs. Hart). These characters were just some of the “Stepford wives” neighbors who maintained the sense that everything was peachy keen in the fractured town of Westview.
Several new characters are introduced in the opening episodes of Agatha All Along, including roles played by Aubrey Plaza (Rio Vidal), Joe Locke (Teen), Patti LuPone (Lilia), Sasheer Zamata (Jen), and Ali Ahn (Alice). Notably, the leading actors are predominantly female-identifying besides Locke. Plaza, Locke, and Zamata are openly members of the LGBT+ community as well, making waves for the show’s diverse representation, both scripted and in reality.
Some of the leading ladies have already been very vocal about the show's fantastic queer content. Ahn has highlighted Agatha All Along as a stand out, proclaiming, “It is the gayest show on Marvel.” Plaza echoed her sentiment, promising that season one will turn out to be “a gay explosion.” So far, only one character has been explicitly revealed as queer, but the undeniable chemistry between other characters suggests that this is just the beginning of the show's exploration down the road of queer storylines.
For about 25 minutes of the first episode, “Seekest Thou the Road,” there's an uncertainty about timelines and what Agatha (currently known as Agnes) is up to in Westview. This first half of the episode takes an interesting page out of WandaVision's playbook, with yet another twist on the “show within a show” concept, this time riffing off of Mare of Easttown and The Killing. By the end of this episode, the audience might even be wondering if every episode of Agatha All Along will continue the mirror universe show concept. Rest assured, it does not. It worked beautifully for WandaVision, but Agatha All Along really benefits from having a unique show model.
Throughout these first two episodes of Agatha All Along, there are many allusions to other popular shows and movies, including Macbeth, The Wizard of Oz, That ‘70s Show, and The Craft, not to mention several in the end credits. Those watching with an eye for detail will find a plethora of Easter eggs, some based on Marvel lore and others on the history of witchcraft. A few that won't reveal any of the show’s secrets include Agatha writing left-handed, the dates on the library book, and the repetition of the number “3.”
Agatha writes left-handed, but so does Kathryn Hahn naturally. Being left-handed was historically seen as an association with the devil and could even be used as evidence in trials of suspected witchcraft. The dates stamped on the library book card include Feb 16, Elizabeth Olsen’s birthday, Jun 02, Kevin Feige’s birthday and the first conviction of the Salem Witch Trials, Aug 28, Jack Kirby’s birthday, and Dec 28, Stan Lee’s birthday. All numbers on the card are significant, but others may contain spoilers for these episodes.
Both WandaVision and Agatha All Along are magical delights to watch during spooky season! Be sure to catch up before the third episode of Agatha All Along airs next Wednesday on Disney+.
Ratings
Agatha All Along Episode 1: "Seekest Thou the Road" — Rating: 10/10— So fantastic and immediately rewatchable to hunt for Easter eggs and other surprises
Agatha All Along Episode 2: "Circle Sewn with Fate / Unlock Thy Hidden Gate" — Rating: 9/10 — Definitely great, but it felt like more needed to happen in one episode after the fantastic start with episode 1
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Sources: Buzzfeed, The Direct, Elle, Men’s Health, Time, Variety