‘Agatha All Along’ Series Premiere Review: Kathryn Hahn’s Campy Resurgence Is Overwhelmed by Marvel’s Decaying Spell

A still from ‘Agatha All Along’ Photo credit: Marvel Studios

After the breakout success of Kathryn Hahn’s deliciously sinister Agatha Harkness at Marvel WandavisionAgatha All Along She was destined to ride on the Emmy-winning coattails of Coven Mother’s success. Alas, its wobbly two-episode premiere quickly loses steam, delivering a sly misfiring of magical tropes that’s fatally underwhelming.

There’s a frustrating sense that the series is aware of its limitations, but prefers to lean into them rather than overcome them. It begins with a self-referential reverence Mare of EasttownAs a grizzled small-town detective with Hahn’s Agatha — a spitting image of Kate Winslet’s titular character — throws herself a A true detective-The quest for truth that feels fun to witness play out in the MCU. The choice is certainly ambitious, perhaps even clever in how it plays with expectations, but instead of sinking its teeth into that idea, the series abandons it almost as quickly as it appears when the pilot suddenly switches gears.

The show then picks up where Wandavision Left, Agatha is still stuck in her suburban persona, living as nosy neighbor Agnes in the sleepy town of Westview. unfortunately, Agatha All Along Not knowing what to do with yourself when the curtain rises. There’s potential here, but it’s soon buried under a pile of one-liners and clichés that seem less self-aware and more lazily superfluous.

A still from ‘Agatha All Along’ Photo credit: Marvel Studios

One could argue that the show was always meant to embrace its own absurdity, but where Wandavision Cleverly woven in with some semblance of mystery, pathos and stakes, Agatha All Along Every attempt to be more than a series of visual gags falls flat.

Not that the series lacks charm. Han is, as expected, a terrifying delight. His title turn is simultaneously sharp-tongued and world-weary, and a screen-saving presence. But even his sarcastic declaration that “babies are delicious,” can’t make up for the writing’s flaws. Much like the limited reality his character has stuck with, the show itself is stuck — bound by the franchise it’s part of, and the need to remain marketable to a younger, larger audience.

without its prior knowledge WandavisionIts conclusion, Agatha’s motivations, and the backstory that suddenly involves walking down a false magical street are… muddled at best, unclear at worst. There’s no emotional weight behind his desire to regain power, nor is there a compelling antagonist (yet) to drive the conflict forward. Conversely, Marvel somehow simultaneously disconnected the beginning of Agatha’s journey from the larger MCU, almost as if it were a footnote that didn’t need to be told in the first place.

A still from ‘Agatha All Along’ Photo credit: Marvel Studios

The series feels stuck in a visual limbo, unsure if it wants to be a nostalgic homage to ’90s campy, or not. Goosebumps-style vibe or something entirely new, inevitably results in a bland, generic aesthetic that doesn’t quite match the absurdity of its central character. The original score by Christophe Beck and Michael Paraskevas is a refreshing takeaway.

Includes supporting cast HeartstopperJoe Locke as a lovable fanboy sidekick, whose story purpose is still somewhat unclear; Aubrey Plaza’s brief appearance as a sultry Rio Vidal is another colorful addition that quickly becomes a jumble of what’s to come.

Enjoyable at times but mostly forgettable, Agatha All Along It’s another product from an assembly line that’s finally starting to creak. Marvel’s once thrilling brand of storytelling is teetering on the brink of a dull, soulless death and agatha Just may be the final proof that the magic is all but spent.

The first two episodes of Agatha All Along are currently streaming on Disney+ Hotstar with new episodes every Friday