Monday, November 4, 2024

Disney+ - Agatha All Along

Series Review

There will never be a season 2. But - in a way - Agatha All Along is a season 2, as it is a clear sequel to Wandavision.

And, to immediately get to the point, it's great!


A little short

Disney / Marvel has a tendency to make short runs, as opposed to Netflix' take on the Marvel Universe (Jessica Jones, Punisher). Sometimes that works, sometimes it doesn't. I think AAA (hey, what an acronym 😁) has the right length, but it wouldn't have suffered from a few more episodes. It certainly didn't overstay it's welcome!

Some of the things you immediately notice is the (relative) low budget approach. Effects aren't that special, somewhat limited, and you can see the simplified backgrounds and surroundings. And yet, it works, probably because of the characters and the story it tells.


So, there is hope?

Perhaps...

Disney's track record isn't that great when it comes to Marvel television. And Marvel television in general is a bit of a mixed bag, with Secret Invasion and Inhumans probably at the bottom. And look what they did to Dare Devil in She Hulk -- did that disaster rob us from Tatiana Maslany's return?)

Some of the other shows are meh, or just lost chances.

Yet... there are jewels like Wandavision, Moon Knight and Loki. So yes, there is hope.


Best and worst episode

Worst episode: number 6, showing Teen's background. I found it rather boring and predictable. A five minute inclusion in another episode would have fixed it.

Best episode: number 4. You gotta' love that whole 70's setup, with Teen calling the coven 'An album cover waiting to happen'. I did copy the 'song version' from YouTube, and it's now part of one of my favorite playlists.


Spoiler alert!

It's impossible to discuss the show without any spoilers. Skip this if you haven't seen it yet but plan to do so.


Agatha / Rio

With the final ninth episode it becomes clear that Agatha wasn't simply evil (you can't claim she's good, either) but she was driven to be evil. I think her relation with Rio / Death isn't completely explained (there must be more to it than has been told).

The tension between the two is great.

The ending explains Agatha's reaction to the Witches' Road. It's a place that she made up, a place that shouldn't exist, and suddenly her reluctance, doubts, and behavior all makes sense.


Wiccan

To many he's one of the best characters, but I find him a bit meh. It's still a great character, don't get me wrong, but he's -- I don't know. Predictable? I know in the comics he's gay, but (as usual with Disney) they had to push that aspect a little too hard. Disney's too woke for its own good, and that has been getting quite annoying over the last couple of years.

Wiccan's instant costume change near the end didn't make much sense. The crown was fine, but he left in normal clothes, and returned in costume. Where did he get it? Or even get the idea for it? I don't think there was any kind of magical event that would have moved him into new attire.

It's weird, but such a little detail annoys me.

The one thing redeeming the character is him embracing the 'Magnificent' costume...


Alice, Jen, Mrs. Heart, Lilia


If this show would have had more episodes, then they could have spend a bit more time on the backgrounds of the different characters. That's why I said more episodes wouldn't have hurt.

Lilia's story was fully fleshed out. We know a bit about Jen, but I'd especially would have loved a bit more on Alice. Her demise was a little too sudden, and she deserved some more screen time.


Agatha as a ghost

I hope they can down tune her ethereal, wispy aspect. I don't mind her as a ghost, but I want to see Kathryn Hahn's / Agatha's facial expressions and gestures in detail, not like a hazy incorporeal being. And Agatha being Agatha would definitely abuse the chance to change her clothing whenever she would show up in Wiccan's life. And boy, would she do that. Agatha's still Agatha, after all. Even in death.


So, it's highly doubtful we'll ever get a season 2, but I have reasonable hope we'll see Karthyn Hahn again.


Lyrics (Lorna's version)


[Verse 1]

I have learned the lesson

Of all that's foul and fair

Our love was forged in fire

Water, Earth, and Air

The spell is cast, how long it lasts

I cannot divine

The road is there

And so I dare

To risk this heart of mine


[Chorus]

Down, down, down the road

Down the Witches' Road

Down, down, down the road

Down the Witches' Road

Down, down, down the road

Down the Witches' Road

Follow me, my friend

To glory at the end


[Verse 2]

I have known the power

Of midnights in the wood

I've danced inside the circle

Of all that's bad and good

The dangers grеat, the trials wait

For those who seek the prizе

Tame your fears

A door appears

To love that never dies


[Chorus]

As we go

Down, down, down the road

Down the Witches' Road

Down, down, down the road

Down the Witches' Road (Down the Witches' Road)

Down, down, down the road

Down the Witches' Road

Blood and tears and bone

Together and alone


[Bridge]

If I can't reach you

Let my song teach you

All you need to keep our love alive

If I can't hold you

Remember what I told you

It's the only way we survive

We survive


[Guitar Solo]


[Verse 3]

The road is wild and wicked

Winding out of time

Still we face our fortune

Chasing the sublime

What's lost is found, what's fierce is bound

We're broken and we're burned

But take a breath

And dance with death

My love cannot be turned


[Chorus]

As we go

Down, down, down the road

Down the Witches' Road (Down the Witches' Road)

Down, down, down the road

Down the Witches' Road (Down the Witches' Road)

Down, down, down the road

Down the Witches' Road (Down, down, down)

Wherever it may bend

I'll see you at the end


[Outro]

I'll see you at the end

I'll see you at the end

I'll see you at the end

I'll see you at the end


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