Editor’s note: The below contains spoilers for Agatha All Along.
WatchingAgatha All Alongcemented something for me:I am drawn toward deadly, evil women in genre.It should have been obvious withLenore inCastlevaniaand Poison Ivy in various Batman-related TV shows, butAgatha All Alongtakes the cake withAubrey Plaza’s Rio Vidal. It’s especially ironic in hindsight, since Rio is actually the manifestation of Death — who plays a major role in Marvel’s cosmic canon.While Plaza was previously part of a Marvel seriesthanks toLegion, her performance inAgatha All Alonghad me hooked from the very first episode — not to mention her ridiculous chemistry withKathryn Hahn.
Aubrey Plaza Grows Steadily Unhinged During ‘Agatha All Along,’ and I Love It
What makes Plaza’s performance as Rio such a standout is that she starts growing more and more unhinged asAgatha All Alongproceeds.In the first episode, when she showed up during the “Agnes of Westview” segment, I picked up on the tension between her and Agatha and wondered, “Did they use to date?” It didn’t help that Plaza was rocking the simple black suit of an FBI agent, combined with her trademark smirk; even if I never guessed the Death twist,I wanted to see more of this character. And more came, when she attacked a powerless Agatha after the Scarlet Witch’s spell was broken. Never has a woman dressed in all black and carrying a massive knife been more alluring.
Rio did eventually resurface as the “Green Witch” needed for Agatha’s coven, andshe turned the camp up to eleven. Her first appearance literally has her bursting out of the Earth, which alarmsJennifer Kale (Sasheer Zamata)andAlice Wu-Gulliver (Ali Ahn); in another trial, she starts laughing maniacally when it’s revealed that “Death” was in the room with the coven. Admittedly, this should have been my first clue that Rio wasn’t all she seemed, butthis was the power of Plaza at work. She’d played some dark characters before, like the perpetually cynical April Ludgate inParks and Recor social media stalker Ingrid inIngrid Goes West,but this was a whole other level, and it made me want more.
Our Biggest Unanswered Questions After the ‘Agatha All Along’ Finale
Where do we go after the Witches' Road?
I Loved the Chemistry Between Aubrey Plaza & Kathryn Hahn in ‘Agatha All Along’
Something else that Plaza brought to the table that hooked me wasthe searingly intense chemistry between her and Hahn. It not only brought a level of queerness that Marvel Studios projects could use more of (ditto the relationship Billy had with his boyfriend), but it captivated me in a way few relationships in the MCU have. Even before the major reveal that Rio was responsible for the death of Agatha’s son, I sensed the tension between the two, and may have beensecretly rooting for them to kiss. Hell, I was slightly jealous of Hahn when Agatha and Riodidkissfollowing their battle in Agatha’s backyard. Listen, if I get to pick the way I go out, “kissing Aubrey Plaza” is far from the worst choice.
I Finally Get Why Deadpool and Thanos Are Into Death
Agatha All Alongfinally led me to a surprising conclusion:I finally understand why Thanos chased Death in the comics.The Mad Titan was obsessed with Death, and inThe Infinity Gauntletlimited series byJim Starlin, George Perez,&Ron Lim,he wiped out half the universe for her. After the big revelation that Rio was Death, I went back, pulled out my copy ofThe Infinity Gauntlet, and re-read it. Thanos isn’t the only Marvel character who’s been involved with Death; Deadpool found himself entangled in her affections since his healing factor meant she couldn’t claim his soul.
Ironically, Plaza was almost in a Deadpool movie; she discussedlosing out on a role forDeadpool 2while she was shootingLegion. But seeing her as Death really makes me want a Deadpool movie whereDeadpool and Thanos compete for Death’s love. The MCU hasn’t tackled a romantic comedy, it would be a fresh take onRyan Reynolds' Merc with a Mouth, and it would also be a nice way to bringJosh Brolinback as Thanoswhile fulfilling Brolin’s desireto bring a new side to the Mad Titan. It would also mean I get to see more of Plaza as Death, and I’m all for that.
Agatha All Alongis available to stream on Disney+ in the U.S.
Agatha All Along
Agatha Harkness, following the events of “WandaVision,” embarks on a quest to reclaim her lost powers. Teaming up with unlikely allies, including the son of her former enemy, she faces new mystical threats while navigating a complex world of magic and intrigue.
Watch on Disney+
