Like WandaVision, Agatha All Along traps the titular character within the confines of a genre. There, it was a sitcom. Here, it's a murder mystery thriller. Agatha (Kathryn Hahn), as Agnes, broods like Kate Winslet in Mare of Easttown. She surveys the crime scene with a faux serious demeanor that extends to the show itself. The mood appears solemn, but it's solemn in a funny way. The dedicated, no-nonsense detective Agnes is a cliché. The broad strokes can also be found in the name given to the corpse (Jane Doe). There is an obligatory (and weak) chase sequence, a heated police interrogation, a tragic past that haunts the detective in the present, and a partner who seems like an ex-lover. These unoriginal elements are purposefully inserted. This means they also act as a shield against any criticism. Say that the images look dull or that the rhythms feel loose and feeble, and the show will defend itself with remarks like, "It's all intentional."
Unlike WandaVision, Agatha All Along doesn't remain within the "TV show boundary" for too long - the Mare of Easttown spell is soon broken, maybe because Marvel might have seen criticisms of WandaVision moaning about how the sitcom structure was taking the story nowhere. However, even after breaking the show-within-a-show structure, Agatha All Along remains tethered to derivative elements. The second episode is all about Agatha gathering a team of witches, who all initially show reluctance but then buy what Agatha is selling to them. Since Teen (Joe Locke) works alongside her in this mission, the episode resembles a buddy comedy adventure.
Agatha All Along obscures Teen's real identity and history from us, as well as the characters. When he utters his name, a spell appears on his lips like a lock that mutes his voice for the listeners. Teen, though, doesn't realize that when he says his name (or talks about his personal story), his voice disappears. I am sure creator Jac Schaeffer wants to deliver a surprise by revealing his name and backstory later, but alas, she underestimated the power of Wikipedia. You can learn everything about Teen (or at least some of the details the show hides) on the Wikipedia page of Agatha All Along. There is one interesting moment in Episode 1 where Vidal (Aubrey Plaza) asks Agatha - or Agnes - why she hates her, and Agatha can't seem to come up with a solid reason. You can interpret it as a comment on stock characters whose actions are purely motivated by the thought, "Eh, it's all written in the script."
The first two episodes of Agatha All Along get their energy from the actors and their sharp, witty dialogues. Hahn slips into her role with a spark so lively, so crafty, so exuberant that she infuses freshness into old story mechanisms. It's wonderful to see people like Debra Jo Rupp (as Sharon Davis), Patti LuPone (as Lilia Calderu), Sasheer Zamata (as Jennifer Kale), and Ali Ahn (as Alice Wu-Gullive) working together. They bring a deliciously bitchy aura to the show. Rupp's Davis is added to the team through Agatha's lie, leaving you wondering if the door to the Witches' Road is not fully protected. Before singing a song to make this door appear, the characters discuss how they must sing at a particular pitch for the magic to happen. Davis doesn't know the lyrics, so she mostly watches or tries to mimic other witches. Even then, the door finally appears. So, you really don't need all the witches to find the way to the road? Then again, who cares if you are getting the pleasure of watching these incredible women? I hope Agatha All Along does justice to their talents.
Final Score – [6/10]