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Seekest Thou the Road

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"Seekest Thou the Road"
Agatha All Along episode
Promotional poster for Agatha All Along, highlighting elements seen in this episode
Episode no.Episode 1
Directed byJac Schaeffer
Written byJac Schaeffer
Featured music"Season of the Witch"
by Donovan
Cinematography byCaleb Heymann
Editing byJamie Gross
Original release dateSeptember 18, 2024 (2024-09-18)
Running time42 minutes
Cast
Episode chronology
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"Circle Sewn with Fate / Unlock Thy Hidden Gate"
List of episodes

"Seekest Thou the Road" is the first episode of the American television miniseries Agatha All Along, based on Marvel Comics featuring the character Agatha Harkness. The episode is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), sharing continuity with the films of the franchise. It was written and directed by showrunner Jac Schaeffer.

The episode follows Agatha (Kathryn Hahn) as she regains her identity after the events of WandaVision (2021), crosses paths with a mysterious Teen (Joe Locke), and confronts an old enemy. Apart from Hahn and Locke, Debra Jo Rupp and Aubrey Plaza also star in the episode. Filming took place in the Atlanta metropolitan area and in Los Angeles.

"Seekest Thou the Road" was released on the streaming service Disney+ on September 18, 2024, alongside "Circle Sewn with Fate / Unlock Thy Hidden Gate" as a two-part premiere. The episode garnered favorable reviews, with critics praising Hahn and Plaza's performances as well as the WandaVision Easter eggs, although some criticism was aimed at the pacing. Disney reported that the episode drove 9.3 million views globally within the first seven days of streaming.

Plot

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Detective Agnes O'Connor arrives at a crime scene outside of Westview, where she begins investigating the murder of an unidentified woman found face-down by a creek. While searching the nearby area for evidence, Agnes discovers a mysterious locket, and later deduces the murder occurred elsewhere. At the station, Agnes reluctantly joins forces with FBI agent Rio Vidal—an old acquaintance—to solve the case. Agnes visits the Westview library to investigate the card found on the victim, and learns the documented book was reported stolen three years ago. A fire scorched the library shelf where the book once sat, destroying every copy. Distraught, Agnes realizes the book's title is an anagram for "Darkhold".

In the evening, agent Vidal visits Agnes at her home, where the two discuss the case before Agnes admits she doesn't recall what caused the animosity between them. Their conversation is interrupted when Agnes chases after a burglar. She apprehends and unmasks the teenage boy before bringing him in for questioning, with Vidal also present. Agnes draws a connection between the teen and the murder case when he inquires about "a road" and displays blackened fingertips similar to the victim's. As the teen chants in Latin, Agnes realizes the pictures of the victim are photographs of flowers, and the one-way mirror is a painting. Agnes visits the morgue to confirm the victim exists. With Vidal's encouragement, Agnes sheds the layers of Wanda Maximoff's spell by divesting herself of every outfit she wore during the "Hex", and, reading her own name next to Wanda's on the victim's toe tag, her real identity emerges.

Bereft of her magic, Agatha Harkness finds herself inside her Westview home. Enraged, she storms outside in the nude to confront local resident Herb about her predicament. Learning that she has been trapped in Wanda's spell for three years and her pursuits as a detective have been a figment of her imagination, Agatha descends into her basement, only to find it stripped of magical tools. She stumbles upon the teenage burglar, tied up in a closet, and realizes that she kidnapped him. Rio Vidal arrives and attacks Agatha. As the fight escalates, Agatha requests that Rio give her time to regain her powers for a fair match. Rio relents, but promises to disclose Agatha's whereabouts to the Salem Seven before departing. Agatha turns her attention to the teen, contemplating her next move.

Production

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Development

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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.[1] 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.[2] This led to her and Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige pursuing a series centered on that character instead.[2] 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,[3] with Schaeffer returning as head writer and executive producer.[3][4]

During a Disney+ Day event in November 2021, the series was officially announced,[4] with Schaeffer revealed to be directing episodes of the series a year later.[5] By October 2023, Marvel Studios was changing its approach to television, hiring more traditional showrunners instead of head writers.[6] Schaeffer was being credited as the series' showrunner by July 2024.[7] Marvel Studios' Feige, Louis D'Esposito, Winderbaum, and Mary Livanos served as executive producers.[7] Released under Marvel Studios' Marvel Television label,[8] Agatha All Along was later announced to be second in a trilogy of series that includes WandaVision and Vision Quest (2026).[9]

Writing

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Originally pitched as a WandaVision episode setting, the true crime drama concept was revisited by Jac Schaeffer for Agatha All Along early into development as the themes reflected Agatha Harkness' "gritty" headspace and her ability to see the darkness within herself and others. Schaeffer further remarked that the trope "of a woman who's smart and great at her job and [...] messy in her personal life" felt "correct" for the character of Agatha. Schaeffer also described writing the episode as "a nod to WandaVision" and "a fully realized tribute to that story, that type of filmmaking [true crime]." She cited Mare of Easttown, The Killing and Destroyer as points of reference for the episode's tone, and noted Evan Peters starring in both WandaVision and Mare of Easttown was a "funny sort of intersection". Schaeffer additionally said the episode had to resolve the fake tropes more quickly than WandaVision to avoid repetitiveness and keep the audience engaged.[10]

Casting

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The episode stars Kathryn Hahn as Agatha Harkness, Joe Locke as Teen, Debra Jo Rupp as Sharon Davis, and Aubrey Plaza as Rio Vidal. Several actors reprise their WandaVision roles as Westview residents, including Emma Caulfield as Sarah Proctor / "Dottie Jones", David Payton as John Collins / "Herb Feltman", David Lengel as Sarah's husband Harold Proctor / "Phil Jones", Asif Ali as Abilash Tandon / "Norm Gentilucci", and Amos Glick as a pizza delivery man / "Dennis the Mailman".[11]

Filming

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Filming took place on Blondie Street at the Warner Bros. Ranch for Agatha's house and other Westview exteriors prior to the street being demolished.[12]

Showrunner Jac Schaeffer expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity to direct again, with the episode being her first directing credit since her debut film Timer. She motivated her decision to direct episodes one and two as a way of fully setting up the story, describing "Seekest Thou the Road" as a "misdirect" pilot, noting that the genuine narrative does not open up until "Circle Sewn with Fate / Unlock Thy Hidden Gate." Schaeffer commented on Kathryn Hahn and Aubrey Plaza's on-screen chemistry in the episode: "I was directing [...], and I had to do so little. Aubrey signed up because she wanted to work with Kathryn. Both of them were so raring to go." Schaeffer would give Plaza direction that Hahn could not hear to help emphasize the "coded" nature of their exchanges, particularly during the "Agnes of Westview" segment of the episode. Schaeffer and editor Jamie Gross also ensured to use takes where the actors displayed romantic and emotional subtext in their performances, such as Plaza's "inhale, and resting for a pause" during Agatha and Rio Vidal's first exchange at the station. [10]

The episode includes the first instance of female nudity in the MCU. Initially written to have Agatha Harkness grab a robe upon emerging from Wanda Maximoff's spell, the scene of the character exiting her house to have a conversation with Herb was altered by Schaeffer on Hahn's suggestion. Hahn felt that her character had no concern for inhibition and the nudity would convey her emotional state of vulnerability and powerlessness.[13] Pushing the boundaries of Disney+ content, the scene involved legal coordination between the production and the streaming service.[14]

The sequence of Agatha breaking free from Wanda's spell drew production concerns about the numerous costume changes and their feasibility within the constraints of a single-day shoot. Originally conceived as a CGI sequence, the scene transitioned to real outfit changes once the decision was made to commit the series to practical effects. Costume designer Daniel Selon explained that the shoot was rehearsed like theater costume changes. The outfit transformations were filmed non-chronologically to maximize speed, requiring close coordination between Schaeffer, Hahn, and the hair, makeup, and wardrobe departments. Schaeffer also choreographed Hahn's movements to ensure parts of the underlying costumes remained hidden from the camera during filming.[15][16]

Reception

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Viewership

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Disney announced that "Seekest Thou the Road" attracted 9.3 million views globally within its first seven days of streaming.[17][18] The two-episode premiere also garnered over 9.8 million viewers during its premiere week.[19][20] It became the No. 1 television show on Disney+ during that period.[21] Nielsen Media Research, which records streaming viewership on U.S. television screens, estimated that the series was viewed for 426 million minutes from September 16–22.[22] JustWatch, a guide to streaming content with access to data from more than 40 million users around the world, reported it as the thrid most-streamed series in the U.S. from September 16–22. [23]

Critical response

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Kathryn Hahn (left) and Aubrey Plaza (right) received critical praise for their performances as Agatha Harkness / Agness O'Connor and Rio Vidal in "Seekest Thou the Road."[24]

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 82% approval rating based on eleven reviews. The site's critical consensus reads, "Spearheaded by the fantastically versatile and wickedly good Kathryn Hahn, Seekest Though the Road spooks and spoofs its way into an intriguingly new, marvelous adventure."[24]

Lyra Hale of Fangirlish gave the episode an A+ grade, stating, "Agatha All Along season 1 episode 1 was a slow burn that left me wanting more of Agatha and Rio just staring into each other's eyes, having full conversations about death, passion, anger, and so much more."[25] Writing for Sunshine State Cineplex, Alan French called the episode "a solid start," and credited its impact to "Hahn's stellar performance," which he described as "an excellent parody of the genre that speaks to her talents as a performer."[26] In a 7/10 review, Collider's Taylor Gates felt the episode was "more like a prologue than a pilot," and opined, "Watching Hahn ham it up will never not be a blast, and the writing remains clever with all the Easter eggs scattered throughout. [...] But as fun as it is, it also feels a little unnecessary — at least at the moment."[27]

Joshua Patton of CBR also awarded the episode a score of 7/10, calling it "wilder" than WandaVision, and writing: "It's an intriguing premise for a TV series, and clever of Jac Schaeffer, who also created WandaVision, to kick off with elements of that earlier show."[28] Writing for Tell-Tale TV, Mufsin Mahbub praised Hahn and Plaza's performances, stating: "The first episode does well in showcasing Hahn's ability to play this role and why audiences have been captivated by her mischievous character. [...] Plaza does a marvelous job in her role as she is on equal footing with Hahn when they share screen time."[29] In a 4/5 review, Caroline Framke of Vulture found the episode enjoyable and "trippy," but felt it did not set up a clear narrative for the remainder of the series, concluding: "I'm going to call this premiere successfully intriguing while also holding out a bit longer to see what Agatha's actually all about."[30] But Why Tho? critic Allyson Johnson gave the episode a 7/10 rating, labling it "a decently entertaining vehicle for Kathryn Hahn to show off her versatility" that "suffer[ed] from pacing issues." Johnson thought the narrative to be "a bit of a slog" that "only picks up once Plaza arrives, and the story pivots out of the fake reality."[31]

Jeffrey Lyles of Lyles Movie Files criticized the episode's tone for being "a little too serious and deliberate without much fun" and felt that while "Hahn is a tremendously versatile performer who can pull off this cop drama cliché," the police drama procedural was "a very questionable way to start off the series."[32]

Accolades

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Agatha Harkness and Rio Vidal's fight scene was featured on TV Line's 20 Sexiest Scenes of the year list.[33]

Accolades received by Agatha All Along
Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient Result Ref.
Costume Designers Guild Awards February 6, 2025 Excellence in Contemporary Television Daniel Selon (for "Seekest Thou the Road") Pending [34]

References

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  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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b Ortiz, Andi (September 23, 2024). "'Agatha All Along' Showrunner Breaks Down That Premiere Episode: True Crime, Sexual Tension and Mr. Scratchy". TheWrap. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  11. ^ "Seekest Thou the Road". Agatha All Along. Season 1. Episode 1. Disney+.
  12. ^ Davids, Brian (September 6, 2024). "'Agatha All Along' EP Mary Livanos on the Ever-Changing Title Gag and Following Up a Chart-Topping Single". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 7, 2024. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  13. ^ Bechara, Diego Ramos (September 19, 2024). "Kathryn Hahn Pitched Her Own 'Agatha All Along' Nude Scene: 'It Was Good to See Her as Stripped Down'". Variety. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  14. ^ Agatha All Along Q&A w/ Kathryn Hahn, Jac Schaeffer, Daniel Selon, Cindy Welles, and Erin LeBre. Melzie-kiq. November 20, 2024. Retrieved January 6, 2025 – via YouTube.
  15. ^ Marvel Studios' Assembled: The Making of Agatha All Along. Marvel Entertainment. November 14, 2024. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  16. ^ Agatha All Along Costumes: A Breakdown of THAT Scene. Marvel Entertainment. October 14, 2024. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  17. ^ Campione, Katie (September 26, 2024). "'Agatha All Along' Brews Up Solid Premiere Audience As First Episode Nets 9.3M Views In 7 Days, Disney Says". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 27, 2024. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  18. ^ Seitz, Loree (September 26, 2024). "'Agatha All Along' Premiere Enchants 9.3 Million Views in First Week on Disney+". TheWrap. Archived from the original on September 27, 2024. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  19. ^ Hinduja, Soniya (October 6, 2024). "Agatha All Along Scores Another Impressive Disney+ Series Win". MovieWeb. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  20. ^ Perine, Aaron (October 6, 2024). "Agatha All Along Ranks #1 in Surprising Marvel Metric". ComicBook.com. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  21. ^ Fink, Richard (September 29, 2024). "Agatha All Along Replaces Disney+'s Most Successful Show in Strong Debut". MovieWeb. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
  22. ^ Seitz, Loree (October 18, 2024). "'Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story' Debuts Atop Nielsen Streaming Charts With 1.7 Billion Viewing Minutes". TheWrap. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
  23. ^ Gruenwedel, Erik (September 24, 2024). "JustWatch: 'Civil War,' 'Slow Horses' Top Weekly Streaming Through Sept. 22". Media Play News. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
  24. ^ a b "Seekest Thou the Roadr". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  25. ^ Hale, Lyra (September 18, 2024). "Agatha All Along Season 1 Episode 1 Review: 'Seekest Thou The Road'". Fangirlish. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  26. ^ French, Alan (September 18, 2024). "TV: AGATHA ALL ALONG – "Seekest Thou the Road" – Series Premiere – Recap". Sunshine State Cineplex. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  27. ^ Gates, Taylor (September 19, 2024). "'Agatha All Along' Episode 1 Recap: Previously, on Agnes of Westview..." Collider. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  28. ^ Patton, Joshua (September 19, 2024). "Agatha All Along Premiere Review: It's Not a WandaVision Sequel, but Something Wilder". CBR. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  29. ^ Mahbub, Mufsin (September 23, 2024). "Agatha All Along Season 1 Episodes 1 and 2 Review: Seekest Thou the Road, Circle Sewn with Fate / Unlock Thy Hidden Gate". Tell-Tale TV. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  30. ^ Framke, Caroline (September 18, 2024). "Agatha All Along Series-Premiere Recap: The Witch Is Back". Vulture. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  31. ^ Johnson, Allyson (September 18, 2024). "REVIEW: 'Agatha All Along' Episodes 1 & 2". But Why Tho?. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  32. ^ Lyles, Jeffrey (September 24, 2024). "Agatha All Along – Seekest Thou the Road review S1 E1". Lyles Movie Files. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  33. ^ "2024 in Review: The 20 Sexiest Scenes". TVLine. December 9, 2024. Retrieved January 3, 2025.
  34. ^ Hipes, Patrick (December 13, 2024). "Costume Designers Guild Awards Nominations Include 'Wicked', 'Nosferatu', 'Shogun', 'Agatha All Along'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
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