Since its premiere in late September, Agatha All Along has captivated both critics and Marvel enthusiasts.
This latest installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) boasts an impressive 82% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and garnered a remarkable 9.3 million views worldwide within its first week of release on Disney Plus.
It’s evident that Agatha’s enchantment has successfully pierced through the waning excitement that many Marvel fans have felt in recent times.
While watching Agatha, Teen, and her companions traverse the Witches’ Road, I found myself curious about the perspective of an actual witch regarding the show. After all, data from the 2021 census indicates that over 74,000 individuals identify as modern Pagans in England and Wales, with around 13,000 specifically identifying as witches. So, how do they feel about their beliefs being the backdrop for yet another superhero series?
Down the Witches’ Road
Enter Sarah Kerr, the President of the Pagan Federation in the UK, who proudly identifies as a witch. Having practiced the craft since age 16, she now serves as a professional healer and witch.
What are Sarah’s thoughts on Agatha All Along? Fortunately for Kevin Feige and the creative team, she found the series quite delightful.
“I really enjoyed it,” Sarah shared. “It was a fantastic show. I enjoy these types of series, even though I sometimes catch myself thinking, ‘Oh no, here we go again.’ However, I genuinely appreciated this one because they depicted the energy-raising for magical work effectively, and they recognized that at its essence, witchcraft involves self-discovery.”
“It’s about personal growth,” she elaborated. “It entails exploring and grasping the world around you. Although it leans towards sensationalism, they conveyed that [concept] effectively.”
Sarah also found the character of Agatha compelling, noting her confidence—something that is central to modern witchcraft, which emphasizes self-assurance. However, her favorite aspect was the portrayal of the Witches’ Road.
“My favorite element was the way they illustrated the journey one embarks on, as starting with craft represents a lifelong path of self-discovery. The Witches’ Road serves as a powerful metaphor for that journey,” she remarked.
Get behind me, Mephisto!
“That was particularly intriguing. I haven’t seen that aspect represented much in films. There’s plenty of focus on rituals and spellcasting, but the actual journey that practitioners undertake at the outset of their craft is seldom depicted. That really resonated with me.”
Before the Marvel executives get overly confident that they have the witches’ support, it’s worth noting that Sarah had some critiques regarding the series. She raised concerns about its sensational portrayal—specifically regarding the grim aspects of witchcraft depicted in the MCU’s connection to Mephisto, their version of Satan.
“Firstly, Satan isn’t central to most witches’ practices,” she clarified when discussing the association with Satan. “That said, some witches may differ in their practices. However, too much emphasis is placed on this dark entity, a notion that doesn’t ring true for many practitioners, particularly in the West.”
For Sarah, this contributes to a larger issue regarding how witches are inaccurately portrayed in the media, perpetuating harmful stereotypes about her faith. “This stereotype is deeply rooted in history, not just the witch hunts, but even further back. It’s tied to the control over women,” she pointed out.
“Today in the Western world, while women are no longer hunted for being witches, the practice still faces ridicule and misunderstanding. This ongoing discrimination is why my organization was founded,” she added.
During our discussion about witchcraft’s portrayal in media, Sarah noted that witchcraft is frequently depicted as “a nefarious practice” because it engages with the mysterious and oftentimes unexplainable aspects of life, which doesn’t align with her actual experiences in the craft at all.
What Marvel Needs to Do Next
Fortunately, Sarah believes that shows like Agatha All Along and characters such as the Scarlet Witch are assisting in combating this negative portrayal. “The more witches are shown positively, the more it impacts society. We’ve witnessed a significant increase in interest in witchcraft, as people seek something meaningful and within their control. Witchcraft fulfills that need,” she expressed.
What advice does she have for Marvel if they want to keep the witch and warlock community pleased?
“Do not alter the core of what you’ve created because they’ve done an extraordinary job. Keep delving into the authentic metaphors found within witchcraft. Dismiss the clichés and stereotypes, many of which are not accurate, and continue the journey because you are genuinely succeeding,” she emphasized.
It seems that the allure of Agatha’s charm extends beyond critical acclaim!
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