Charles Buttle
Agatha’s journey along The Witches’ Road has finally begun. While the initial episodes may have felt lighter than expected for a show steeped in witchcraft, Agatha All Along has now fully embraced its darker side. The latest instalment cranks up the horror as Agatha and her coven face their first sinister trial, setting the stage for the challenges yet to come.
Episode 3 – “Through Many Miles / Of Tricks and Trials”
“Through Many Miles / Of Tricks and Trials” begins where the previous episode left off, with the coven narrowly escaping the clutches of the Salem Seven and continuing their perilous journey along The Witches’ Road. However, before facing their first trial, the road presents an unexpected challenge: Mrs Hart (or rather, Sharon) nearly gets sucked into the earth, sparking panic within the group. Meanwhile, the mystery surrounding Teen deepens as the coven discovers his Sigil, preventing him from revealing his true identity. As tensions rise, the coven stumbles upon a mysterious house, marking the beginning of their first trial. After a marvellous glamour, the road invites the coven to solve a quick riddle, rewarding them with a bottle of wine. But this reward turns out to be a poisoned chalice—literally. All but Teen, who is underage, are affected, including Agatha, who attempts but fails to avoid drinking the wine by deception. With only 30 minutes on the clock, the coven must work together to concoct an antidote. Jen takes charge, using her potion knowledge to guide the group, but the poison has sinister side effects. First comes dramatic facial swelling, followed by terrifying hallucinations. Sharon is the first to suffer, once again trapped inside Wanda’s Hex, pleading with her to let her husband breathe—a chilling callback to Wandavision’s debut episode. As Jen sends the others to gather ingredients for the antidote, they, too, face their worst nightmares. Alice is confronted by a vision of her mother in a smoke-filled dressing room, witnessing her suicide, Jen is nearly drowned by a ghostly early 20th-century doctor, and Lillia is lured by a younger version of herself before coming face-to-face with Death itself. With only three minutes left and the house rapidly filling with water, the antidote is nearly complete. However, Agatha is interrupted when she finally confronts her deepest fear—hearing the cries of a child, only to discover the Darkhold, a book of dark magic, waiting for her. Though the coven escapes and cures themselves, their relief is short-lived as the road claims its first victim, Sharon.
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
As always, Agatha All Along is packed with Easter eggs and hidden details, leaving fans with a trail of breadcrumbs to follow and endless theories to consider:
- Nicholas Scratch and The Darkhold: Jen sows seeds of doubt in Teen’s mind regarding Agatha, hinting that to claim possession of the Darkhold, Agatha made a terrible sacrifice—her own son, Nicholas Scratch. Jen’s comments about Teen being “another child sacrifice” tie back to Nicholas’s mysterious absence from the series. This could foreshadow a bigger reveal. Whether Jen knows the full truth or is merely spreading witch community gossip remains unclear.
- Mephisto: While Jen isn’t sure where Nicholas may be, she shares her theories with Teen, one being that Nicholas may be an agent of Mephisto, the extra-dimensional demon fans heavily theorised about during Wandavision. Though Mephisto didn’t appear in Wandavision, his name has resurfaced in Agatha All Along, rekindling hopes of a proper debut in this series.
- The Ballad Is a Guide: ‘The Ballad of The Witches’ Road’ has acted as both a narrative device and a warning. This episode highlights its importance again when Sharon deviates from the road and nearly meets her end. Fans speculate about the song’s lyrics and what dangers they may foreshadow. What other secrets does this ballad hold, and how will it influence the story?
- Aspect Ratio Change: When the coven enters the house, observant viewers will notice a change in aspect ratio. It shifts from the cinematic widescreen typically associated with Marvel films to a more narrow, TV-style frame. This subtle shift recalls Wandavision, where aspect ratios changed to reflect different television eras, offering a nod to that show’s unique storytelling format.
Character Development
Though only in its second week, Agatha All Along is already delving into rich character development, particularly with Sharon and Agatha. The hallucinations they experience while suffering from the poison reveal deeper layers to their fears and emotional states, offering the audience more insight into their psyches.
Sharon’s visions of being trapped within Wanda’s Hex immediately recall the haunting moment from the debut episode of Wandavision, where her husband begins choking. At that time, trapped under Wanda’s control, Sharon could only helplessly and playfully tell him to “stop it” repeatedly. However, in her hallucination, Sharon is now pleading desperately with Wanda to let her husband breathe, reflecting what fans have long suspected—this may have been her true emotional response during that scene, masked by Wanda’s manipulation. This sequence not only reintroduces an iconic moment from Wandavision but also hints at the psychological scars Sharon may have carried since being freed from Wanda’s grip. The hallucination may signify unresolved trauma that continues to haunt her, raising the question of whether her time in Wanda’s Hex left permanent emotional damage.
Agatha’s hallucination is equally revealing. She hears the cries of a child, which ultimately leads her to the Darkhold—a powerful artefact she acquired at great personal cost. Jen mentions that Agatha sacrificed her own son, Nicholas Scratch, in exchange for the Darkhold, a decision that weighs heavily on Agatha. The hallucination suggests that, despite her outward confidence and ruthless actions, she may harbour deep regret for this decision. The combination of the baby’s cries and the looming presence of the Darkhold could symbolise her internal conflict between power and loss, reinforcing that her path along The Witches’ Road is not without personal cost.
Fan Reception and Predictions
As the series deepens its exploration of witches and magic, fans are buzzing with theories and speculations:
- Westview’s Magical Properties: As Agatha All Along delves deeper into the mysteries surrounding witches and magic, fans are reconsidering how they view Wandavision. Erik Voss from New Rockstars theorised that Vision may have been drawn to Westview due to its magical properties, which would have allowed Wanda to explore her powers. With high-profile witches revealed to be residing near Westview, could Vision have unknowingly chosen this location for its magical significance?
- Is Sharon Truly Dead?: While Sharon appears to meet her end in this episode, some fans are not convinced. Actress Debra Jo Rupp, who plays Sharon, has appeared heavily in promotional material and is recognised as a main character for the series, suggesting we may not have seen the last of her. Could Sharon be revived, or is her demise part of a larger mystery yet to be uncovered?
Outro
While the first two episodes were a fun reintroduction to Westview and the magical forces of the Marvel universe, this latest instalment of Agatha All Along delivers the dark, sinister elements fans have long awaited from a show centred on witchcraft. But with one trial completed and one coven member down, how will the group fare in their next challenge?
