It's hard to recall the first time Kevin Feige stood in front of a roaring crowd to debut Marvel's first 10-year plan. Fans were stunned as they witnessed the first of many studios trotting out the cinematic universe concept. That premise outlived its excitement after around 10 years. Now, as Marvel continues calling its shots, some promised future outings fall upon deaf ears. Marvel can see which projects attract attention, leading them to view things like Agatha with a noticeable "if we have to" attitude.
The various Disney+ Marvel series bear the brunt of fan complaints. They added dozens of hours to the MCU, often resolving critical plot points and setting the stakes for future outings in shows people don't want to watch. Previous Marvel shows like the Defenders universe and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. existed in subtle corners that fans were free to enjoy or ignore. In addition, the shows tend to hold the worst moments of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This unfortunately means any new Disney+ series has to floor audiences with a killer premise to attract viewers.
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Marvel's Agatha will hit Disney+ later this year
Created By | Jac Schaeffer |
|---|---|
Starring | Kathryn Hahn, Aubrey Plaza, Joe Locke, Sasheer Zamata |
Number of Episodes | Nine |
Release Date | Late 2024 |
Agatha, as the show is currently called, is set to drop on an unspecified date in late 2024. If released as intended, it will be one of four Marvel Disney+ series released this year. Marvel only has one film set to debut this year. The long-awaited Deadpool & Wolverine will hit theaters this July. This imbalance will likely irritate fans. Agatha has endured several subtitles. The words House of Harkness, Coven of Chaos, and Darkhold Diaries previously adorned the show's branding. This bizarrely unfocused presentation rarely helps a show. Agatha Harkness is a relatively minor Marvel villain who would rarely require a full series to explore, especially when more notable figures like Ultron suffered such poor showings. Fans seem to reflect that judgment, as excitement for Agatha appears limited.
WandaVision was three years ago
WandaVision was the first Marvel Studios show released on Disney+. It premiered weekly through the first three months of 2021. Excitement for the show wavered initially, but its genuine creative cleverness shocked many. The show emerged as one of the most fascinating, unique, and creative projects Marvel ever released. Few superhero universes could sustain an in-depth exploration of trauma, paranoia, and addiction from the perspective of a god through the lens of TV sitcoms. Marvel absolutely should be making more shows like WandaVision, in that they should continue to push the envelope, try weird things, and play with new genres. They do not need to cling to WandaVision as a direct font of new programming.
The ostensible premise of Agatha is that the villain from WandaVision lost her powers after her fate in the series finale. She'll go on a journey to reclaim her magic with the help of various other witches and magic practitioners. Several problems emerge from that concept. Marvel has reformed its antagonists into heroes before. Loki follows the titular God of Mischief as he escapes his death and attempts to find his glorious purpose. The excellent second season culminates in the end of a character arc Marvel built for over a decade. Agatha is a redemption arc for a character that appeared in a few episodes of a show three years ago. It doesn't have the same weight. Perhaps more importantly, Loki was always among the most interesting characters in any Marvel project. Agatha is a catalyst at best and a distraction at worst.
Agatha deserves better
It remains painfully obvious that the only reason Marvel intends to produce Agatha is that "Agatha All Along" won an Emmy. Agatha's villain reveal song became a viral hit, guaranteeing a future for the character. Unfortunately, they've delayed her return and ignored her presence for far too long. Agatha faces a massive uphill battle. The show's quality barely matters with its lackluster marketing. If Marvel had treated Agatha like Loki, kept her in the conversation, let fans get to know her, and built her redemption arc gradually, this show would come as a delight. Instead, they killed off the character that introduced her and waited too long for anyone to care.
Marvel has an unfortunate pattern of promising interesting titles before delivering terrible results. Echo and Secret Invasion brought compelling premises to the table before falling flat upon execution. Agatha could open new doors for the MCU. The franchise's mystical corner remains unrepresented after the latest Doctor Strange ended on an unfulfilled cliffhanger. While the studio seems determined to leave Agatha out in the cold, the show still has the potential to become entertaining. Creator Jac Schaeffer followed the character from WandaVision, suggesting the possibility of something similarly clever. Unfortunately, Marvel doesn't seem to care much for the idea, so it will likely struggle regardless of quality. Agatha feels like Marvel's self-imposed curse.
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