Agatha All Along, Who Knew The Witches' Road Could Be So Fun?

What happens on the Witches' Road, doesn't necessarily stay on the Witches' Road.

It's probably fair to say that the MCU's quality post-Endgame has been a somewhat turbulent affair, with films zigzagging in quality and their foray into TV series ranging from okay to great. I found myself really enjoying WandaVision and Moon Knight but found some of their other series struggled to grip me the same way those better titles did.

Ever since the WandaVision spin-off Agatha All Along was announced I'd been sceptical, but excited. WandaVision was something very different, yet, very entertaining. I was hopeful that another witch-based series could capture that same magic twice. Now that the mini-series is finished, how did it hold up? Both as the latest MCU entry and as an interesting mini-series? Well as it turns out, surprisingly well.

The nine-episode mini-series sees Agatha Harkness accompanied by an unknown teen gathering a coven of witches so they can walk the Witches' Road. A mythical road, riddled with perilous trials and dangers that will grant a witch's deepest desire, if they can reach the end.

It certainly isn't the most complex premise out there, but that's a good thing. The Witches' Road is a wonder to watch unravel, backed by the captivating dynamic shared between the central duo of Agatha and Teen. Add to that each coven-less witch recruited bringing their individual troubles, and you've got yourself a spooky adventure that delivers a good amount of fun, thrills and great reveals.

Now, I'd be lying if I said the show was a hit from the get-go. It certainly does enough to raise intrigue, watching Agatha break free from her bewitched state (Courtesy of Wanda). But it isn't really until we see the coven get together and venture onto the Witches' Road that the show really starts to sink its teeth into you.

Once on the Witches' Road, Agatha All Along unfolds very much in the same essence as WandaVision. Forcing the coven into new trials in each episode, with each one drawing inspiration from different areas of pop culture. Ultimately leading to some very fun and unique episodes unravelling in very different ways whilst maintaining that very distinct vibe the series established at the start.

As with many shows of this ilk, there were plenty of twists and turns strewn across the mini-series, most of which landed rather well. That includes the very satisfying finale. A closing episode that tied up any loose ends as well as delivered on the promises sprinkled along the way.

All that being said, it wasn't a smooth ride from start to finish. Although each episode was engaging and well-paced, the episodes themselves varied in quality, one in particular focused entirely on a revealing flashback. While it did develop the character and explore their motivations, it pulled focus from the fun of the Witches' Road quest, in turn damaging the show's momentum. As a result, it left the next episode needing to re-rev the engine and retrieve that same momentum rather than continuing to ramp up as it had been prior.

On the flip side, however, the show featured some great episodes too, such as; the gratifying finale, excellent horror-soaked trial and the already deservedly praised Lillia-centred episode that brought her character arc together in a very rewarding way.

Overall Agatha All Along was a great piece of entertainment. The show was captivating throughout and had plenty of great moments with a group of characters that each had their own stories to tell. Each week left me increasingly excited for the next new episode, and now that it's all over I'm fondly remembering the series and just as eager to watch it all over again next October.