<p>After the Scarlet Witch’s spell in the climax of WandaVision, Agatha returns as Agnes, leaving fans wondering when her true identity will be revealed. This intriguing question, along with many others, is addressed in the first episode of the MCU series, Agatha All Along.
Marvel enthusiasts will agree that WandaVision ranks among the best superhero series ever produced. The series finale sees Wanda Maximoff embrace her fate as the Scarlet Witch, ensnaring Agatha as her sitcom alter ego, Agnes.
Corrupted by the wicked tome known as the Darkhold, Agatha strongly influences the plot of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. By the conclusion of the film, Wanda eradicates every copy of the Darkhold and obliterates its source, Mount Wundagore.
This act appears to leave Wanda devastated (which remains a topic of debate). Everything builds up to Agatha All Along, where Episode 1 of this Disney Plus series reintroduces both returning and new characters. Beware: major spoilers ahead!
Agatha All Along opens with a crime scene
The episode kicks off with the title card stating, “Seekest Thou the Road,” before transitioning to Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn) driving while humming a mysterious tune reminiscent of ‘The Ballad of the Witches’ Road’.
Agatha eventually arrives at a crime scene. In this iteration of Westview from WandaVision, she still takes on the persona of Agnes, but now works as a detective alongside her former neighbor, John Collins, aka Herb (David Payton).
He updates her on a recent incident: a woman has been discovered deceased in the woods, having fallen victim to “blunt force trauma.” Herb presents her with a library card devoid of any names found at the scene as evidence.
Upon locating the body, Agatha notices the woman’s distinctive scarlet hair and blackened fingertips, suggesting corruption from the Darkhold. But if this is Wanda, what brings her to Westview?
For the moment, the victim is just Jane Doe. Something within Agatha is stirred upon seeing the body, as she instinctively rubs her neck, reaching for her pendant.
Moments later, she discovers the brooch lying in a puddle, which confounds her. When Herb approaches, she quickly conceals it in her pocket, indicating that it possesses significant meaning, though its relevance eludes her for now.
The MCU takes a True Detective approach
The episode unfolds with a style reminiscent of True Detective, leading Agatha to visit the library, where she encounters the receptionist, Dottie Jones. Fans may recall she is Sarah Proctor (Emma Caulfield) from WandaVision.
Their collaboration appears strained; Dottie isn’t particularly forthcoming while handing over the library slip, which lists only dates and the title of a book, Dialogue and Rhetoric: Known History of Learning & Debate by Andrew Ugo.
In an attempt to extract information, Agatha threatens to question Dottie publicly, prompting her to reluctantly check the system. It turns out, the book was reported stolen three years prior.
When Agatha searches through the archives for copies, she finds the bookshelf has been burned, discovering that “every last copy” was lost in a fire.
Back at the Westview Police Department, Agnes reports to Harold Proctor, aka Phil Jones (David Lengel), explaining that it appears someone has incinerated the library shelves.
In this world, he is the police chief, and he delivers urgent news: the results from the soil under Jane Doe’s nails do not match the local terrain.
Meet Rio Vidal
Notably, the test identified microbial sediment found exclusively in Eastern Europe.
Although she’s eager to solve the case, Agatha expresses skepticism: “Eat my a**, chief,” is her blunt retort to Phil’s “strength in numbers” suggestion.
As Phil departs, we learn he and Rio know each other: “It’s been a long time,” Rio observes, to which Agnes responds, “What are you doing here?… You want to take control of my investigation.”
“If you want to be in control, you can be,” Rio assures her. Agatha starts discussing the case, prompting an enigmatic response from Rio, who queries, “Is this really how you see yourself?”
Agatha’s confusion is apparent; Rio shifts back to the case, speculating on Jane Doe’s situation and how she ended up in Westview.
However, the conversation is laden with implications. The FBI agent notes that there’s no evidence showing a perpetrator had transported Jane Doe, as if she “magically appeared.”
Agatha insists on focusing on the facts, emphasizing the significance of the location – “the specific small town, its history, its people, the secrets buried underneath.”
Rio sarcastically remarks that Agatha is the best person for the job, pointing out, “I mean, you’ve lived here your entire life. Isn’t that true, Agnes?” This strikes a nerve, prompting her to demand Rio leave.
The return of the brooch
In the next scene, Abilash Tandon reprises his role as Norm (Asif Ali), who now operates a pawn shop. He examines the brooch, revealing a motif of three women in dance.
From his expertise, he concludes the pendant is authentic, tracing it back to New England from the late 17th century – paralleling the period during which Agatha faced capture in the Salem witch trials of 1693.
Norm highlights its representation of the triple goddesses: maiden, mother, and crone. In ancient mythology, the Triple Goddess is a neopagan symbol that embodies the three stages of the female lifecycle and the phases of the moon.
Furthermore, during their discussion of the pendant, Norm discovers it isn’t just a brooch; it’s a locket containing a strand of hair.
Who is Nicholas Scratch?
Back at the police headquarters, Agatha inspects the library card. Notably, the book Dialogue and Rhetoric: Known History of Learning & Debate serves as an acrostic for Darkhold.
This discovery startles her. Phil instructs Agatha to head home; however, she stays late at the office.
She enters her empty house, discovering a bedroom that seems to have belonged to her child. As the camera scans the room, a trophy with the name Nicholas Scratch comes into view.
Comic readers will recognize Nicholas as Agatha’s son who eventually became a supervillain. Although details about his involvement in Agatha All Along remain vague, fans can anticipate more revelations in forthcoming episodes.
Agatha’s emotional moment is interrupted by a knock at the door. It’s her frenemy, Rio, who brings pizza.
After a brief silence, she informs Agatha about a lead in the case: a car accident occurred about an hour before the time of death in Eastview.
Rio teases Agatha about “turning into a pumpkin” if she ventures outside Westview, to which Agatha insists she’s traveled before. However, recollecting where she has been proves difficult.
As their conversation shifts to the car wreck, Rio revisits the question of their relationship, asking Agatha, “Do you remember why you hate me?” Agatha responds, “No.”
Down the Witches’ Road
Suddenly, their unsettling conversation is interrupted by noise from another room, where Agatha confronts a masked intruder.
The intruder flees, leading to a chase before he is tackled by Westview’s resident Sharon Davis, known in this narrative as Mrs. Hart (Debra Jo Rupp).
When Agatha removes the mask, the character portrayed by Joe Locke, referred to as Teen for now, is revealed. Agatha and Rio swiftly take him into custody for questioning.
He refuses to disclose his name and isn’t found in the system. Following a sarcastic exchange, Teen reveals his intention behind the intrusion: he was searching for The Road.
This refers to The Witches’ Road, a mystical pathway within the Marvel Universe exclusive to witches and sorcerers.
Agnes is perplexed by his reference, but she notes his scorched fingertips, which he attributes to ink from fingerprinting.
Agatha dismisses this explanation, asserting he is the murderer responsible for Jane Doe’s death. However, when she shows him images of the deceased woman, he provocatively states, “What are you talking about? These are just flowers.”
The camera pans back to reveal that the images are, in fact, of a beautiful green garden full of flowers. Agatha is understandably confused, and upon seeking Rio’s assistance, she finds her partner has vanished.
Teen begins chanting in an unknown language, leading Agatha to decide to detain him overnight due to her uncertainty on how to proceed.
Peeling back the layers
Determined to convince herself she isn’t losing her mind, Agatha visits the Westview Coroner’s office, only to discover it empty. She closes her eyes, and when she opens them again, Jane Doe’s body is laid out before her, scarlet hair emerging from beneath the sheet.
Attached to Jane Doe’s foot is the library card that has preoccupied her thoughts. As she examines it closely, the name “W. Maximoff” magically appears dated.
Rio materializes unexpectedly, telling Agatha, “That witch is gone, and all the copies of the Darkhold with her. You’re stuck in her distorted spell. But you don’t have to remain there, do you?”
She encourages Agatha to “claw your way out,” which leads Agatha to begin shedding layers of her clothing, revealing her sitcom persona from WandaVision. Each layer corresponds to a different decade until she ultimately reverts to the ‘50s attire.
“There are two Jane Does in this case,” Rio reminds her. “And you know her name, so what’s yours?” gazing once more at the library card, Agatha sees “A. Harkness” materialize.
Just as she is about to reveal her true form, the scene abruptly cuts to Agatha seemingly waking up in her bare living room.
Under Wanda’s spell
Agatha regains her memories, but they don’t help her much at this moment. She storms out to question John while still naked.
John informs her that she’s spent approximately three years in the real Westview and that her behavior has been notably peculiar lately, as if she has developed an obsession with true crime.
Agatha realizes that she has been under one of Wanda’s enchantments. However, when she attempts to summon her own powers, she finds herself devoid of magic.
Upon discovering her trusty companion, Señor Scratchy, at home, she confides, “I got mugged, mister. She took every little bit of power I had and left me with nothing but household appliances. We need to regain our strength.”
A loud noise interrupts her again, revealing the unnamed teenager bound and gagged. Before she can free him, Rio dramatically bursts through the door, ready for confrontation.
Rio arrives wielding a knife, pointing it at Agatha’s chest. “How long has it been, Agatha, since you possessed the Darkhold?” Rio accuses. “You hid behind all that dark magic but then lost it.”
The Salem Seven are on their way
Their confrontation escalates, but Rio gains the upper hand with her abilities. Agatha then tries to negotiate, stating it’s “undignified” to combat her without her powers.
“Let me regain my purple magic, and then you can seek me out,” she proposes, but Rio informs Agatha that she isn’t the only one who wants her dead.
Eventually, Rio agrees not to kill Agatha, but she hints that she will let “them” know where to find her. “Who?” Agatha asks, to which Rio answers, “The Salem Seven… expect to encounter them at sundown.”
For those unfamiliar, the Salem Seven are the offspring of Nicholas Scratch who transform into villains in the comics, seeking revenge against Agatha.
The episode concludes with Rio healing Agatha’s injuries (in a rather unconventional way) and departing to deal with the Salem Seven menace, leaving Agatha to address the mystery surrounding the captive teenager. In short, anticipation builds for Episode 2 of Agatha All Along.
Agatha All Along Episodes 1-2 are available for streaming on Disney Plus now.
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