Main cast: Kathryn Hahn (Agatha Harkness), Joe Locke (Teen), Sasheer Zamata (Jennifer Kale), Ali Ahn (Alice Wu-Gulliver), Debra Jo Rupp (Mrs Hart), and Patti LuPone (Lilia Calderu)
Director: Rachel Goldberg
Well, hex me sideways and call me a newt! It looks like Agatha All Along has finally found its magical mojo in its third episode, Through Many Miles / Of Tricks and Trials. After a first episode that was about as exciting as watching paint dry in the Sanctum Sanctorum, this witch-com has stirred up a potion that’s equal parts camp, cheese, and charm. It’s hitting all my guilty pleasure buttons faster than Doctor Strange can do jazz hands.
Let’s face it, I’m a sucker for shows where witches toss around more quips than fireballs. Call it my weakness, right up there with pumpkin spice lattes and pretending I understand the quantum realm. So, when Agatha, Teen McBroodyFace, and their newly minted coven hit the Road facing trials that would make even the Avengers say “Nah, we’re good,” I was all in.
The real magic here is the cast. Kathryn Hahn is serving us sarcastic witch realness, making us wonder why WandaVision didn’t let her let loose earlier. She’s having more fun than Loki at a Mischief Night party. Debra Jo Rupp brings the heart as well as the comedy, playing a widow with more layers than Doctor Strange’s cloak. And Joe Locke? Kid’s got more secrets than SHIELD’s basement.
Now, let’s address the elephant in the room, or should I say, the plot bunny? Word to the wise, showrunners: when you try to sandwich in a serious moment, it sticks out like Thor at a stealth mission. Maybe ease up on the quips for a hot second?
Despite its rough edges, this show is shaping up to be more fun than a barrel of mischievous Lokis. It’s not going to win any Infinity Stones for depth, but it’s the kind of entertainment that goes down smoother than one of Wong’s Hulk-A-Hulk-A-Burning-Fudge sundaes.
Oh, and about Disney hyping this as the “queerest MCU show ever”? So far, that claim’s about as solid as Mysterio’s illusions. Speaking of Mysterio… but hey, if by “queer” they meant “camp”, then by Odin’s beard, they’re onto something! This show is camping it up harder than Peter Quill at a dance-off.
So, grab your broomsticks and buckle up, folks. With six more episodes to go, Agatha All Along might just charm its way into being the guilty pleasure we never knew we needed. It’s shaping up to be more addictive than infinity stone collecting – and trust me, I’d know.
Rating: 4 out of 5 Magical Mischief Makers. Up from 2 Infinity Stones; we’re making progress, people!
