She’s back witches!: A look into Disney+’s“ Agatha All Along”

Marvel Studios in 2021, released their most anticipated project of the year, Wandavision. Wandavision was Marvel Studios first Disney+ limited series and concluded after nine episodes. The main character of Wandavision was, of course, Wanda Maximoff; however, the audience definitely fell for the girl next door, Agatha Harkness. The “nosy neighbor.” 

The introduction of Agatha Harkness was originally in the pilot episode titled “Filmed Before A Live Audience.” Agatha is introduced as “Agnes,” a stereotypical next door nosy neighbor while Wanda appears to the audience to be in a bit of a dilemma. Almost as if “Magically.” Agatha is portrayed as “Agnes” for the next few episodes till the penultimate and final episodes. Agatha finally reveals herself to be “Agatha Harkness,” a powerful witch from the times of the Salem Witch Trials. Agatha is a strong yet corrupt woman who only craves power. Wanda eventually rids Agatha Harkness of her power by taking it for herself and transforming into her true form of “The Scarlet Witch, Harbinger Of Chaos.” Wanda then leaves Agatha under “Agnes” permanently as she leaves, closing the story of Agatha Harkness for what audiences thought would be for good. 

Kathryn Hahn reprises her role as the malicious witch with a variety of new stars consisting of Netflix’s Heartstopper Joe Locke, Parks & Recreation’s Audrey Plaza and so many more new faces. Hahn herself says that:  “I want the show to succeed beyond anyone’s wildest expectations. but you also have to surrender.” Hahn says this in reference to Marvel’s current strain of box office misses and unsatisfying recent releases. “Agatha All Along” however, is looking quite promising engagement wise with nearly 79% rotten tomatoes. This is somewhat of a first for a main female lead MCU project considering that past shows, Mrs. Marvel, She Hulk and Echo, all faced bias and criticism due to a “women superhero lead.” Critics called these shows “flat” and “uninteresting.” The way Marvel portrays women has always been in a stereotypical manner that pleased men. Rather it’s giving them seductive lines, wearing tight uncomfortable suits, (cough, cough Scarlet Johannson) or in general making them out for only their looks and sex appeal. With these factors, Marvel doesn’t essentially know how to write a proper female led story, which is why the excitement for the first two episodes of  “Agatha All Along” is not all that hopeful. 

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has had a place in young people's hearts for years and probably many years to come. However, Marvel simply has to find their formula when it comes to writing female stories to make them overall more engaging and more relatable with their audience. This is why we can only hope that “Agatha All Along” will deliver in it’s coming episodes. 

By Pooja Bhatt