AfterWandaVision, Wanda Maximoff, alias Scarlet Witch, became one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s most tragic characters. Wanda forced the entire town of Westview into a fantasy she built out of grief over the loss of Vision. In the process, she herself became a victim of her reality-warping powers when she became so engrossed in the fantasy that she struggled with defining what was and wasn’t real. Within the Hex, Wanda not only had Vision, but she also had two children, Billy and Tommy. Though the twins were not real, they were real to Wanda.
While she had to sacrifice her happiness (and her children) to free Westview,Wanda found her true power as the Scarlet Witch. In the process,she uncovered the sinister plan of Agatha Harknessand defeated the witch by trapping her in a fake persona. Wanda’s story took a dark turn inDoctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness, as her grief drove her to scour the multiverse for variants of her children and attempt to steal America Chavez’s powers.
This rampage led to the Scarlet Witch’s corruption by the Darkhold and her subsequent death. Since then, the release ofAgatha All Alonghas shed more light on Agatha, recontextualizing her interest in Wanda and the latter’s downfall.
Agatha All Along Reveals Agatha’s Tragic Past
Agatha Gave Up Her Son For Power
Agatha All Alongrevealed thatWanda and Agatha have more in common than previously thought.Like the Scarlet Witch, Agatha was a mother. However, she differed from Wanda in one major way. While Wanda had to give up her children to save the citizens of Westview, Agatha sacrificed her son for a less altruistic reason. The witch gave up her son in exchange for the Darkhold, with his ultimate fate becoming a mystery to her.Agatha All Alonghints that she regrets this decision. Prior to breaking out of Wanda’s spell, Agatha’s house featured mementos of a missing child.
Who Is Nicholas Scratch? Agatha Harkness’s Son & Marvel Comics History Explained
Agatha All Along’s premiere references Nicholas Scratch in the MCU, Agatha’s son who becomes a powerful villain in the original Marvel Comics.
Aside from the visual references to Agatha’s son, her actions made it clear that she missed him.The mentor relationship she forged with Teen has maternal undertones.This dynamic formed largely because Agatha suspected Teen was her son, Nicholas Scratch. In episode 4, Aubrey Plaza’sRio Vidal outright told Agatha"Thatboy isn’t yours," meaning Teen is most likely not Nicholas. Even so, Agatha’s treatment of Teen showed she recognized her mistake on some level, though this change of heart could be the result of her losing the Darkhold inWandaVision.
Agatha Targeted Scarlet Witch To Steal Her Powers In WandaVision
Agatha Manipulated Wanda, But The Scarlet Witch Outsmarted Her
This new backstory for Agatha changes everything. In particular,her motive to steal Wanda’s magic inWandaVisioncould be entirely different.Towards the end of the series, Agatha is revealed as an impostor. She previously posed as Wanda and Vision’s neighbor within the Hex because the former’s raw magical power attracted her. Per Agatha, stealing other witches' powers is her modus operandi. Her scheme was to corner Wanda, emotionally manipulate her, and goad her into voluntarily giving her powers up. If Wanda gave in to Agatha, she could stay in her fantasy with Vision, Billy, and Tommy.
However, she underestimated Wanda, who used a trick Agatha herself taught her: containing another witch’s powers using runes. After the revelations inAgatha All Along, Agatha’s desire for the Scarlet Witch’s reality-warping power seems less rooted in selfishness.Agatha could want exactly what Wanda gave herself: a reality where she could have her son back.
Theory: Agatha Wanted Scarlet Witch’s Powers To Resurrect Her Son
Wanda’s Ability To Warp Reality Could Potentially Bring Nicholas Scratch Back
While Agatha’s story inWandaVisionis already retroactively more tragic afterAgatha All Along, a new theory makes her history even sadder. Episode 4 saw Teen asking what really happened to Nicholas, which calls the story of her trading him for the Darkhold into question. If Agatha did not willingly give Nicholas up, it’s possible he died. His death could have either been a result of or the catalyst for her quest for power. Likewise, Agatha was already powerful due to having the Darkhold, but she could have targeted Wanda’s magic in order to resurrect Nicholas.
Agatha’s relationship with Teen could redeem her mistakes with Nicholas and, if he is Billy Maximoff reincarnated, Wanda.
Agatha All Alongcould potentially strengthenWandaVision’stheme of overcoming grief with Agatha’s backstory reveal.Regardless of whether Nicholas is dead, Agatha’s grief and trauma over his loss are evident.Agatha All Alongwill undoubtedly use this fuel for her character moving forward. Moreover, Agatha’s relationship with Teen could redeem her mistakes with Nicholas and, ifhe is Billy Maximoff reincarnated, Wanda. With 5 more episodes ofAgatha All Along, how Nicholas will factor into the story remains to be seen. Either way, Agatha’s story casts her turn asWandaVision’svillain in a new light.
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.
WandaVision
WandaVision, the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first TV show on Disney+, first aired in 2021. The series kicked off the MCU’s Phase 4 and brought back Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff, aka the Scarlet Witch, and Paul Bettany as Vision. WandaVision strayed away from Marvel’s typical formula, this time formatting itself more like a classic sitcom as Wanda struggles to cope with the death of Vision.
