TV Review: ‘Agatha All Along’ Episode 5 Reminds Viewers Who The Title Character Really Is
by Frank Martin
Agatha All Along is a strange show. It throws together so many elements into one program. It’s a throwback to classic witch stories, as audiences can see when the coven boards makeshift brooms and take to the sky. It’s also undoubtedly a Marvel Cinematic Universe series as it ties heavily into the MCU mythos, even having a big character reveal in a twist at the end this week. But perhaps most remarkable is the fact that its protagonist isn’t a protagonist at all. Viewers must sit with the fact that Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn) is indeed a villain, and it feels awkward rooting for her to win.
This time, the Salem Seven — descendants of Agatha’s former coven — enter the witch’s road to chase after her. In order to escape, Agatha and her new coven make brooms and fly up to escape them. Unfortunately, the road brings them down and forces them to enter the next trial. Using a Ouija board, the group summons Agatha’s long dead mother, who takes possession of Agatha’s body. Eventually, they complete the trial and escape. But in the episode’s closing moments, Agatha reveals that the mysterious teen (Joe Locke) is in fact the Scarlet Witch’s (Elizabeth Olsen) son, Billy.
This week’s episode will surely be remembered for Billy’s dramatic reveal, but that awesome ending will overshadow what Agatha did to Alice (Ali Ahn). The lead character is on this mission purely for power. So when she saw an opportunity to drain Alice of hers, she took it, even though it killed her. This roots Agatha firmly in villainy. In fact, it allowed her to see who Billy truly was as he shares his mother’s sense of heroism. It’s a shocking development that will surely ramp up tension for the remainder of the season.
Agatha All Along streams Wednesdays on Disney+.
