It was Agatha all alongside! So went the straightforward clarification for no matter was happening in 2021’s WandaVision – the reveal that loveable neighbour Agatha (Kathryn Hahn) was, in reality, an evil witch who had trapped Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) inside a bizarre fantasy nightmare that additionally kind of appeared like a whole historical past of American TV sitcoms. Being WandaVision, the twist was delivered as a tune. And being Marvel, the tune went viral, gained an Emmy and received a lure remix.
So much has occurred since 2021. Two and half phases of the MCU later, WandaVision nonetheless stands as arguably one of the best and boldest chapter in Marvel’s latest historical past – a weird and exquisite experiment that felt just like the final time somebody was allowed to do regardless of the hell they needed with a Disney price range. Whether or not or not Marvel can have one other heyday or not, the reply to getting again on prime must be attempting one thing simply as unique once more: and it’s exhausting to seek out anything like Agatha All Alongside wherever else on TV.
With Wanda’s destiny detailed in Physician Unusual And The Multiverse Of Insanity, all eyes flip again to Agatha – a comedy background character turned supervillain turned unlikely star of her personal spin-off sequel collection. After we discover her once more, she’s… a detective in a gritty North-west crime drama. Half of episode one has Hahn channelling Kate Winslet in Mare Of Easttown, slipping extra into parody because the cop cliches stack up. Whereas Agatha All Alongside would most likely work brilliantly as a rehash of WandaVision, choosing a distinct TV trope each week, that’s not the place showrunner Jac Schaeffer needs to take us.
The true crime fantasy is one other spell, in fact, and Agatha realises it earlier than the episode ends. Going through off with evil Inexperienced Witch Rio Vidal (Aubry Plaza) in what’s left of the actual Westview, Agatha finds a brand new path: recruit a coven, get her powers again and defend herself (“She took each little little bit of energy I had and left me with family home equipment” she spits, the one nod to her outdated feud with Wanda).
The 1st step includes gathering a crew that basically doesn’t wish to be gathered: SNL’s Sasheer Zamata, Broadway legend Patti LuPone, Orange Is The New Black and The Diplomat star Ali Ahn and WandaVision’s personal Debra Jo Rupp – alongside Joe Locke’s (Heartstopper) wannabe teen sidekick (or “pet” as Agatha places it).
Step two means heading deeper into fantasy to journey “the witches highway”, finishing a set of magic trials which are buried within the lyrics to a different soon-to-be viral tune, and that each one contain one other decide ‘n’ mixture of types, costumes and odd concepts that appear a splendidly good distance from all the things else within the MCU. Sensible Magic, The Wizard Of Oz and obscure ’70s zombie movies all get their very own nods, winks and full episodes, as do others that we gained’t spoil.
Missing the depth and disappointment of WandaVision, the tone stays shiny, even because it veers as removed from the mainstream as doable. One minute Agatha is joking about sharing a jade egg, the following she’s dressed as Stevie Nicks, combating a demon. Much less flashy and crash-y than most Marvel reveals, Agatha All Alongside feels mature even when it’s at its silliest. Principally that’s right down to Hahn (by no means funnier, by no means higher, in a task she performs like a shot within the arm for Disney), however it helps to have an entire solid of actual actors and comedians who don’t all seem like they’re simply attempting to get into the following Avengers film.
A female-led Halloween horror, a camp musical comedy and a superhero experience by means of each bizarre witch trope in pop-culture, Agatha All Alongside is much more left-field than WandaVision dared to be, although it lacks a few of its heft. Overlook Part Six, Marvel must do extra of this.
‘Agatha All Alongside’ streams on Disney+ from 19 September
