After falling off the road in the last episode, Agatha All Along episode 6 rights the ship by fleshing out Teen/William Kaplan’s story. This flashback episode doesn’t quite match the acting heights of Cristin Milioti or the writing of The Penguin. However, episode 6 succeeds similarly by condensing the story into a cohesive journey and satisfying narrative arc.
In addition to Kathryn Hahn and Aubrey Plaza, Joe Locke has been a high point of the series. Unsurprisingly, Agatha All Along shines on Locke’s more than capable shoulders. From the relationship with his boyfriend to recontextualizing the events of The Pilot, He truly embodies the journey William goes on in this episode.
Another similarity to The Penguin episode that aired Oct. 13 is while Agatha All Along episode 6 is flashback-heavy, it does continue the story in the present. With the sigil removed and Teen’s identity confirmed, he can finally confront Agatha with all his faculties intact.
The confrontation brings out Hahn’s best performance. The scene between them confirms the show’s biggest strengths and weaknesses. There’s an edge to the scenes between Agatha, William, and Rio Videl (Plaza, not in this episode), lacking in Agatha’s dynamic with the other witches. On the downside, this episode does hint that the coven setup throughout the episode may be no longer. The scenes featuring these three characters are so good it makes you wonder if focusing on them would have made for a more prosperous journey all along.
While seemingly shelving the other witches makes for the better episode, it makes the journey to get here unsatisfying. Hahn’s Mare of Eastown impression is still pretty grating. However, seeing these scenes from William’s perspective almost balances the scales.
Overall, the focus on William now Billy Maximoff sets up a strong foundation for the subsequent trials on The Witches Road for Agatha, Billy and probably Rio.
After the overview and rating of Agatha All Along Episode 6 an 8 out of 10 (Great), here’s a look at William Kaplan, Billy’s search, and confrontation with Agatha. Agatha All Along is streaming on Disney Plus.
William Kaplan of Eastview
Agatha All Along episode 6 begins with William’s bat mitzvah three years ago. During the occasion, William gets his fortune read by Lillia (Patti Lapone). Knowing his future, she casts the sigil on William.
Eastview borders the town of Westview. On the way home from the bat mitzvah, Wanda Maximoff’s psychic red dome around Westview begins to shrink.
A car darts out on the opposing traffic side, causing a bad accident. William is unconscious. With Billy’s consciousness leaving Westview, his magic kills and takes over William’s body. Suddenly, he’s thrust into an unknown family dynamic and can read their thoughts like his telepathic mother, but due to the sigil, he has no memory.
Billy killing William is a dark and impressive choice to begin this episode.
Search for Tommy in Agatha All Along Episode 6
After Billy takes over William, the episode moves forward three years. Billy is in a happy, supportive relationship with his boyfriend, Eddie. Billy admits he’s not William Kaplan and is searching for his identity.
Eddie helps Billy track down a Reddit user who agrees to meet. In a parking garage, they meet with the one-and-only Ralph Bohner (Eric Peters). Bohner is mostly a shill, but he reveals how Agatha’s magic controlled him in Westview and Wanda’s twin boys, Billy and Tommy. The clue forces Billy to seek out Agatha in Eastview.
Agatha All Along episode 6 revisits the events in the pilot from Billy’s perspective. He breaks into Agatha’s house, gets put back in the closet, and is interrogated by Agatha’s detective character. He breaks through the spell by revealing his identity as Billy Maximoff. Billy knows his identity throughout the Witches Road but can’t say it out loud.
Back Down the Witches Road
Agatha All Along returns to the present, with Agatha picking herself up after Billy’s attack in the last episode. Agatha suspected Billy was Wanda’s son from the start. His attack confirms his identity.
Agatha reveals his attack killed the other witches in the coven. With the sigil broken, Billy and others can utter his real name. She attempts to bond with Billy by revealing she’s lost count of the number of people she’s killed and draws a similarity about their ability to survive.
Agatha wants to continue with Billy down the Witches Road. Billy believes he can go his own way, but can’t control his magic. Agatha persuades him to continue together, but Billy insists he will never trust Agatha.
Agatha All Along Episode 6 Final Thoughts
While episode six doesn’t make up for the potholes up to this point, focusing on Billy and his quest provides a solid episode arc. Locke is terrific as the lead. The scenes he shares with Hahn bring out the best in Agatha. I have a hard time believing all of the other witches are gone. If so, focusing on Agatha, Rio and Billy could have been the best direction.
The Review
Agatha All Along Episode 6
PROS
- Joe Locke shines in flashback-heavy episode.
- Confrontation between Billy and Agatha brings out the best in Kathryn Hahn.
- Fun seeing episode 1 events from Billy's perspective.
- Billy taking over William's body is a dark way to begin the episode.
CONS
- Makes the coven of female witches even less necessary.