1 day Ago By [email protected] (Tom Power)
"Who asked for this?" – it's an eye-roll-inducing question that fans, myself included, have seen countless times since was first announced in November 2021. In some people's minds, the forthcoming spin-off is not just a superfluous addition to the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), but also a miniseries that, if handled incorrectly, might even sully the reputation of Marvel Studios' first-ever – and arguably most popular – TV project. The comic book giant may not have polled its global fanbase on whether an Agatha Harkness-led show was necessary, but I'm glad they didn't.
is an enchanting, kooky, and occasionally spine-chilling companion piece that confidently straddles the exploratory line between its weighty content, expansion of the 's horror-filled corner, and being a campy romp that puts a modern spin on classic witch tropes. Previously on WandaVision begins three years after , with Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn) still trapped in the reality-altering spell that Elizabeth Olsen's Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch placed her in after their Westview showdown. However, with the aid of her spurned and unhinged ex Rio Vidal (Aubrey Plaza), plus a mysterious Familiar known as Teen ( 's Joe Locke), Agatha manages to claw her way out of her Hex-based mind prison.
Unfortunately, her problems aren't over – not only is Agatha still powerless after Wanda drained her of her sorcery-based abilities, but a powerful and covert organization called The Salem Seven are hunting her for reasons unknown. But Teen has a solution: all Agatha has to do is survive The Witches' Road, a life-threatening realm that few witches have successfully navigated, and she'll regain her powers. Cue a mind-bending, fun-filled, and harrowing journey "down, down, down The Witches' Road" that'll test Agatha, Teen – he wants to walk it for reasons of his own – and their hastily assembled coven of fellow misfit magic wielders, all of whom are vital in traversing the dangerous dimension.
If it sounds like there's a fair amount to set up in , that's because there is. Like , I found the to be as much of a slow burn as Marvel's first foray, though I suspect some will argue that, with the new characters it has to introduce (more on this later) and the fact it's been over three years since debuted on one of the world's , a methodical approach to its early narrative is a necessity. Even so, Agatha bizarrely spends the bulk of episode one in the warped reality of a crime drama not unlike , or Scandinavian police procedurals including and .
Sure, it's a novel expansion of the television/sitcom genre storytelling that was built upon, but I found it to be extraneous from plot and runtime perspectives. MCU newcomers, for whom may be their introduction into Marvel's ever-evolving cinematic franchise, will benefit from this creativity-laced plot exposition but, as a Marvel veteran, it added little to my viewing experience. Once Agatha breaks out of her mental jail, however, things quickly heat up – and I'm not just talking about her sexually charged run-in with Rio at Agatha's Westview home.
From the enigma that is Locke's Teen and the revelations about The Witches' Road, to the assembling of Agatha's maverick coven and the creepy introduction of The Salem Seven, ratchets up the humor, spookiness, and high-stakes moments that'll come to define this hair-raising yet rollicking series. Showrunner Jac Schaeffer, alongside her fellow writers and executive producers, have struck a pleasing tonal and visual balance that instils with its own identity without discarding many of the elements that made one of the around. It's an equilibrious act that few shows, especially ones with a superhero and/or comic book slant, have executed effectively but, three episodes in, is showing it will through its nine-episode run.
Witches, assemble! is at its bewitching best, though, once the titular sorceress' ragtag group of dark magic outcasts join forces – albeit reluctantly, in some cases – to traverse The Witches' Road. Okay, it's the mysteries surrounding Teen and The Salem Seven that'll initially spark the most interest in viewers, and I fully expect to see numerous wild fan theories about their identities immediately after its two-episode premiere. Until those puzzling subplots are resolved in later episodes, though, 's biggest strength lies in its compelling character-driven moments and a dysfunctional family vibe that reminded me of another of Marvel's found families in .
And maladjusted Agatha's coven most certainly is. Debra Jo Rupp's Sharon Davies, the comic relief and only non-sorceress of the group, notwithstanding, the other witches – Jennifer Kale (Sasheer Kamata), Lilia Calderu (Patti LuPone), Alice Wu-Gulliver (Ali Ahn), and Plaza's Rio – all have an ax to grind with Agatha. Despite their obvious dislike for the conniving and callous protagonist and her suspicious plan, the quintet agree to joining Agatha's quest with the promise that grand rewards await them, which provides ample opportunity for spicy and venomous melodrama, as well as lashings of delightfully awkward humor, to unfold amid their strained collaboration.
I venture we'll learn more about these characters' backstories, their inner demons, group dynamics, and relations to Agatha (the one she shares with Rio will be especially fascinating, given Plaza's lethal-yet-aloof scene-stealing performance) as the series progresses. But, it's evident from the get-go that the serendipitous nature of Agatha and Teen's bond is what'll really drive the plot forward. Hahn and Locke have a natural chemistry that's easy on the eye, subtly amusing in its unexpected buddy cop makeup, and, even this early into its episodic run, emotionally impactful.
Keen as I am to see them interact with the rest of the supporting cast, I hope their relationship doesn't get lost in the fabric of the show with each passing episode. Scare and serenade me more, Marvel If there's two things I'm disappointed with so far, it's 's reluctance to wholeheartedly lean into its horror and musical sensibilities. Okay, on the terror front, is an extension of 's 16-plus/TV-14 story, so it's bound to the same or similar thematic, visual, and storytelling guidelines that its progenitor was.
And yes, as part of a in July, I should've known that a series Winderbaum labeled as a "Marvel brand of scary" was probably going to play it safe in the gore, jump-scare and psychological horror stakes. Heck, and , which were similarly teased as full-blown horror offerings, didn't go as hard as I liked, even though I enjoyed them immensely. Unfortunately, while 's trailers and suggest it might not only break the mould, but also fully embrace a genre it's tailor-made for, it's yet to convince me it will.
There are unsettling moments, such as The Salem Seven's creepy introduction as they advance on Agatha's home in episode 2. Some brief psychological horror sequences that occur in its third episode are also discomforting in their art direction, filmmaking style, and deep-seated trauma characteristics. Those instances, though, are the extent of the scares in Marvel's final live-action show of 2024.
The comic titan has already proved it can go further in in the supernatural, body horror, and Lovecraftian stakes – just look at the Scarlet Witch scenes in , the cosmic trippiness of its forebear, or even the undead nightmare scenes in and season 1's zombies episode. I really want to see adopt a braver, fright-filled stance in the six episodes that follow, especially as it leads us down the horror-based rabbit hole with its -meets- storyline. And what of its musical elements? Considering Agatha's standalone series has been billed as a dark comedy musical since , I was anticipating more catchy and original songs in its early episodes.
'The Ballad of the Witches' Road' is the only addition thus far, albeit it's a pleasingly constructed ditty that, thanks to the harmonies and vocal range of the show's primary and supporting cast, wonderfully builds to a euphonious crescendo in episode 2's final act. As with its somewhat underwhelming horror characteristics, I'm willing to give it more time to deliver on the musical front. Maybe my confidence is misplaced, but I'm optimistic will deliver more frights and earworm jingles to assuage my concerns in the weeks ahead.
My verdict Three episodes in, is an unapologetically queer, amusingly catty, and enchantingly twisted MCU offering that'll make for ideal viewing this Halloween. Unless it becomes a full-blown horror spectacle, I doubt it'll be the dark and spine-chilling show I'd really like it to be. Even if it does, I doubt it'll ever become my favorite MCU TV series of all-time.
Nonetheless, there's enough cackle-inducing entertainment value to be had with its morally ambiguous characters, spectral glamor, and – like on – the magical deconstruction of its tragic villain lead for MCU veterans and casual horror enthusiasts to enjoy. I'm sure its target audience will get an even bigger kick out of what's on offer, too – and, after all of those "who asked for this?" accusations, Marvel won't care one jot about those dissenting voices if they do..
