Agatha All Along Episode 1 Recap: Agatha Harkness Awakens
In the much-anticipated premiere of Marvel’s Agatha All Along, we find Agatha Harkness living a rather mundane life in Westview as a police detective, a far cry from the powerful sorceress we’ve seen before. As the episode opens, she’s called to a grim crime scene in the woods where a woman’s body has been discovered, sparking her investigation. Recently reinstated after an incident involving “punching a suspect,” Agatha is determined to crack the case.
The story unfolds in a tone reminiscent of classic procedural dramas. Agatha spots a brooch at the crime scene but decides to pocket it instead of handing it over to forensic teams, hinting at her cunning nature. The plot thickens as we learn of the stolen book belonging to a local library, which she insists on investigating. However, she soon finds out that all copies have been mysteriously destroyed.
Back at the precinct, a surprising twist is introduced with the appearance of a federal agent played by Aubrey Plaza, who is reluctantly teamed up with Agatha to solve the murder case. Their chemistry is palpable from the outset, marked by tension and skepticism. A trip to a pawn shop reveals that the brooch is a locket dating back to the 1700s, piquing Agatha’s curiosity further.
As Agatha dives deeper, she stumbles upon a significant clue: a book titled “Dialogue and Rhetoric: Known History of Learning and Debate.” It soon dawns on her that the title encodes the word “DARKHOLD,” a notorious relic tied to her past. Just as she starts to connect the dots, her superior insists she head home.
At home, a surprise visit from Agent Vidal complicates matters. As Agatha shares her insights on a potential lead, tension escalates into unavoidable confrontation. Suddenly, her world turns upside down when she encounters a burglar in her home, leading to a wild chase through Westview. The teen burglar mysteriously claims he’s searching for “The Road,” igniting Agatha’s detective instincts amid bizarre occurrences as their interaction takes unexpected turns.
As the investigation leads her back to the morgue, Agatha uncovers the name “W. Maximoff” on a body tag, triggering a cascade of memories. She learns from Vidal that Wanda Maximoff has left Westview, taking the Darkhold with her. Faced with an identity crisis catalyzed by Wanda’s magic, Agatha begins a journey to reclaim her true self after being ensnared in a role she didn’t choose.
The unraveling continues as she realizes her powers are absent, setting the stage for a thrilling showdown with Plaza’s character, who reveals herself to be a formidable green witch. With ominous threats looming from other witches, including the chilling Salem Seven, the chapter closes on Agatha, now acutely aware of the challenges ahead. As the episode ends, it’s clear that the journey to regain her powers and confront her foes is just beginning, leaving viewers eagerly anticipating what’s to come.