Exploring the Relationship Between Agatha Harkness and Rio: The Story of How She ‘Courted’ Death

In the emotional finale of Agatha All Along, Agatha and Rio’s connection appears to be ending, leaving many wondering about their backstory and the circumstances surrounding Agatha’s first encounter with Death.

The climax of Agatha All Along was profoundly touching: after the final showdown, Billy (known as Wiccan) returned to empower Agatha, enabling her to confront Rio (revealed as Death, the Original Green Witch).

Agatha realizes the futility of the confrontation: Death is unbeatable. As a final act, she breathes life into Billy by imparting her own life force through a symbolic kiss of Death. Agatha collapses, her body decaying swiftly and merging with the earth as Rio looks on, mourning her silently.

While Death isn’t portrayed as an outright villain, she represents the unavoidable nature of existence. Despite the unlikelihood of their bond, there was genuine affection between her and Agatha.

What led to Agatha’s meeting with Death?

Agatha kissing Death in Agatha All Along — Disney+

The specifics of how, when, and why Agatha crossed paths with Death remain ambiguous. However, I propose a theory: their first encounter occurred in 1693, following Agatha’s destructive act of killing her coven while they attempted to execute her.

Consider this: Death may have a disdain for being outsmarted (as evidenced by her obsession with Billy, who “stole a second life”), and Agatha’s life was radically altered when the coven sought to end her for her use of forbidden magic. She should have been killed, but in an unexpected twist, she drew on their life forces, leading to their demise.

This dramatic turn likely caught Death’s interest, although details of how their relationship evolved are lacking. Whatever the case, it’s evident they shared deep feelings; in Episode 4, Rio referred to her former beloved as her “scar.”

The showrunner, Jac Schaeffer, noted that their playful interactions are layered with “genuine pain and longing.”

Did Death grant Agatha immortality?

Death in Agatha All Along Episode 9 — Disney+

It seems likely that Death was intrigued by Agatha’s unique ability to absorb the powers of other witches. She doesn’t relish in death (she shows a gentle side toward Nicholas Scratch), but it’s part of her role, leading her to view Agatha as a potential ally.

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, witches typically outlive ordinary humans, but Agatha’s longevity surpasses that of her peers. What if Death offered her a bargain: a longer lifespan in exchange for her draining the life from any witches she encountered, causing many souls to evade Death for long periods?

The reasoning could be simpler: if Rio fell in love with Agatha, she might have kept her alive to enjoy their time together.

In the penultimate episode, an intriguing line was delivered by Agatha: she informed Rio that she is “not permitted”to kill her. Why is this? Does it stem from a potential consequence where attempting to kill Agatha would allow her to exploit Death’s power, risking their mutual destruction and upsetting the cosmic balance? Or is it a result of a previously established agreement? This remains a question to be explored.

Death temporarily spared Agatha’s son

The finale of Agatha All Along begins in 1750 with Agatha in the woods, heavily pregnant and about to give birth.

However, it is strongly suggested that her baby has already perished in utero—especially when Death arrives to claim her next soul. Agatha pleads for her child to be spared, vowing to “hate her forever”if she intervenes. Defying her usual protocols, Death grants them an indefinite reprieve, enabling Nicholas Scratch to enjoy a brief childhood… until his demise.

This moment is heartbreakingly understated: while Agatha sleeps, Nicky awakens in the middle of the night to find Death standing by him, holding a green lantern. Calm and gentle, she invites him to follow her because his time has come, even telling him to kiss Agatha goodbye.

The next dawn, Agatha awakens to find Nicky lifeless beside her.

What led to their breakup?

Rio, aka Death, holding a knife to Agatha — Disney+

The complete reasons behind the deterioration of Agatha and Rio’s relationship are still elusive. Certainly, Agatha’s son’s tragic fate played a significant role, along with elements associated with the Darkhold.

Jennifer hinted to Billy that Agatha had bartered away her child for the Darkhold (the notorious book filled with malevolent spells that can corrupt its users, akin to Wanda in Doctor Strange 2), but that is misleading.

The true source of Agatha obtaining it remains unknown (and if a second season of Agatha All Along does not materialize, we can hope to uncover it in a forthcoming Marvel narrative), but it’s clear that acquiring the Darkhold created a rift between the two. Recall how Rio remarked, “How long has it been, Agatha? Since you claimed the Darkhold, you have concealed yourself behind that dark magic.”

One possibility is that the Darkhold grants its wielder dominion over dark sorcery, including resurrecting the dead—a notion that challenges the natural order and would understandably infuriate Death. If Agatha gained access to the Darkhold, she could hypothetically surpass Death’s influence, a scenario she loathes, as indicated in the comics.

What’s the connection between Death and Thanos?

Lady Death in Agatha All Along and Thanos in the MCU — Marvel Studios

In Marvel comics, Death’s most notable connection is with Thanos, which may draw parallels to the themes in Agatha All Along.

The MCU hinted at Thanos’ pursuit of Lady Death in a post-credits sequence from The Avengers, warning that opposing them would mean courting Death.

This was merely a nod to their comic history, where Death influenced Thanos’s violent tendencies from early on (instigating acts from killing animals to committing murder). She spurned his advances until a traumatic incident—his mother’s death—pushed him over the edge.

Death had high standards, indeed. Following a defeat by Adam Warlock, Captain Mar-Vell, and the Avengers, she dismissed Thanos.

In an effort to impress and prove his worth, he amassed the Infinity Stones, wiping out half of all life in the universe. Ironically, Death remained unimpressed; with the Infinity Gauntlet, he was the universe’s most powerful entity, prompting her to ally with other cosmic forces to defeat him.

This situation bears similarities to what might have transpired regarding the Darkhold. Death may have rejected the notion of anyone holding such immense power that could disrupt the natural order.

Schaeffer has commented on the connection between Death and Thanos in interviews prior to the finale, though fans seeking clarity may be left wanting. “Thanos is not part of my narrative, so I can’t elaborate on any connections to him,” she stated.

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Images Credit: Dexerto.com