Marvel’s new mini-series Agatha All Along starring Kathryn Hahn is making history in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or MCU. This series is a spin-off to the hit 2021 show WandaVision and takes place three years after the show’s ending. Agatha All Along begins with Hahn’s character, Agatha Harkness, being left powerless in a spell cast by the Scarlet Witch, Wanda Maximoff. The show follows Agatha as she embarks on a mission to regain her powers and assemble a coven of other witches played by stars such as Aubrey Plaza, Joe Locke, and Patti Lupone.
This show has many themes and layers which fans are discussing including betrayal, loss, and self-discovery. However, fans are most excited about the LGBTQ+ representation that Agatha All Along brings to the MCU. The lead character, Agatha Harkness, was revealed to be a queer woman after the show explored a plot line between her and her ex lover, Rio Vidal played by Aubrey Plaza. Their intense relationship was a pivotal plot point in the show which fans looked forward to in new episodes every week. Hahn and Plaza made history in episode eight, sharing the first ever same-sex kiss in a Marvel project.
Star of the hit coming of age LGBTQ show Heartstopper, Joe Locke plays a crucial role as “Teen,” who is later revealed to be Wiccan, the son of Wanda Maximoff. Wiccan has been an iconic queer character in the Marvel comics, and is openly gay in this series. Notably, supporting actresses Sasheer Zamata and Ali Ahn, who play Jennifer Kale and Alice Wu-Gulliver hint that their characters are queer throughout the series.
Agatha All Along has become a huge hit for Marvel, becoming the top MCU show after surpassing Loki Season Two in Rotten Tomatoes Ratings. Marvel fans are expressing their love for the show all over the world, including some of the Lowellville students and staff. Senior Bobby Loftus has always been a Marvel fan and enjoyed the show very much. He thought it was very entertaining and had a great cast. Bobby expressed his thoughts on LGBTQ+ representation in the show. “I loved the representation in Agatha, Rio, and Billy. I think it’s important to feature LGBTQ characters in all kinds of stories, not just in ‘LGBTQ shows.’ It makes everything more realistic and gives people something to see themselves in.”
Mr. Solak, who teaches a variety of math courses at Lowellville, also enjoyed the show. He has been a Marvel fan since he began reading the comics at the age of six, using them to improve his reading skills and expand his vocabulary in his free time. Mr. Solak described Agatha All Along as “well-acted, with interesting characters that tied the storyline together.” Regarding the LGBTQ+ representation in the show, he shared, “I liked that it was there. You know, I thought it fit well and was important to the plot of the show.” He recommends this show to people who enjoy fantasy or sci-fi.
The best part about this show is that it does not slow down to try and emphasize the characters’ sexualities. It is not a big “reveal” or “coming out” moment. They’re queer and while that is a big part of who they are, it is not their whole identity.
Joe Locke told Variety, “It’s got many layers and gay is one of them. That’s one of the great things about the show…Teen is a queer guy on the show, but it’s not the driving force, which I think is really great. It’s really nice to just have these positive queer characters.”
Kathryn Hahn shared with Collider, ”The fact that people who don’t know Marvel at all, that this could be their way into that world, is so exciting to me. I’m just so proud that it exists, and I’m so proud that it exists for audiences that maybe haven’t seen themselves in the MCU. It’s thrilling that there are so many queer people in it and that that’s kind of almost beside the point – people are just interested in the story. It feels like exactly where we should be right now.”
Agatha All Along is the exact representation that queer people have been wanting to see on their screens for years. The breakthrough show is opening up this genre to an audience of Marvel fans that may not have watched a program like this before. Not only is the show breaking boundaries, but it is also an extremely entertaining watch making you laugh, cry, or leaving you shocked. It has a little something for everyone and should be your next show to binge watch this year!
