Agatha All Alongboasts some impressive viewing records from which the rest of theMarvel Cinematic Universeshould learn. Since its debut episode on September 18,Agatha All Alongbecame a sleeper hit for the MCU after a muted initial response as it explored the stories of a coven of lesser-known Marvel Comics characters. The fact that it is now comfortably nestled amongthe MCU’s best-rated shows(especially after its finale) speaks volumes and suggests that there is much for shows inMarvel’s upcoming release slateto emulate.
This release slate looks pretty stacked so far, although Disney’s promise to pivot to an ethos of quality over quantity in the MCU may jeopardize a handful. Trepidation surrounds some of the most obscure among these, such asIronheartandWonder Man, as they spotlight characters that aren’t exactly in demand. Shows likeDaredevil: Born Again, meanwhile, focus on Marvel’s more prominent characters and boast a more noticeable level of hype. Still, the relative obscurity of its stars didn’t precludeAgatha All Alongfrom boasting some impressive viewing figures.
According to a report byThe Hollywood Reporter,Agatha All Alongenjoyed its highest-ever viewership with its double-episode finale. Nielsen streaming ratings reveal thatepisodes 8 and 9 racked up 744 million minutes of viewing,ranking it the tenth-most streamed show between October 28 and November 3. This nearly doubles the viewing figures of its premiere episode, which raked in 426 million minutes. The many reasons for its growing success are worth exploring as they signify some significant things forthe future of Marvel TV shows.
MCU Mysteries Remain A Consistent Draw For The Franchise
The Mystery Genre Keeps Generating Hit After Hit For Marvel
Agatha All Alongis a sequel series toWandaVisionand the second in a trilogy that will conclude withVision’s solo series.It struck a similar tone to its predecessor by leaning into the mystery genre, exemplified from the get-go by Agatha’s personal hex manifesting as a crime drama with Wanda’s death being the focal point. The truth behind Wanda’s ostensible death in the MCU was just one of many mysteries that permeated the show, with the true identities of Joe Locke’s Teen and Aubrey Plaza’s Rio Vidal being even more pertinent.
The theory that Teen was truly Billy Maximoff was a popular one beforeAgatha All Alongdebuted, but the theory that he might be Nicholas Scratch picked up steam after episode 1.
These mysteries were expertly navigated and crucial in keeping audiences invested. The same can be said forWandaVisionand the questions swirling around Wanda’s Westview anomaly. The critical and commercial success of these franchises - Jac Schaeffer’s clear expertise notwithstanding -proves a consistent appetite for such a genre that Marvel could stand to lean into down the line. It’s also worth noting how conducive Marvel’s mystical elements are to telling such stories.
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WhileWandaVisionandAgatha All Alongaren’t exactly as ambitious as the likes ofWerewolf By Nightand its exploration of gothic horror,they still prove that Marvel’s forays into new genres are appreciated by audiencesaccustomed to the standard action/sci-fi of its mainline movies. While the likes ofMs. MarvelandHawkeyeshow that there is still room for more conventional MCU shows,Agatha All Alongproves that atypical structures are just as compelling to its core audience. Overcoming the general obscurity of its core characters helps to emphasize this fact.
There Is Still Definitely A Place For Spinoff Stories In The MCU
MCU Spinoffs Are Still Going Strong
Part of Disney’s new ethos purportedly entails zoning in on the more focal characters of the franchise and steering away from less consequential stories likeEcho. It’s no surprise, then, thattrepidation miredAgatha All Alongbefore its release as it ostensibly spotlighted some of Marvel’s most obscure characters, with fans struggling to justify how it would satisfyingly contribute tothe mainline MCU narrative. Those concerns were thankfully assuaged by the time the finale hit.
Agatha All Alongintroduced a core member of the Young Avengers in Wiccan and the personification of Death, both of whom are now amongthe MCU’s most powerful characters. By doing this,Agatha All Alongstraddled the fence between telling a compelling self-contained story starring a once-minor character and delivering some consequential developments to the MCU that will no doubt pay off in a big way down the line. Despite concerns in the lead-up to its release,Agatha All Alongproved that it was a valuable addition to the MCU and that spin-off series are still eminently viable.
MCU Shows Need To Build Their Best Numbers Over Time
MCU Shows Pick Up Steam As The Series Progresses
Common sense would suggest that shows starring core MCU characters likeWandaVisionwould rake in the most substantial viewing figures from the jump. Yet, according toVariety,WandaVision’s premiere earned less than 10 million more minutes thanAgatha All Alongwith 434 million total. Seven weeks later, however, theWandaVisionfinale would boast 924 million minutes according toTHR. In both cases, it seems apparent that Marvel’s TV show success builds over time - which points to one integral factor.
The dangers ofAgatha All Along’s relative obscurity were decisively tempered by its quality upon release.Early reviews forAgatha All Alongwere positive, pointing towards its stellar cast and excellent writing as highlights. It was still difficult, however, to look past the glaring suspicion that it would struggle to slot into the wider MCU. Thankfully, these concerns were substantially assuaged with the admittedly long-suspected reveal that the series was as much an origin story for Wiccan as it was a vehicle for Agatha and her coven.
The takeaway is intuitive enough: develop a quality show and the numbers will follow.
Still, this largely positive initial reaction flourished into growing viewing figures as word spread of the show’s quality. The takeaway is intuitive enough: develop a quality show and the numbers will follow. At the same time,this illustrates that the popularity of Marvel shows tends to grow steadily rather than hit the ground running with immediately dazzling figures. This stands to reason, given that streamed shows don’t come with a time limit like movies in theaters.
There Is No One Set Way To Pull Off A Well-Received MCU Show
Some Hits Came Out Of Nowhere And Some Shows Are Surprisingly Disappointing
Ultimately,Agatha All Alongwas perfectly unpredictable. By comparison,Secret Invasionis Marvel Studios' lowest-rated show but should have been a huge successby every metric. Nick Fury finally receiving the limelight, the highly anticipated adaptation of theSecret Invasionrun of comics, and the promise of aWinter Soldier-eque spy thriller tone should have comprised the central building blocks for one of Marvel’s most well-received shows. Ultimately, it became quite the opposite.
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Then, whileHawkeyeproved that a largely original story told with the typical Marvel veneer and starring one of its flagship characters can be an instant hit,Werewolf by Nightproved that a decidedly off-piste adaptation of some of Marvel Comics' most obscure characters can be just as successful.Agatha All Along, meanwhile, arguably borrowed elements from each to show that both work at once.
This demonstrates that all MCU shows, no matter how obscure or central to the mainline MCU, are never surefire wins or losses.Agatha All Alongshould help to inspire confidence in upcoming shows likeIronheartinsofar as it starred an obscure lead that didn’t initially cause a massive stir, but gained popularity based on its many merits. Hopefully, this is exactly what Marvel has planned, learning lessons from previous misfires to ensure the quality justifies the quantity of its shows.
Agatha All Along
Cast
Agatha Harkness, after the events of “WandaVision,” seeks to regain her magical powers. Joining forces with unexpected allies, including the son of an old adversary, she battles new mystical threats while uncovering hidden secrets in the magical realm.
