This will be an odd comparison, but AGATHA ALL ALONG is the closest Marvel Studios has gotten to a Mike Flanagan series. If you think about it, especially after viewing the final two episodes, there’s a lot here about the effects of grief on an individual and how that (coupled with greed and power) can corrupt them. Each member of the coven confronts fears and traumas episodically and makes peace with the idea of death. And given that, I have a hot take for everyone: this is a more profound series than WANDAVISION. And just as emotional.
The performances are stellar across the board, with Kathryn Hahn absolutely crushing it with the star power she’s finally empowered to showcase in a leading role. The series fleshes out Agatha the same way a show like BETTER CALL SAUL creates layers of complexity and pathos for a character like Jimmy McGill. And the MCU is better for it. The final episode especially gives us an epic exploration of the character’s history and the truth about her son. It’s heartbreaking, incredible payoff for a mystery built throughout this series.
Joe Locke is also fantastic. He is compassionate, with a quiet rage bubbling underneath the surface. He has a complex range of emotions and expertly displays them as the series progresses.
And while supporting performances from Aubrey Plaza, Ali Ahn, and Sasheer Zamata are all stellar, the real scene stealer – particularly in the series’ best episode – is definitively the great Patti LuPone! “Death’s Hand in Mine” is an expertly written and incredibly executed twisted episode with an emotional gut-punch conclusion.
But that in and of itself describes the addicting and escalating allure of AGATHA ALL ALONG as a series. It’s a show that builds and builds with every twist and gets better with clever writing and expert reveals. It’s fresh and unique. As such, it absolutely ranks high among the MCU Disney+ shows, and unexpectedly and sneakily, it becomes one of the finest projects to come out of the franchise.
We are eating this year, Marvel fans! Here’s hoping the next projects will be even half as good!
The entire first season is available on Disney+.
