‘Agatha All Along’ Underperforms with the Critics, but the Fans Like It!

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As a die-hard Marvel fan with over two decades of experience under my belt, I must say that Agatha All Along has certainly piqued my curiosity. It’s refreshing to see the enigmatic Agatha Harkness get her due spotlight, something long overdue in my opinion.

The recently debuted MCU series titled “Agatha All Along” originated from the popular show “WandaVision.” Interestingly, this series has undergone numerous name changes before settling on its current title, which surprisingly persisted until its premiere. The series made its grand entrance on Disney+ on September 18, 2024, with a double episode debut. The remaining seven episodes will be released weekly, culminating in the final episode on November 6, marking the end of the series.

Initial responses to the series suggest a captivating and entertaining journey, yet it’s important to note that while Agatha All Along is certainly intriguing, it doesn’t quite reach the pinnacle of excellence in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a sentiment echoed by many critics. Despite this, the audience appears to be quite fond of the show.

To put it simply, according to initial reviews from both critics and fans, Agatha All Along appears to be one of the lower-rated MCU shows among critics, yet it’s garnering positive responses from viewers, suggesting that fans have taken a liking to the show.

Back on September 18, 2024, I settled down to watch the premiere of Agatha All Along, hoping for a thrilling ride. However, it didn’t exactly kick off with a bang as I had anticipated. The ratings took a nosedive quickly before leveling out at about 70% positive reviews. Critics seem to be less than impressed, placing Agatha All Along among the lower-rated shows in the MCU, with a current critical rating of 69%. Here are some of the reactions I’ve come across:

The project largely steers clear of having the vibe of typical Marvel stories created just to launch others. Regrettably, it doesn’t quite achieve the feel of a standalone series that has its own purpose either.

– Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter

Few Marvel projects stand out due to their place within a long-term strategy, rather than their inherent creativity. Even in her weakened condition, Agatha retains the ability to cast a spell or two.

– Alison Herman, Variety

Agatha All Along persistently moves forward along its selected route, as the coven experiences both disagreements and closeness through a sequence of hurried yet uninspiring tests. The positive aspects of the theme of female empowerment are overshadowed by worn-out, conventional story arcs.

– Mike Hale, New York Times

The title “Agatha All Along” might be a reference to a flashback scene, but based on what we’ve seen so far, it seems like the series has plenty of material if it focuses solely on Agatha, and that could be very engaging.

– David Fear, Rolling Stone

The execution is so delightful that, even though I might belong to the targeted audience, I was amused rather than offended.

– Judy Berman TIME

Simultaneously, the show boasts a strong 75% audience approval rating, suggesting that viewers have taken a liking to its unique aspects and appear unfazed by the challenges the series presents. This start may be rocky, but we’ll observe how things unfold as more episodes become accessible.

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2024-09-19 18:44