PremiumAgatha All Along Review (Ep 1-4): Kathryn Hahn's wickedly fun MCU takeover is a promising superhero detour
Agatha All Along sits right in the void where you want something Marvel but also something that gives this franchise a new edge away from superheroes.
Last Updated: 06.30 AM, Sep 19, 2024
Agatha All Along Review: Plot: Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn) is now a detective in WestView, tasked with investigating a mysterious dead body that appears out of nowhere. No points for guessing—it’s Scarlet Witch, aka Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen). As the investigation progresses, Rio (Aubrey Plaza) enters the scene with a boy lurking around Agatha, eager to break the spell Scarlet Witch cast on her. Once freed, Agatha remembers what happened and now seeks to regain her powers, embarking on The Witches Road. “Not everyone comes out alive,” they say, but Agatha is no ordinary witch—she's both mean and special.
Cast:
Kathryn Hahn, Joe Locke, Sasheer Zamata, Aubrey Plaza, Ali Ahn, Patti LuPone, Debra Jo Rupp, the Salem Seven, and more.
Creator:
Jac Schaeffer.
Directed by:
Gandja Monteiro, Jac Schaeffer, and Rachel Goldberg.
Streaming On:
Disney+ Hotstar (India).
Agatha All Along Review: Analysis
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has been searching for an anchor to re-establish trust with fans, delivering the kind of content they crave. After several projects that failed to hit the mark, Deadpool & Wolverine managed to revitalize the MCU, grossing $1.3 billion worldwide. So, what follows a cultural phenomenon? A show about a mean witch who stays mean, even as the protagonist. Agatha Harkness takes center stage, offering a glimpse into the untapped world of witches within the MCU.
Created by Jac Schaeffer, who is deeply involved in writing and directing, Agatha All Along is a carefully crafted show—at least judging by the first four episodes. The trend of creating short mini-series seems to be a thing of the past in the MCU (thank you, Kevin Feige!). We’re now developing characters, lingering with them, and exploring their complexities like we did in the MCU’s earlier days. Starring the delightful Kathryn Hahn as Agatha Harkness, the show feels like a multi-dimensional story that begins in Wanda’s imagination but quickly becomes its own narrative. There’s much to reshape and explore, particularly for MCU fans who are unfamiliar with the comics. Schaeffer, to her credit, avoids spoon-feeding the audience.
It might sound cliché, but “women telling women’s stories” works beautifully in Agatha All Along. With three female directors, a woman creator, and a cast of strong women (Debra Jo Rupp—you deserve a party for your performance!), the show goes beyond just another superhero project. As one character says, “A witch is a woman who lives on her own terms,” highlighting that this is a story about unapologetic, powerful women—not just witches.
Also Read: Agatha All Along trailer out! Aubrey Plaza joins Kathryn Hahn and Joe Locke on the Witches’ Road
Kathryn Hahn is fantastic as Agatha. From her no-nonsense detective persona to her return as the singing, mean, nasty Harkness, she captures a wide range of emotions. What sets Agatha All Along apart is its focus on emotion rather than magic. The show doesn’t merely offer a token exploration of tragic emotions; it dives deeply into them. Agatha, a mother accused of sacrificing her son for the book of the damned, now finds herself responsible for a boy she doesn’t even know (and how Joe Locke keeps his identity hidden is intriguing—though this needs a big reveal for the plot to work). The beauty of the writing is that Agatha remains a villain, even when she’s the hero of the show.
The series demonstrates that Marvel knows how to craft anti-heroes, but they don’t do it often enough. Why not? Additionally, while Agatha All Along does a good job of incorporating queer undertones organically, there is still some restraint. Maybe with the new R-rating, the show will evolve in future episodes. With blood now allowed in the MCU, the possibilities are endless. However, it’s important to remember that we’re only four episodes in, and the MCU has a history of messing things up towards the end. Some might not appreciate the tone of the first episode, as it strays far from the usual MCU formula. The Halloween-esque atmosphere arrives too early, and the sets on The Witches Road feel a bit artificial. Let’s hope for an upgrade by the fifth episode.
Agatha All Along Review: Final Verdict
Agatha All Along is off to a good start. It doesn’t require you to overthink or dig too deep—just sit back, enjoy the campy, fun, and peppy vibe.
Agatha All Along premieres with two episodes on September 18, and continues with one episode each Wednesday until October 25. Stay tuned to OTTplay for more information on this and everything else from the world of streaming and films.