**This review may contain minor SPOILERS**
With a good concept and a strong cast, “Agatha All Along” pulls off its basic concept and is a good follow-up to “WandaVision,” however a handful of loose ends and subplots that feel half-baked somewhat deflate the show.
Picking up after the finale of “WandaVision,” (and thankfully only slightly referencing the events of “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness), the plot boils down to Agatha and a coven of witches traveling The Witches Road in order for each of them to gain something that they feel is missing from their lives. The basic structure is after the two-episode premier, each episode is a new trial in a new location with new costumes. Oddly enough, this is where the show is the weakest. Many of the trials don’t seem to make much sense and when they end it just feels like they were arbitrarily solved. Also, each trial is supposed to test a specific skill set, but half the time the challenge seems to have little to do with their area of expertise. Thankfully, after a few huge twists near the end of the season, the real story comes into focus, with all the hints and breadcrumbs along the way expertly planned and executed. But, in the very end the show doesn’t quite stick the landing as the big character arcs don’t really pack a punch and things end in a somewhat mediocre fashion.
While the cast of characters seems a little weak initially, most of them become compelling by the end of the season. (It helps that they’re all very well cast.) The trickiest of them all is Agatha herself, as she is written to straddle the line between selfish and compassionate. This usually works, but then there are times she steps too far over that line, and she loses audience sympathy. Also, the character of the Teen is likable in the beginning, but as he takes a darker turn in later episodes, it’s harder to identify with him. Interestingly, the show really doesn’t have a big bad, and the conflict in the finale feels a little tacked on, especially because some key backstory moments are missing that could explain why these characters are acting like that. (And that’s even with two episodes that are almost entirely flashbacks.)
Overall, the show looks pretty good. The set designs are intentionally somewhat “fake” looking or overly exaggerated. But this works due to the mystical nature of the journey. The costumes are generally fantastic, with each character getting cool makeovers for each trial. There’s not a lot of special effects, and most of them are practical and there’s just a bit of CG.
Thanks to a well planned-out and executed concept, some strong character moments, and a bit of mystery, “Agatha All Along” works for the most part. But some the omission of some critical backstory elements, lead characters that we don’t know if we should root for, and not-so-exciting ending some of the show’s hard work.
***1/2 out of *****