Marvel Studios has been slowing down its output of movies and TV shows. So far, we’ve only had one series in 2024 and now, Marvel’s Agatha All Along is only the second Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) series to debut on Disney+ Hotstar. Some might say that it’s too late for a follow-up to 2021’s WandaVision, especially considering that we wrapped up the Scarlet Witch’s storyline in 2022’s Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness. So, is Agatha All Along still worth watching? Read on to find out.

A Mixed Bag Of Tricks

Credits: Disney+ Hotstar

Agatha All Along starts out strong, continuing the meta-genre exploration that WandaVision did. While WandaVision focused on sitcoms, Agatha All Along’s first episode is meant to be a homage to true crime procedurals like True Detective, Broadchurch and the many shows of the same vein. That being said, that only lasts for a single episode, which is probably a decision made not to repeat WandaVision’s plot all over again. After the first episode, Agatha All Along is mainly about Agatha building a new coven of witches (that’s not a spoiler because it’s part of the series’ official synopsis).

After watching the first four episodes of Agatha All Along, it feels like there’s a whimsical and playful tone to the series, but there are also small moments of horror (which I wish there were more of) and dramatic tension. However, it’s overall a mixed bag and will prove divisive to MCU fans because the main focus of the series is definitely on Agatha and her witches, and less about the rest of the MCU. It’s about them facing trial after trial, and to be honest, it’s not really all that exciting. What fans will find exciting, however, is that the best part of the series is the central mystery (or mysteries).

Credits: Disney+ Hotstar

There are a few easter eggs and references here and there to entice and make fans more hyped up. In addition, as a comic book fan myself, it’s always good to see the magical side of the Marvel universe, which is rarely explored even in the comics and source material. Oh, and there are also musical elements in several episodes, with the characters singing, so depending on your love or hate of musicals, you’ll either like it or find it cringe-worthy. For horror fans, Agatha All Along does have a few spooky elements and horror themes, but it doesn’t go as far as I’d like; like it’s more sanitized for casual audiences.

Aubrey Plaza’s character is a definite highlight of the season and a great foil against Kathryn Hahn’s Agatha, but she doesn’t show up much in the first four episodes. The rest of the supporting cast is good too, especially Sasheer Zamata as Jennifer Kale. That being said, it’s hard to care much about the rest of the supporting cast because they’re mostly minor characters that aren’t really well-known. Some scenes in Agatha All Along are also a bit too dark, especially in one of the episodes where it’s almost always shot in the dark (this is an issue with many shows, not just Agatha All Along, which is bizarre).

Credits: Disney+ Hotstar

Last but not least, I think Agatha All Along would have benefited from a shorter season because nine episodes feel like too many for this miniseries. After only four episodes, I’m intrigued by the mysteries of the series but I’m afraid that I’ll lose interest if the show drags it out too much. It feels like there’s not enough material here to sustain nine episodes, but I can’t say for sure yet until I’ve seen the five remaining episodes of Agatha All Along.

Season Of The Witch

Credits: Disney+ Hotstar

Just like ECHO earlier this year, Agatha All Along will likely invoke divisive reactions from critics and fans alike. However, I’d say that I still enjoyed Agatha All Along a bit more than ECHO because of its mysteries that immerse me more in the story and keep me interested to keep watching. That being said, I wish Agatha All Along had focused more on going crazier with the horror themes and elements because that would have been perfect for the characters and setting.

I’m really hoping that the show pushes more limits and improves in the remaining five episodes of the season, so there’s still potential there.

FINAL SCORE: 60/100

We received an early screener of the first four episodes of Marvel’s Agatha All Along Season 1 courtesy of Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia. Marvel’s Agatha All Along Season 1 is slated to premiere on Disney+ Hotstar on 18 September 2024.