TV Review - Agatha All Along Eps 4- 6

 

The witchy spin off of a spin off continues to surprise...

Reviews contain spoilers 

The fourth episode veers off the established path to allow us to get to know the witches a little better. Somehow needing to find a replacement green witch for the unfortunate lamented and not actually a witch Sharon the group conjures up the nearest substitute. She happens to be Aubrey Plaza’a Rio, who can rival Kathryn Hahn’s tics per minute output and adds a laid back nonchalance to proceedings. In one moment of problem solving she’s just sat on a sofa reading a paper.

With the untrustworthy new addition in tow the group arrive at their second test, once again in a big house though this time the interior is decked out like a Seventies recording studio. As last time their clothes collectively change when they walk through the door leaving them with tie dye, long hair – “an album cover waiting to happen” as Teen describes it. This test is rooted in Alice’s mother and revolves around the Witches Road song. The group have to play a version Lorna Wu recorded back in the day to coax out the demon that killed her. This rendition is worth the episode alone with some priceless posing and attitude. Fleetwood Mac it is not!

Beyond the comedy there’s a pleasing change of mood in some parts of the episode which keeps the series light on its feet. Reflections on deaths earlier and later hints of a past romance between Agatha and Rio. This makes sense-what else would make them seemingly dislike each other as much as a broken relationship.  It also explains the clear chemistry between the characters; both actors bring a different energy but work so well together. We also have some witchy reminiscences around a campfire which gives everyone some great moments. The tone and visuals of this episode are spot on even if the jeopardy feels less climactic than the previous one.

Just when we thought the series was settling into a formula along comes episode five which includes one of those fun big reveals that fantasy series always do so well. With the scary Salem Seven in pursuit the coven once again take shelter in a house where they find themselves dressed for the Eighties. However clothing takes a back seat and music is nowhere to be herd this week when they are obliged to take part in a Ouija board session. This is Agatha’s trial and suitably enough is as weird as she is. It relates to her late mother whose coven we saw trying to extinguish her daughter back in WandaVision. Now a spectral grey presence she tries to force the others to leave Agatha in the house and go on without her. In the ensuing scenario Alice loses her life trying to stop Agatha who – wittingly or not – absorbs her power draining her of life. If this is a likelihood I’m not sure why witches hang out with each other!

These events add a sombre note but the shocks are not over yet and we finally discover more about the character who has simply been referred to as Teen. He has powers too as it turns out, enough to send Agatha and the others sinking into a swamp under which they vanish. A most unexpected turn indeed. The shortest episode to date, its dominated by a manic performance from Kathryn Hahn when possesses, she definitely puts her all into it. Yet amongst the noise, the episode does coax some character moments demonstrating how much these people have got used to each other.

Episode six moves further away from the witchy travelogue we thought the show would be and is essentially a prequel even if it does appear half way through the series. It works better as a coherent series of events by focussing on one character rather than trying to incorporate everyone.  We see Teen’s backstory which involves a boy called William Kaplan dying in a car crash but then waking up with someone else occupying his body. The conjecture as to the real identity of this character has been rife from episode one and most people had already guessed him to be one of Wanda’s sons, which indeed he is. Billy Maximoff to be precise and his real task is searching for his brother. His powers though seem to be unreliably erratic meaning he still has to endure Agatha’s company. Its also a story that has a serious dark centre in that a loving family – the Kaplans- have lost their son yet don’t even realise it.

The episode is essentially Joe Locke’s to own which he does from the early joyous scenes to the post-crash confusion and then his zeal to find out the truth. The actor- who let’s not forget is comparatively inexperienced compared to his cast mates - brings a lightness and a truth to even the most bizarre scenario to the point where you nearly forget whose series this is. He’s made the shift from enthusiastic fanboy to darkly ambitious without without over playing it while his reading of William earlier is subtly different again. There’s a surprising, amusing cameo too from Evan Peters as the most visible throwback to WandaVision though there are references to it everywhere. This is the first episode of this show where it probably does help to have seen the other series.  

Agatha does feature prominently throughout though as we see scenes we didn’t in the first episode. Some of these are so funny thanks to Kathryn Hahn’s physical comedy skills that you can see both actors trying not to laugh. The two play off each other so well in an unlikely but winning double act. There’s also a Doctor Who style montage of old newspapers revealing Agatha being at crucial moments in history such as on the Hindenburg or being the real `Jolene` from the Dolly Parton song! Fans are going to have fun piecing all that together.

  The other witches pop up as well though I seems in the main narrative  they are all dead now except for Agatha. Appropriately though given the themes of the episode we cans still see them; Patti Le Pone gets a great scene as a clairvoyant. Where is Rio though? She seems to have vanished!