Agatha All Along – Episode Seven Review

This show, man. This show. What an absolute stunner of an episode, taking full advantage of having a heavyweight like Patti LuPone at their disposal, writers Gia King and Cameron Squires crafted an episode perfectly attuned to her unique set of skills – even if that didn’t include her getting to sing a solo version of the Ballad. And even though this appears to mark the end of Lilia’s journey – both in the series and presumably in the MCU at large – that was one of the most satisfying single-episode arcs I’ve seen in an MCU series (and, frankly, in television in general). Pulling the seemingly disparate pieces together after a season of throwing around non sequiturs (some of which even I hadn’t realized were meant to be bits to reference later on, like the “I love you guys” phrase), we also were granted the chance to see the world from Lilia’s perspective – time isn’t linear (something Loki and the crew at the TVA could commiserate with Lilia about), but once you master your understanding of it, you can also find your true purpose. And what a purpose it was.

I never thought I would be comparing Lilia to Loki, but there were a shocking number of similarities in their journeys of late. Both felt they weren’t really worthy of their power, deep down, despite presenting an outward show of confidence. Both struggled to find a crew of people they fit with – their family who would help them to achieve their grand purpose. And once they discovered that purpose? Well, they discovered it was to put aside their fears and the sense they weren’t good enough and make the ultimate sacrifice to ensure that their found family was able to have a chance to survive. Loki now sits, holding the timelines together, alone but content that those he loves are able to continue living. And Lilia? Well, she made the ultimate sacrifice, allowing Agatha, Jen, and Billy the chance to make it to the final trial without the Salem Seven on their trail. Death comes for us all in the end, as she said earlier this season, and Rio made sure she knew that her time was drawing to a close before she made it to the trial. Also of note: Lilia still made sure to provide Agatha with one final piece of advice: Hit the deck when she calls you a coward. Presumably that’s Rio, who still needs a trial herself – and I’m assuming we’re going to finally hash out their tortured past next week.

But this week was about Lilia. What a performance from LuPone, who was able to move through several stages of grief before making the realization that she can’t keep cheating Death any longer – Death is here and she is ready for her. Lilia may have lived out of time at points in her life, but all roads were leading to this moment, with a coven, working to keep each other safe and allow their gifts to lift each other up. Lilia might not have been able to admit to herself what she really wanted when she started down the Road until those final moments, but once she found it – the strength, the knowledge, the family, and the ability to take control of her own destiny and accept Death – it was a gift not just to her (to let go after years of guilt over her old coven refusing her warnings of the fever that would kill them all) but to her new coven, who she managed to save. What a wonderful, full circle moment. Sure, death can be sudden and jarring – as with Alice – but it can also be a journey chosen. And Lilia getting a death she could be proud of, absolved of the guilt she’s carried for centuries? That’s pretty awesome.

I am so completely impressed with the series Jac Schaeffer has put together here. One of the major issues I’ve had with MCU shows in the past was that they always had a sense of serving the greater MCU more so than trying to tell a story in the here and now. We need to deal with the Skrulls and get Fury in a place to use him in The Marvels. We need to make sure to make Sam into Captain America so he can star in the next Cap film. We need to get a new Hawkeye introduced because our old one is, well, getting old. Sure, some of those show had good moments (ok, definitely not Secret Invasion), but they always felt like the writers were being told to set something up or make sure we’re primed to know a character for a future project. Here, while I’m sure some of these characters – most likely Billy and Rio/Lady Death – have clear future options within the current MCU based on their comic histories, this feels like such a complete story being told. The focus is on the characters – even those who have died. Heck, especially those who have died, who have gotten fleshed out in episodes dealing with their traumas and how their growth allows them to come to terms with their pasts. This isn’t just the Agatha and Billy show – this is a real ensemble. And it feels like a real TV series as a result.

Marvel can tell stories like this – and should tell stories like this (see WandaVision – also from Schaeffer – and Loki – especially season one – for instances where the focus was on the story, the characters, and a contained arc, and much less on how that impacts the MCU as a whole). Television is such a great medium for expanded character-driven storytelling. It’s not just a chance to seed films. If Marvel can start using its TV platform for this – expanding on minor characters, telling character-driven stories that don’t necessarily link directly to future films (which would allow occasional MCU viewers to understand movies without needing the homework of TV, and vice versa), I think these series could become something special. Like Agatha All Along has become.