Agatha All Along

Streaming on: Disney+

Episodes viewed: 4 of 9

Much as Kathryn Hahn’s mischievous witch Agatha Harkness was the MVP of the excellent WandaVision, one wouldn’t be blamed for wondering if a spin-off series about her was really necessary. Four episodes into Agatha All Along, the primary reason it exists is clear: because Kathryn Hahn is simply too deliciously devious and charismatic in this role to not be unleashed on a bigger scale.

We find Agatha trapped in Wanda’s spell — but where the Scarlet Witch played out her narrative via sitcoms, Agatha is envisioning herself as a Mare Of Easttown-esque detective in a Scandi-inspired crime drama. It’s only when mysterious foe Rio (Aubrey Plaza) and a young, eyeliner-wearing burglar known only as Teen (Joe Locke) enter the fray that Agatha registers what’s happening, and claws herself back to reality.

The real dynamite is Kathryn Hahn herself.

From there, Teen convinces her to journey down the mystical Witches’ Road to regain her powers. They assemble a motley coven to get there — including crystal ball-gazing Lilia (Patti LuPone), potion-brewing wellness-peddler Jen (Sasheer Zamata), sullen daughter-of-a-rockstar Alice (Ali Ahn), and Westview resident Mrs Hart (Debra Jo Rupp). They’re a refreshing if underdeveloped ensemble, each flawed in their own way — but the real dynamite is Hahn herself. Agatha is witty, grumpy, constantly scheming and more emotional than she lets on, and Hahn exudes confidence in every guise. Chemistry crackles between her and Plaza as two mega-powerful beings with a deep, complicated, clearly romantic history. She also has an instantly lived-in rapport with Locke, who pulsates with positive energy as Agatha’s fanboy-turned-familiar.

Once on the Road, the gang face a series of trials. These allow for a kind of episodic reinvention that calls back to WandaVision, but are the weakest part of the script — their mechanics feel random and not fully formed, the solutions handwaved away with witchy weirdness. But the magic here is in the dynamic between the cast and the frankly fabulous aesthetic, with costumes to die for, and flashes of true horror and darkness within the silly, spooky, wonderfully camp vibe. There are also several compelling mysteries — who Teen really is, what went down between Agatha and Rio, and how, if at all, this ties into the wider MCU.

For some Marvel fans, the tone and setting will be a turn-off — but Agatha All Along has more in common with witchy ’90s favourites like Hocus Pocus, Practical Magic and The Craft than any, as Agatha calls them, “vengeance-seeker” movies. If you can get on board with that, there’s plenty of fun to be had — and a brand-new balladic banger to enjoy.