In small town Westview, Detective Agnes' murder case sends her down a road that changes everything. With old foes in hot pursuit, Agatha and Teen gather a desperate coven to walk The Witches' Road.
"Circle Sewn With Fate / Unlock Thy Hidden Gate" was written by Laura Donney and directed by Jac Schaeffer
WandaVision offered an exploration of the decades of TV sitcoms. It was a wonderful showcase of production design that was only tangentially connected to Wanda's motivations and interests. However, it was a concept that worked. As such, it's rewarding to see the same energy applied in the early going for the spinoff centered on Agatha Harkness. For three years, she's been condemned to a life as nosy neighbor Agnes without any magical powers. She had no awareness of who she was. In fact, she was often living in her own alternate reality. Again, that's fun. Kathryn Hahn plays the character so well when she believes she's trapped in a satire of Mare of Easttown. She's a detective who goes against the rules. She's just coming back from a suspension. She's tasked with investigating the murder of a woman in the woods. This stylization has nothing to do with the character. Others believe they have to play along in order to fit into her world. It's a life with no challenges. She's stuck waiting for the right moment to claw her way back out. That transition showcases just how powerful Hahn is as a performer. She goes right from that broody detective back to the campy, over-the-top nature of a witch bored by suburban Westview life.
Agatha's life isn't in danger while trapped under this spell. She doesn't remember why she hates Rio. The two witches are always trying to torture each other. Yet they also want the other at full strength in order to have more fun in their battles. Rio wants Agatha. Agnes is inconsequential. Wanda's death in 2022's Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness offered enough cracks for Agatha to break free. It took others questioning her reality. Teen offered help as well. He too wanted Agatha. He sought out the powerful witch who survived her trip down the Witches' Road. He seeks the power that awaits whomever makes it to the end. That promise has the potential to change so many lives. Agatha is being hunted. She is given freedom to plot her next move. She's a survivor. She's powerless though. Her magic isn't restored after the spell is broken. The neighbors who have looked after her for years suddenly have nothing to offer her. Westview is simply where she resides. She doesn't have fond memories here. She was drawn to the new strain of magic Wanda practiced. With her gone, it's right back to Agatha fighting for her survival against witches who want her dead.
It's glorious watching Agatha go through the various identities she put on throughout WandaVision in order to arrive at her rebirth. Freedom is hers once more. The premiere is largely about breaking her free of this spell. It has plenty of style on the journey. However, that exposition is necessary in order to transition to a story that empowers her as she actually is. The narrative still has plenty of mysteries left to be solved. Agency is what matters to Agatha. It was robbed of her. She wants it back. She has the depth and understanding to know what she desires again. She assembles a coven because it's what she requires for the mission ahead. She doesn't share some great camaraderie with her fellow witches. They are nothing more than a means to an end. That's the directive of the second episode. Agatha and Teen must assemble a coven. They go from one destination to the next as they introduce the other characters who will be crucial to this mission. They have delightful personalities as well. They each have motive for wanting power. That's spelled out in some clumsy ways. The show still delivers the overall intrigue of that promise though. That's meaningful and hopefully creates a path for more bold choices ahead.
Agatha essentially takes on Teen as her familiar even though she doesn't know anything about him. His quest to walk the Witches' Road serves as inspiration. It's the only way Agatha can quickly regain power to take on the Salem Seven. It's not reasonable for her to run forever. That solely creates a reactionary life. She wants more than that. At times, she is blinded by her own ego to notice what others desire. Of course, she is also intrigued by these newcomers to her world. She can't hear anything about Teen's identity. Every other noise comes in just fine. Some kind of spell is preventing her from knowing the truth. That makes it miraculous that she accepts him so completely on this journey. She requires his service. He fans out because he has been obsessed with her legend for a long time. That enthusiasm comes through immediately. It's so charming watching Joe Locke in this scenario too. Teen remains angsty but his excitement is palpable. It's hard to make a character built around a central mystery appear interesting. Locke does so in style. It invites the viewer in to want to know more about him. Those answers are purposefully being withheld. The only true insight into his life is knowing he has a boyfriend who worries about him.
All of this culminates with a moving musical performance to open the door to the Road. Following the acclaim from the song "Agatha All Along" and the talent of the cast, it's no wonder the show would provide musical moments early on. It advances the plot too. It communicates the shared history and legend of covens in general. It's mostly a matter of convenience when Agatha explains that there is always witchy-enough people within three miles to form a coven. It still takes effort for Agatha and Teen to gather the people they need. Even then, Agatha is reluctant to invite the black heart present on Lilia's list. That suggests ongoing importance for Rio. She previously declared her heart as black. Agatha hopes the inclusion of Sharon Davis who played "Mrs. Hart" on the WandaVision sitcom is enough of a connection to Earth magic to matter. It probably isn't. Yet it's always Agatha doing just enough in order to survive. She doesn't panic when the song appears to fail. Instead, she quickly moves to provoking her coven into attacking her. She wanted to absorb their magic to face off against the Salem Seven. That wasn't necessary. She survives to journey on another day. She always looks ahead. She plays off any animosity from the past. That's her skill. It's how she's survived so far. The challenges may still prove to be daunting. At least the characters will have fun along the way. The tone makes all of this work even though the plot mechanics are a bit blunt in these opening episodes.
