This show came out of WandaVision. It's title was an homage to the Emmy Award-winning song that accompanied the debut of Agatha Harkness. Obviously, this show tries to be its own thing. It offers an examination of witches, the powers they wield and the history they have in this universe. Wanda had never battled another witch until Agatha came along. Agatha served as the antagonist to Wanda's story. That was entirely a matter of perception though. The residents of Westview saw Agatha as their hero. She saved them from the spell Wanda cast. They no longer had control over their own lives. They looked after Agatha when she was trapped in her own personal hell. Wanda made a full embrace of villainy as a result of being consumed by the Darkhold. That access to power warped her mind into believing she could be with her children once more. She simply had to transcend the multiverse. That led to her demise. Agatha's story continues. And now, the narrative structure of the season once more produces a big reveal accompanied by a crucial needle drop. It's fascinating. It showcases the parallels and connections between the shows and the larger universe.
The basic approach to storytelling has always been similar. The themes have been different. WandaVision traveled through the history of the American sitcom. It offered those comedic impulses while never shying away from the darkness that consumed the town. Wanda wanted to believe in the fantasy. And now, the coven on the Witches' Road also find themselves transformed into wondrous sets and costumes evoking a certain era. They understand the performative nature of it all. The style is remarkable. However, it's a test. They have trials they must face. Each one is personal to someone amongst the coven. As a group, they carry these burdens together. That becomes their responsibility too. They can only survive the trials together. The third test is personal for Agatha. The appearance of a blood moon suggests the veil between the living and the dead is at its thinnest. It's time for Agatha to atone for her past after killing so many of her fellow witches. That's how she gains power. She insists she can't control it. Yet she has personal agency that snaps her out of the dire situation as well.
Agatha will do whatever it takes to avoid vulnerability and accountability. She pretends to be possessed by Sharon. that would be an easier and more recent event to face. She doesn't care about Sharon. And so, the solution to her speaking to the coven through the ouija board would be easy. Agatha can't avoid the hard work though. She is forced to reckon with killing her entire coven. The Salem Seven seek retribution for that act specifically. In fact, they have made their way onto the road as well. A door was left open after the coven conjured Rio to join them. Everything becomes much more perilous. The only way to escape is to enter the cabin in the woods. That evokes the overall genre offered up in this week's story. It's a play on '80s horror where the coven presents as friends at a sleepover playing with a ouija board. They invite spirits to commune with them. Agatha's mother serves as that messenger. Her hatred has been constant. She remains just as determined to kill her daughter now as when she was first convicted of her crimes. She also says Agatha should have been killed the day she was born. She has always been evil. It's useless for anyone to see anything more from her.
Teen refused to believe all the heinous stories about Agatha. He believed the community built up a narrative. It allowed her to be feared. She's vulnerable now without her magic. She is desperate to get it back. The adventure on the Witches' Road is all about power. The others thought they were bonding through the trials. They came to better understand each other. It's a powerful gesture when Alice motions to Teen to cast a spell together. That provides them the gift of flight on brooms. Again, it's a stereotype Lilia despises. She hates how it's been appropriated while still highlighting the domesticity of women. That's not a narrative she wishes to reinforce. And yet, she has fun. The Road eventually brings the coven back down. They can't escape the trials they must face. Teen can't ignore all the warning signs about the witch he admires. When the trial suggests Agatha needs to be punished, Teen defends her. He refuses to believe that is the only way to prevail. For the coven to reach the end, they have to abandon Agatha. That's not the fate she deserves. When the situation grows more complicated with Agatha becoming a literal demon after being possessed by her mother, more action must be taken. Alice uses her power to protect Agatha. In return, Agatha steals it. That results in Alice's death. She becomes the second victim of the Road.
Death comes for every witch eventually. That's how Lilia and Jen cope with what has just occurred. They see this all as transactional now. That comes into focus given Agatha's selfish act. Teen expects more. He doesn't believe being a witch is killing others to achieve one's own goals. This community has to offer more than that. That provokes a response in Agatha. She suddenly sees the similarities between Teen and Wanda. He's just as idealistic as she was. She tries to put him in his place. The coven wants to position Teen as their familiar who has no say in the outcome of this journey. Yet he holds an immense power. He possesses Lilia and Jen. They throw Agatha off the Road. She sinks below the mud. He then flings Lilia and Jen to suffer the same fate. Teen knew Agatha could be reasoned with through the sheer mention of her son's name: Nicholas Scratch. That shows her humanity. That proved she had control when she was willing to fight back against her nature. Alice still died. Agatha offers an excuse to keep her from being responsible. It can't be that easy. Teen exacts his punishment. That's what the trial wanted. It occurs after the door emerges. Teen reveals himself wearing a crown similar to Wanda's. The cut to credits with Billie Eilish's "You Should See Me in a Crown" is perfection. It's an immediate pivot in the structure of the season. It turns Agatha and Teen's dynamic into combative. They have different goals and understandings of being a witch. The fate of stepping off the Road probably isn't as bad as Agatha previously declared. This can't be the end of the story for most of the coven. The moment works because it's Teen taking action. He's just as pivotal as the rest of them. Plus, he's devastated upon losing Alice. She just wanted to protect everyone. She felt lighter after slaying her curse. And now, she's dead.
