This is the best MCU TV show by far. Here’s why it’s Marvel’s best release since Avengers: Endgame

Marvel Studios

When Agatha All Along was announced arsenic an unofficial sequel/quasi-spinoff to 2021’s deed WandaVision, galore rolled their eyes astatine what seemed yet different unnecessary task successful nan MCU’s never-ending machine. To some, nan miniseries was absurd, greenlit based connected nan viral occurrence of an annoying earworm from 2021. To others, it reeked of desperation, a last-resort effort to support nan MCU conveyer loop live connected Disney+. Indeed, Agatha All Along arrived astatine a precarious clip for nan MCU erstwhile moreover its astir ardent followers doubted it. But if nan charm was wearing off, who amended than a witch to bring it backmost to life?

And bring it back, it did. Agatha All Along conscionable concluded its spectacular nine-episode run pinch a two-part finale that tied loose ends and provided a satisfactory conclusion but still near nan doorway unfastened for nan adjacent section successful Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn) and Billy Maximoff’s (Joe Locke) stories. Unlike its predecessor, Agatha All Along stuck nan landing and delivered a tremendous constricted bid that reminded america why we emotion nan MCU. In fact, it wouldn’t beryllium an overstatement to telephone this show nan finest task successful nan franchise since nan herculean 2019 juggernaut Avengers: Endgame, and you cognize what? It’s not moreover close.

Tame your fears/A doorway appears

Marvel Studios

Agatha All Along centers connected Agatha Harkness (Hahn), still nether nan Scarlet Witch’s (Elizabeth Olsen) spell pursuing nan events of WandaVision. However, she is soon helped retired by a mysterious teen (Locke) and a shadowy fig from her past (Aubrey Plaza). The teen wants Agatha’s thief to tread nan fabled Witches Road, which gives immoderate witch who completes it “glory astatine nan end.” Reluctantly, Agatha agrees, assembling a makeshift coven and entering nan vulnerable way while pursued by nan Salem Seven, ancient foes from her past.

The show gathers an ensemble of caller faces — Locke, three-time Tony victor Patti LuPone, Emmy nominee Aubrey Plaza, SNL alumni Sasheer Zamata, and The Diplomat‘s Ali Ahn — and a fewer acquainted figures from WandaVision, astir notably nan beloved but severely underrated Debra Jo Rupp. Jac Schaeffer, who was besides nan mind down WandaVision, returns to service arsenic showrunner, and convey deity for that.

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At first glance, Agatha All Along is different puzzling introduction into nan MCU’s Phase Five, but upon person examination, it’s easy to spot why nan show was greenlit. In summary, it serves 2 purposes: 1 is showcasing Kathryn Hahn, possibly for nan first clip successful her profession (justice for Mrs. Fletcher), arsenic a bona fide starring woman tin of headlining a awesome project. It tin moreover beryllium seen arsenic a reward of sorts for some Hahn and Schaeffer aft nan occurrence of WandaVision. After all, Olsen got Doctor Strange successful nan Multiverse of Madness — which was much a reward than a reward, successful hindsight, but that’s different communicative — and Paul Bettany sewage a bid of his own, which apparently is still happening. But Hahn and Schaeffer were conscionable arsenic instrumental to WandaVision‘s occurrence — they moreover sewage Emmy nominations for their efforts! A sequel bid of their ain was only fair.

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Agatha All Along‘s 2nd purpose, arguably much important successful position of franchise-building, is expanding nan MCU’s magical area by introducing 1 of Marvel’s astir celebrated characters: Wiccan. Arguably nan astir celebrated LGBTQ+ characteristic from nan comic books, Wiccan is nan sort-of-son of nan Scarlet Witch and Vision, a being of monolithic magical powerfulness who has moreover served arsenic Marvel’s Sorcerer Supreme.

He is besides one-half of nan astir famous and beloved cheery mates successful comic books, and nan overwhelming fame of his romance pinch Hulkling has put them connected par pinch iconic couples for illustration Sue and Reed and Peter and Mary Jane. The casting of Heartstopper‘s breakout star, Joe Locke, made it instantly clear that Agatha All Along would present Wiccan. The young character denied it for years, ne'er erstwhile breaking and making Andrew Garfield proud. Many moreover ventured into guessing he was playing Nicholas Scratch, Agatha’s boy from nan comic books. However, we each knew; 1 look astatine nan kid, and you could tell.

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Now, pinch nan play over, we tin safely say Agatha All Along achieved its 2 purposes and past some. Hahn is superb arsenic nan lying witch pinch nan awesome wardrobe — seriously, that purple overgarment is to dice for. Because she’s not a erstwhile Avenger for illustration Wanda, Hahn’s Agatha is not constricted by traditional, moralistic, and frankly boring notions of “good” and “evil;” instead, she’s allowed to beryllium successful nan morally grey area inhabited by truthful fewer Marvel characters.

Agatha is genuinely that bitch: she lies, cheats, betrays, and kills, and does it each pinch a grin and a cackle that would make Eleanor Audley proud. Agatha is possibly nan MCU’s 1 existent anti-hero; much than Bucky (Sebastian Stan) aliases Loki (Tom Hiddleston), Agatha is simply a genuine loose canon marching to nan hit of her solitary, covenless drum.

It’s truthful genuinely refreshing and, frankly, admirable that Schaeffer adopts nan aforesaid attack pinch Billy. Although Agatha All Along‘s early episodes had him declaring he is “not that nice,” hardly anyone took his words astatine look value. After all, nan MCU is celebrated for either redeeming its villains and turning them decidedly heroic aliases sidesplitting them erstwhile they’ve served their purpose; nary 1 is allowed to beryllium shifting aliases mercurial, astatine slightest until now. However, nan two-episode finale reveals Billy is not only inadvertently responsible for nan deaths of his newfound coven, but he is really OK pinch them because things worked retired his way.

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To beryllium fair, it’s not for illustration Billy cackles pinch glee astatine nan deaths of his chap witches. However, he doesn’t suffer immoderate slumber for them either. He is besides perfectly OK pinch inhabiting a assemblage that isn’t his, lying to Billy Kaplan’s parents, and carrying connected arsenic if thing happened. All this isn’t to propose Billy is evil, but location is simply a clear ruthlessness coming successful him that’s lacking successful truthful galore different Marvel heroes.

Much for illustration Wanda, Billy is volatile and person to nan separator than anyone thinks, holding capable powerfulness of creation and demolition to bring nan world to its knees. The truth that Schaeffer makes him somewhat acold and calculating only adds layers to his characterization, making him instantly fascinating, particularly successful a franchise that treats its teen characters for illustration c copies of each other.

Burn and brew pinch coven true

Disney+

All nan praise directed at Agatha All Along is justified, particularly successful nan existent property of Marvel entertainment. The show feels for illustration back-to-basics for nan franchise by doing what each task should: focusing connected building itself alternatively than a cinematic universe. Sure, it has Easter eggs — it makes judge you don’t hide astir Wanda Maximoff, aft each — and it’s connected to nan larger universe. However, its priorities are nan characters connected screen, first and foremost. To Schaeffer, Jennifer Kale and Lilia Calderou are much important than Thor aliases Peter Quill; thus, you attraction because she cares.

Agatha All Along is specified a bully tv show because it’s conscionable that: a tv show. Unlike different MCU shows, which look to deliberation of themselves arsenic extended movies, Schaeffer’s shows prioritize episodic storytelling successful work of an overarching story. It seems outright dumb that a TV show receives praise for doing what immoderate task connected its mean should do, but present we are. And it’s not conscionable Marvel that’s blameworthy of approaching constricted bid for illustration wannabe movies: moreover HBO, erstwhile nan premier web for quality, small-screen storytelling, is stumbling nowadays for putting retired miniseries pinch personality crises.

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It’s not like Agatha All Along has thing overly meaningful to say. It’s a show astir condolences and self-discovery, yes, but it doesn’t reinvent aliases delve peculiarly heavy into those themes. Like WandaVision, Agatha All Along besides struggles successful nan last act, though it does a acold amended occupation than its predecessor by featuring nan accepted Marvel last conflict successful nan second-to-last section and allowing nan last section to beryllium a full-on characteristic study.

That’s wherever Agatha All Along truly shines: successful its characterization, introducing a formed of superb players that rank among nan MCU’s astir compelling. Every personnel of nan coven has a defined struggle that makes them relatable and worthy rooting for — nan 1 objection mightiness beryllium Plaza’s Rio Vidal, but this elusive quality plays to nan strengths of Plaza arsenic a performer and her mysterious character’s allure.

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However, virtually each different characteristic is simply a small world successful itself, and nan show does a superb occupation processing its arc complete its constricted episodes. Nowhere is this much evident than successful its champion episode, Death’s Hand successful Mine, which is not only a tour-de-force for Patti LuPone but a masterclass successful slow-burn storytelling.

With Agatha All Along, Schaeffer opts for bold alternatively than familiar. The magic successful nan show is refreshing capable to guidelines retired but blimpish capable to beryllium wrong a budget. The stakes are precocious capable that the characters’ deaths are final but not truthful precocious arsenic to descend into the CGI messiness that truthful galore of nan MCU’s third-act battles person become. Like its titular character, Agatha All Along is resourceful and inventive, doing truthful overmuch pinch truthful small and providing a much-needed breather for nan franchise, particularly successful a peculiarly flawed saga that has favored multiversal spectacle complete genuinely bully storytelling — seriously, if I ne'er perceive nan connection “multiverse” again, I won’t mind.

Wherever it whitethorn bend/I’ll spot you astatine nan end

If Agatha All Along proves thing is that Marvel needs to clasp connected to Jac Schaeffer for beloved life. In fact, I wouldn’t mind seeing her return connected a bigger domiciled aft 2 certified hits. I’d consciousness a full batch much assured successful a imaginable Young Avengers movie aliases show if she were successful charge. Locke, too, needs to instrumentality around: his Wiccan is nan astir fascinating young fig successful nan MCU by acold (sorry, Ms. Marvel), and nan thought of a cheery superhero astatine nan forefront is genuinely exciting.

As for Hahn? Ghost Agatha seems present to stay, and nan pieces are each group for different task pinch her astatine nan forefront. Millions of fans are clamoring for Wanda to get different changeable astatine nan movies: Scarlet Witch solo movie pinch Schaeffer, Olsen, Hahn, and Locke? Shut up and return my money!

Marvel Studios

Beyond what it did for nan MCU arsenic a franchise, Agatha All Along must beryllium praised for what it did for Marvel arsenic a imaginative venue. More truthful than HBO’s The Penguin, which is somewhat embarrassed by its root material, Agatha All Along reminded america that location is value to beryllium recovered successful a world of superheroes while still embracing their campy nature.

Like nan champion comic book movies, it finds joyousness successful nan confines of its small area yet makes it consciousness truthful grand, making everything look for illustration a life-or-death situation. In nan existent quality of nan witches it truthful loves, Agatha All Along is loud, over-the-top, and melodramatic successful each nan champion measurement possible, and we wouldn’t want it immoderate different way. Glory astatine nan end, indeed.

All 9 episodes of Agatha All Along are now disposable to stream connected Disney+.