Agatha All Along’s Title Gains New Layers of Meaning Upon Rewatch

“Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.” This adage resonates deeply when revisiting Agatha All Along. The title’s cheeky twist — yes, it truly was Agatha (Kathryn Hahn) all along — takes on richer meaning after watching the show in full. Not only does the reveal spotlight Agatha’s deep ties to the witching world, but it also frames her as a deeply tragic figure, undone by her own destructive impulses. While this twist serves a critical narrative function, it also cements the show’s meta-commentary, making it as much an homage to the genre as it is a fresh story. So, let’s delve into the Witches’ Road one more time and uncover how it really was Agatha all along.

Agatha’s Tragic Backstory Unveiled in the Finale

The climactic finale redefines Agatha’s motivations and actions, painting her as a victim of her own schemes. It is revealed that Agatha masterminded the Witches’ Road, a sinister pathway born of betrayal and bloodshed. Over centuries, she hunted and killed other witches, stealing their powers in her obsessive quest. The inciting tragedy? The death of her son, Nicholas Scratch (Abel Lysenko), at the hands of Death (Aubrey Plaza).

Agatha’s exact goals remain ambiguous. Did she amass power to cheat Death and shield Nicholas, or, after his loss, was she driven by the hope of resurrecting him? Regardless, her actions highlight a woman consumed by fear and impulse, striving toward a goal she could never truly define or achieve.

Her tragic arc deepens when we consider her role in the lives of other characters. From her manipulations of Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) and Billy (Joe Locke) to binding Jen (Sasheer Zamata), Agatha isn’t merely a villain to others — she’s her own worst enemy. The Witches’ Road, a tangled web of lies and power grabs, spirals beyond her control, casting Agatha as both the orchestrator and the victim of her undoing. Despite her malicious deeds, we can’t help but pity her, trapped in the chaos she created.

Déjà Vu: It’s Agatha All Along… Again

What makes this twist particularly compelling is that it’s not the first time Agatha All Along has tricked us. Fans of WandaVision will remember the original reveal, accompanied by the unforgettable earworm that inspired the show’s title. Back then, the twist unveiled Agatha’s hand in sabotaging Wanda’s Westview hex. It was clever, shocking, and unforgettable.

For the same trick to land twice? That’s an impressive feat. The repeat twist works because it dives deeper into Agatha’s psyche, exposing her thirst for power and her grief-driven loss of control. The death of her son adds a layer of sympathy, reframing her actions as a desperate, though deeply flawed, attempt to reclaim some semblance of order in her life.

Pulling off this thematic callback not only speaks to Jac Schaeffer’s skill as a storyteller but also elevates the audience’s appreciation for Agatha as a character. Transforming someone seemingly irredeemable into a sympathetic figure is no small feat, and doing so twice with the same trick deserves recognition.

What’s Next for Agatha?

The show’s ending leaves the door wide open for further exploration of Agatha’s story. With Billy Maximoff now searching for his brother, Tommy, alongside Agatha, it’s tempting to predict future twists. Could Agatha still be concealing ulterior motives? While it might feel predictable for her to manipulate Tommy and Billy, we’ve been wrong about her before.

Jac Schaeffer herself has expressed frustration with fans over-analyzing her work, as seen with WandaVision. Perhaps the best approach is to simply enjoy the ride, allowing ourselves to be deceived again. If Agatha has taught us anything, it’s that the journey — with its unexpected pay-offs — is worth it.

Where to Watch

All episodes of Agatha All Along are streaming now on Disney+. So, kick off your shoes, settle in, and prepare to discover how it was Agatha… well, you know the rest.

Source: Collider