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"Through Many Miles / Of Tricks and Trials" is the third episode of the American television miniseries Agatha All Along, based on Marvel Comics featuring the character Agatha Harkness. It follows Harkness, who has been stripped of her identity after the events of the miniseries WandaVision (2021), and her coven as they continue their journey down the Witches' Road in search of power. The episode is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), sharing continuity with the films of the franchise. It was written by Cameron Squires and directed by Rachel Goldberg.

The episode explores the coven’s first trial on the Witches’ Road, where poisoned wine forces the group to rely on Jennifer Kale’s (Sasheer Zamata) potion expertise and teamwork to create an antidote, all while facing unsettling visions of their pasts. Apart from Zamata, Kathryn Hahn reprises her roles as Agatha from the WandaVision miniseries, with Joe Locke, Ali Ahn, Debra Jo Rupp and Patti LuPone also starring. Filming took place in the Atlanta metropolitan area and in Los Angeles.

"Through Many Miles / Of Tricks and Trials" was released on the streaming service Disney+ on September 25, 2024. The episode garnered favorable reviews from critics, with praise for its humor, ensemble cast, and the hints at each character's backstory, though some felt the trial's events lacked momentum.

Plot

On the Witches' Road, Sharon Davis voices her anxiety about the predicament she has unwillingly found herself in. When Teen intoduces himself to the group, his sigil becomes apparent. The witches identify the sigil as a spell concealing someone's persona. Agatha Harkness informs the coven that each member's expertise will be tested through an individual trial. Sharon strays from the Road and nearly falls victim to a mud pool before the coven rescues her.

Shortly thereafter, the group discovers a coastal house and steps into their first trial. The interior resembles a 1960s-style home, and the witches are transformed into matching outfits. A riddle is presented on a card placed on the living room table. Sharon inadvertently solves it by pointing to a bottle of wine that everyone except Teen shares, setting off a countdown timer. Jennifer Kale privately cautions Teen about Agatha, who is said to have given up her child in exchange for the Darkhold. While Teen and Alice Wu-Gulliver exchange stories about their pasts, Agatha is seen quietly disposing of her wine in a plant pot without taking a sip.

The coven's faces briefly swell, causing Jen to realize that the wine has been poisoned. With a glass refilling magically, Agatha is left with no choice but to drink, as Teen threatens to drink the contents on her behalf. Under the poison's influence, Sharon experiences scarring hallucinations of her life under Wanda Maximoff's spell before fainting. Jen urges the group to gather the necessary ingredients for an antidote and the coven teams up in pairs to search the house. During the search, the witches face vivid hallucinations of their pasts. Jen revisits the trauma of her magical binding by a doctor, Lilia Calderu is confronted by her younger self and a shadowy figure looming over her old maestra, and Alice witnesses her mother Lorna Wu's impending death in a fire. While they manage to secure the ingredients, the house is abruptly submerged, the glass wall cracked from Agatha’s earlier attempt to flee.

The group moves Sharon, unconscious, into the kitchen, where Jen improvises by using the sink as a cauldron. As the coven works to brew the antidote, Agatha hallucinates a crib containing the Darkhold. With little time remaining, Jen frantically notices they are one ingredient short. With Agatha's encouragement, Jen recalls they must use the blood of the unpoisoned. Agatha slices Teen's palm over the brew, and the antidote is successfully concocted. The coven realize they’ve neglected to give Sharon the antidote and urgently administer it to her before the timer expires. As the trial ends, an exit appears through the kitchen oven, and the house is flooded. The coven escapes, with Agatha, Billy, and Alice carrying Sharon into the oven.

The coven finds themselves back on the Road, emerging through a tunnel that resembles a waterslide. As Lilia urges Agatha and Jen to stop arguing, the coven realize that Sharon is dead.

Production

Development

In May 2021, Jac Schaeffer, the head writer of WandaVision, signed a three-year overall television deal with Marvel Studios and 20th Television to create new projects for their Disney+ lineup. In pitches for several different projects focused on various characters, Schaeffer consistently suggested including WandaVision character Agatha Harkness, a powerful witch from Marvel Comics, as part of those series. This led to her and Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige pursuing a series centered on that character instead. By October 2021, a "dark comedy" spin-off from WandaVision centered on Kathryn Hahn as Agatha was in early development for Disney+ from Marvel Studios, with Schaeffer returning as head writer and executive producer.

During a Disney+ Day event in November 2021, the series was officially announced, with Schaeffer revealed to be directing episodes of the series a year later. By October 2023, Marvel Studios was changing its approach to television, hiring more traditional showrunners instead of head writers. Schaeffer was being credited as the series' showrunner by July 2024. Marvel Studios' Feige, Louis D'Esposito, Winderbaum, and Mary Livanos served as executive producers. Released under Marvel Studios' Marvel Television label, Agatha All Along was later announced to be second in a trilogy of series that includes WandaVision and Vision Quest (2026).

Writing

Showrunner Jac Schaeffer always envisioned a "hyper-feminized space" for one of the trials to contrast with Agatha's personality, with an early concept for the trial being a baby shower. The subdued theme of the trial, inspired by Nancy Meyers' and Nora Ephron's work, was also developed as a counterpoint to the rumors surrounding the horrors of the Witches' Road, providing space for the show to escalate the threat in the following trials. Episode writer Cameron Squires was responsible for selecting and incorporating a key piece of backstory for each character through the hallucinations, setting the stage for future character development. Extensive conversations took place between Schaeffer and executive producers Mary Livanos, Brad Winderbaum and Kevin Feige regarding the series' mood and consequences. Sharon Davis's death was intended to establish the high stakes and emphasize the perilous nature of the Witches' Road. Referencing Mephisto was a deliberate choice by Schaeffer and Livanos as a nod to the widespread internet speculation surrounding the character during Wandavision's initial release.

Casting

The episode stars Kathryn Hahn as Agatha Harkness, Joe Locke as Teen, Sasheer Zamata as Jennifer Kale, Ali Ahn as Alice Wu-Gulliver, Patti LuPone as Lilia Calderu, and Debra Jo Rupp as Sharon Davis. It features Elizabeth Anweis as Lorna Wu, Chloe Camp as Young Lilia, Laura Boccaletti as Lilia's Maestra and Scott Butler as The Doctor.

Design

The trial setting was visually inspired by Nancy Meyers' and Nora Ephron's work. The art department created a blueprint of the entire house, and a miniature was built based on it.

Filming

Reception

Viewership

Nielsen Media Research, which records streaming viewership on U.S. television screens, estimated that the first three episodes of Agatha All Along garnered 365 million minutes of viewing time for the premiere week of "Through Many Miles / Of Tricks and Trials". JustWatch, a guide to streaming content with access to data from more than 40 million users around the world, listed Agatha All Along as the fifth most-streamed series in the U.S. for the week of the episode's release. Whip Media, which tracks viewership data for more than 25 million worldwide users of its TV Time app, revealed that it was the second most-streamed original series in the U.S. from September 22 to October 6, encompassing the week of the episode's release.

Critical response

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported an 100% approval rating based on twelve reviews. The site's critical consensus reads, "Agatha All Along continues to cast its spell in this entertaining yet slightly scary foray into The Witches Road, Through Many Miles; Of Tricks and Trials."

References

1. Otterson, Joe (May 26, 2021). "'WandaVision' Head Writer Jac Schaeffer Sets Overall Deal With Marvel Studios, 20th Television". Variety. Archived from the original on May 26, 2021. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
2. ^ Iannucci, Rebecca (November 27, 2023). "WandaVision Steelbook Release Includes First Glimpse at Agatha Spinoff Footage — Watch (Exclusive)". TVLine. Archived from the original on November 28, 2023. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
3. ^ Otterson, Joe (October 7, 2021). "'WandaVision' Spinoff Starring Kathryn Hahn in the Works at Disney Plus (Exclusive)". Variety. Archived from the original on October 7, 2021. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
4. ^ Hipes, Patrick (November 12, 2021). "Disney+ Day: All The Streamer's Film & TV News From Premiere Dates To Series Orders". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 12, 2021. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
5. Trainor, Daniel (November 10, 2022). "WandaVision's Emma Caulfield Teases What to Expect from Agatha: Coven of Chaos". E! News. Archived from the original on November 11, 2022. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
6. Kit, Borys (October 11, 2023). "'Daredevil' Hits Reset Button as Marvel Overhauls Its TV Business". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 11, 2023. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
7. ^ "Disney+ Debuts Trailer for Marvel Television's New Series 'Agatha All Along'". The Walt Disney Company. July 8, 2024. Archived from the original on July 8, 2024. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
8. Vary, Adam B. (May 21, 2024). "Why Marvel Is Rebranding Its Television Shows to Eliminate the 'Pressure' to 'Watch Absolutely Everything'". Variety. Archived from the original on May 21, 2024. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
9. Kit, Borys; Couch, Aaron (August 23, 2024). "James Spader Returning as Ultron for Marvel's Vision Series". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 23, 2024. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
10. Ortiz, Andi (September 30, 2024). "'Agatha All Along' Showrunner Feels Bad About That Shocking Death: 'We Had a Lot of Conversations'". The Wrap. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
11. "If I Can't Reach You / Let My Song Teach You". Agatha All Along. Season 1. Episode 4. Disney+.
12. Seitz, Loree (October 25, 2024). "'Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story' Surpasses 2 Billion Viewing Minutes in 2nd Week Atop Nielsen Streaming Charts". TheWrap. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
13. Gruenwedel, Erik (October 8, 2024). "JustWatch: Hulu's 'Hold Your Breath,' MGM+'s 'From' Top Weekly Streaming Through Oct. 6". Media Play News. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
14. Prange, Stephanie (October 8, 2024). "'Only Murders in the Building' Again Tops Weekly Whip U.S. Streaming Originals Chart Through Oct. 6". Media Play News. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
15. "Through Many Miles; Of Tricks and Trials". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved January 4, 2025.

External links

• "Slinora/sandbox" at IMDb