Marvel’s ‘Agatha All Along’ Episode 5: A Pivotal Yet Rushed Revelation

“Agatha All Along,” Marvel‘s latest series, has reached its fifth episode with “Darkest Hour / Wake Thy Power,” unveiling a crucial revelation surrounded by controversy. This episode, unlike its predecessors, is notably shorter, coming in at just 25 minutes excluding credits, leaving viewers craving more depth in its pivotal moments.

The episode reveals the identity of Joe Locke‘s mysterious “Teen” character as Billy Kaplan, son of the Scarlet Witch, portrayed by Elizabeth Olsen, and known as Wiccan in the comics. This moment, where Agatha, played by Kathryn Hahn, pushes Billy to use his powers against the coven, is marked by his use of Wanda’s signature abilities, topped with Billie Eilish‘s track, “You Should See Me in a Crown.” While this climax is striking, the revelation raises questions about how Agatha learned Billy’s identity, considering the supposed magical sigil that conceals it even from witches.

The character development of Billy Kaplan has been a point of contention. Despite considerable screen presence, Billy’s backstory and motivations remain surface-level, making it challenging for the audience to invest in his revelation as Wanda’s son. It is anticipated that future episodes might explore his history more thoroughly.

This episode highlights a broader issue seen in “Agatha All Along,” where the narrative seems to be hastily progressing, leading to a sense of thinning plot. Past episodes exhibited similar tendencies, particularly in episode four, where significant moments, like Alice’s trial, felt undersized due to constrained development.

Interestingly, the episode also delves into the Salem Seven, a group introduced earlier, now revealed as the descendants of witches Agatha once killed. This ties back to marveled flashbacks seen in “WandaVision,” while providing them a role in intensifying the plot’s danger and excitement.

Agatha’s own trial unfolds in a surprising manner, leveraging a throwback horror movie setting. The Ouija board scene, resulting in Agatha’s possession, adds humor and chaotic energy, and presents Jen, played by Sasheer Zamata, standing firmly against her. Meanwhile, Rio’s conflicting emotions toward Agatha reveal the complexity of their relationship, punctuated by the ghostly appearance of Evanora Harkness, which calls back to “WandaVision.” Here, Agatha’s vulnerabilities and past traumas, especially inflicted by her mother, are further explored.

The episode sees the loss of Alice, a member of the coven, which, despite its impact in-story, lacks resonance due to the character’s limited screen time in prior episodes. Agatha’s claims of uncontrollable power absorption introduce a narrative ambiguity, suggesting her potential victimhood to these powers rather than pure malice.

Overall, the episode, while delivering impactful moments, struggles due to its fast pacing, leaving longtime Marvel comics enthusiasts with mixed feelings about the unfolding narration within the MCU.