Joined by Aubrey Plaza, Patty LuPone, and extra, this supernatural sequence blends the horror of Werewolf By Night with the humor of Hocus Pocus.

PLOT: The notorious Agatha Harkness finds herself down and out of energy after a suspicious goth Teen helps break her free from a distorted spell. Her curiosity is piqued when he begs her to take him on the legendary Witches’ Road, a magical gauntlet of trials that, if survived, rewards a witch with what they’re lacking. Together, Agatha and this mysterious Teen pull collectively a determined coven, and set off down, down, down The Road…

REVIEW: When WandaVision premiered three years in the past, it ushered within the Disney Plus period of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. A singular sequence that explored the MCU in a means by no means earlier than seen on the large display, WandaVision was a direct tie-in to Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness. Introducing the Darkhold and the concept of the Scarlet Witch, the sequence additionally showcased the breakout character of Agatha Harkness. Played by the nice Katherine Hahn, it was rapidly introduced that the witch villain would get her personal spin-off. Agatha All Along connects the supernatural components of the MCU with a enjoyable, horror-tinged idea that performs like a cross between the tone of the MCU’s Werewolf By Night and the sassy humor of Disney’s fan-favorite Hocus Pocus. With an incredible ensemble of actors enjoying a ragtag coven, Agatha All Along is a enjoyable foray into a special aspect of the Marvel Cinematic Universe that doesn’t require data of the comics or the previous movies and sequence to take pleasure in it.

Agatha All Along debuts tonight with two episodes adopted by weekly premieres, and it concludes with a two-episode finale proper earlier than Halloween. I received the prospect to observe the primary 4 episodes of the sequence for this overview and really feel assured that the sequence has a enjoyable components that can carry it by to the sequence finale. Without divulging any spoilers, I can say that Agatha All Along opens with a return to the pretend tv sequence spell that sure Wanda Maximoff and Vision by the a long time of iconic sitcoms however now has Agatha locked in a mix of True Detective and Mare of Easttown. At first, I used to be frightened that the shtick that made WandaVision distinctive wouldn’t work a second time, however the spell is rapidly damaged and units Agatha (Katherine Hahn) on the trail to search out the Witches’ Road. The Road is a legendary place the place Agatha believes she will be able to regain the powers stolen by Wanda. Despite her notorious legacy, Agatha should assemble a coven of witches prepared to affix her. Joined by a teen acquainted named Teen (Joe Locke), Wanda units off to tug her staff collectively.

With a credit score sequence filled with references to popular culture witches by the ages, Agatha All Along strives to be a darkly enjoyable outing that’s decidedly inside Marvel’s wheelhouse however goals for a wider target market that is probably not comprised of comedian e-book aficionados. As Agatha collects her coven-mates, we meet potions witch Jennifer Kale (former SNL castmember Sasheer Zamata), fortune-teller Livia Calderu, protector witch Alice Wu-Gulliver (Ali Ahn), and fellow Westview sufferer of Wanda Maximoff, Sharon “Mrs. Hart” Davis (Debra Jo Rupp). Aubrey Plaza performs Agatha’s nemesis and inexperienced witch, Rio Vidal, and her path to becoming a member of the coven is healthier left unsaid. Because of Agatha’s previous atrocities in opposition to witches, her escape from Westview places the sinister Salem Seven (Okwui Okpokwasili) on observe to hunt her down and kill her. The first two episodes present Agatha’s escape and journey to take the coven on the Witches’ Road, with the following episodes diving into the duties they have to all full to regain their powers. This journey means we get to study backstory details for all the witches and study of the previous occasions that led to Agatha changing into the despised character everybody within the sequence is aware of her to be.

Non-comic followers could also be considerably confused by references to Scarlet Witch and Mephisto, the latter a serious character that Marvel stalwarts have been ready to see and who might seem in Agatha All Along. Still, this ensemble makes it simple to rapidly perceive the final construction of witch society within the MCU. Kathryn Hahn continues her whipsmart supply because the caustic Agatha and likewise has the primary nude scene in Marvel Studios’ historical past within the first episode. The connections to WandaVision are vital, and watching that sequence proper earlier than Agatha All Along would increase your background data, however it’s pointless. I’d not even contemplate this sequence to be a comic book e-book or superhero present, however positively extra of a horror-themed comedic sequence. The components follows the characters finishing duties, every of which is catered to their skillset and exhibits that Agatha is probably not totally evil. The visuals vary from horrifying designs that aren’t for the faint of coronary heart. I discovered a few surprisingly darkish designs to be a lot scarier than I anticipated from a sequence like this, however it nonetheless goals to be inclusive of a teen and older viewers. The first 4 episodes skew in direction of a extra mature viewers with some creepy moments and extra mature subject material, however nothing that the common thirteen-year-old can deal with.

Created by WandaVision showrunner Jac Schaeffer, Agatha All Along is directed by three filmmakers, every of whom helms three episodes. Schaeffer directed the primary two and the seventh episodes whereas additionally writing two chapters. Rachel Goldberg (Gen V) and Gandja Monteiro directed the remaining episodes. The sequence boasts a number of aesthetics that vary from surreal to downright scary. The particular results work appears good all through the sequence, with some inventive digicam work including to the eerie really feel of the Witches’ Road places. Laura Donney, Cameron Squires, Giovanna Sarquis, Laura Monti, Jason Rostovsky, Gia King, and Peter Cameron wrote the episodes alongside Schaeffer, with a number of of them coming back from scripting WandaVision. The sequence boasts new music from Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, together with the important thing “Ballad of the Witches’ Road,” which is vital to the sequence narrative. Music is vital to the sequence as a lot because the sometimes top-notch manufacturing values Marvel Studios has been recognized for over time.

Agatha All Along is a pleasant change of tempo from prior Disney+ MCU sequence. While some might level to the predominantly female-led solid and inventive staff being a cause this won’t attraction to a large viewers, I’d counter that followers of horror and spooky fare that doesn’t depend on gore or disturbing imagery however nonetheless manages to be exceptionally creepy and unsettling are in for a enjoyable shock with this sequence. Kathryn Hahn by no means disappoints, and her likelihood to dig into Agatha’s backstory in a means much like how Tom Hiddleston explored Loki in his namesake sequence is a enjoyable tangent to the ever-growing MCU. Agatha All Along is a pleasant entry for brand new followers and longtime Marvel followers alike to take pleasure in an attractive sequence that boasts stable particular results, creepy visuals, crackling dialogue, and a novel foray into the supernatural that can have ripples for the Marvel Cinematic Universe for years to return. Agatha All Along is a stable outing from the uneven latest phases of the MCU that works as a result of it doesn’t require a backlog of analysis to take pleasure in it.

Agatha All Along premieres with two episodes on September 18th on Disney+