Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Contains spoilers

“Agatha All Along” concluded with a two-part finale, firmly establishing itself as not only one of Marvel’s best TV series, but also as one of the top shows ever released on Disney Plus. 

Although many viewers thought they had uncovered its hidden secrets, the finale delivered a plot twist that defied all expectations, revealing that the biggest clues had been in plain sight all along.

The series follows Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn, “Wanda Vision”) as she embarks on a journey down the Witches’ Road to reclaim her power after escaping a curse cast by the Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen, “His Three Daughters”). Accompanying her are Teen (Joe Locke, “Heartstopper”) a mysterious, nameless boy and a group of witches she recruits to aid in her mission. As the group faces countless trials and obstacles on their journey, they walk a fine line between life and death, discovering that their deepest desires are forged through grief. 

Like many Marvel productions, the show is filled with Easter eggs. 

Through careful analysis, viewers managed to uncover two of the show’s planned reveals before they were officially unveiled, one such being the identity of Teen, a boy whose real name is hidden behind a sigil. However, they were unable to shed light on the series’ most prominent feature: the Witches’ Road. 

The story led us to believe that the Witches Road was a song sung by witches about a path to their deepest desires, one that could be revealed by a powerful coven. Despite watching the characters of “Agatha All Along” venture down the road themselves, we discover in the finale that the ballad was actually crafted by Agatha to deceive unsuspecting witches into handing over their power, revealing that the Witches Road was never real. In truth, the path they follow in the series is a fabricated reality created by Teen’s magic.

The reveal caused a frenzy online, as most avid viewers failed to predict this pivotal moment, even though multiple signs pointed to the Road being a ruse. Many viewers expressed their astonishment, marveling at how cleverly the narrative had been crafted to mislead them while still laying the groundwork for the reveal. 

Despite predictions of failure similar to other Marvel spin-offs, “Agatha All Along” garnered praise and enthusiasm from both fans and critics. Its seventh episode earned an impressive score of 9.2 on IMDb, making it the second highest-rated episode among Marvel television shows. 

“Agatha All Along” proved to be successful not because of its relation to Marvel, but because of the way it separated from the Marvel narrative. 

Although the show had an obvious connection to Wanda Maximoff and the Scarlet Witch, writers decided to lean into character-driven story rather than classic Marvel tropes. Much of the series delves into the goals and desires of Agatha and her coven, providing the audience with insight into the motivations behind their seemingly controversial actions. By revealing the psychology of the main characters, the writers enable the audience to empathize with them, which makes viewers more inclined to support them during critical moments in the narrative.

The show also weaves pagan influences into its plot and storyline. While “Agatha All Along” is not the first Marvel project to draw on cultural elements to shape its narrative, it is still nice to see, with the writers incorporating aspects of Wiccan practices into key plot points and symbolism, using figures like the Triple Goddess to conjure themes of cultural appropriation and feminism.

Overall, the show brings a refreshing change to a Marvel franchise that has struggled to resonate with audiences in recent years. 

By stepping away from the central Marvel storyline, the show succeeds in telling a compelling story about a group of wounded characters who realize that the answers they seek lie in embracing their past rather than turning away from it.

Image from Marvel Studios