Agatha All Along Finale Review: The Road Comes to a Magical End

The two-part Agatha All Along Finale shines by leveraging the series’ strengths and avoiding a common problem in MCU TV finales.

Throughout the season, Agatha All Along shines brightest when it centers around Agatha (Kathryn Hahn), Billy (Joe Locke) and Rio Vidal/Death (Aubrey Plaza). While Jennifer Kale (Sasheer Zamata) has a small role, these two episodes keep the focus on Agatha’s deal with Death and Billy’s search for his brother Tommy.

Picking up on the recontextualizing in Lilia Calderu’s finest hour in the last episode. The Agatha All Along finale sticks the landing by revisiting the show’s ‘Witches Road’ Arc. The reveal of how Agatha loses her son, Nicholas Scratch, gives new, heartbreaking meaning to the Witches Road song. Billy’s relationship with The Road proves his powers aren’t so different from his mother, Wanda Maximoff.

Even some of the best MCU series, such as WandaVision and Loki Season 1, have struggled to stick the landing in the season finales. Many of these series try to stuff too many storylines into the season, leaving important storylines unresolved or rushed. Instead of expanding the scope, these episodes keep a sharp focus on two stories: Getting off the Witches Road and how the connection between Death and another child impacts Agatha’s decision.

Hahn, Plaza, and Locke are incredible throughout the Agatha All Along finale. Whether Death rationally explains to Alice how she served her purpose or launches a vitriolic blast at Agatha, Plaza is unbelievable at showing the different shades of Death. Hahn can go from maniacal to heartbreak with ease as Agatha. However, Billy’s role in creating The Road is the key to this finale. Locke’s reaction as he tries to process the extent of his actions is terrific.

Peter Cameron, Showrunner Jac Shaeffer, and Laura Donney do an excellent job writing these two episodes. Gandja Monteiro‘s directing deserves praise as well. Monteiro’s stark contrast between 1750 and the present day is well done. The music, particularly Death’s Theme, by Christophe Beck and Michael Paraskevas, is grim, perfect.

The only negative aspect of the episode was that the reveal of who bound Jen’s magic was a bit rushed. Since it takes place during a trial, some of the scenes do need to move somewhat quickly. However, the gravity of what Agatha did doesn’t quite hit the mark.

Overall, the Agatha All Along two-part finale closes the series on a high note. What started off rocky has become one of the best 2024 TV series.

Here’s a recap of the Agatha two-part finale. Agatha All Along is streaming on Disney Plus.

End of the Road in Agatha All Along Finale

Agatha All Along Episode 8 begins by revisiting Alice’s death. After Agatha sucks up her magic, Death is there to greet Alice. Death says it’s her time. Alice is shocked. She just got her power, and now her life is over. Death counters with more logic. Alice is a protection witch. She died saving someone. Her purpose, however brief, is fulfilled.

The episode continues with Lilia’s sacrifice from the last episode. Jen and Billy discuss Rio’s identity while Agatha strikes a deal with Death. Agatha will offer up Billy as a sacrifice. In exchange, when Agatha dies, she doesn’t want to see Death again. Death agrees.

A new trial begins. First, Agatha helps unbind Jen’s magic by revealing her role in imprisoning the potion witch. Jen’s power is restored, and she exits The Road, leaving Agatha and Bill alone.

Agatha helps Billy find a body for Tommy. Billy is worried that he killed someone in the process but exits The Road before Agatha can utter her spine-tingling answer, “Sometimes boys die.”

Agatha also exits The Road and faces off with Death. Agatha was supposed to offer up Billy, but he escaped. Death believes she showed compassion towards Agatha, while Agatha despises Death for what she did. A terrific battle begins between the two, which puts the finale of WandaVision to shame. Billy returns to aid Agatha.

Death gives them a choice. Either Agatha or Billy is coming with her. After remembering her son, Agatha sacrifices herself.

Billy returns to his home to find all of the elements of The Witches Road already in his room. The Witches Road didn’t exist until Billy’s magic created it. The first of the two-part finale ends with Billy dealing with the ramifications of the trials that killed Sharon Davis, Alice, and Lilia, although Alice is Agatha’s fault, not Billy’s.

Maiden Mother Crone

The Agatha All Along Finale is a flashback-heavy episode that shows what happened to Agatha’s son and establishes a new dynamic between Agatha and Billy.

In 1750, a pregnant Agatha is on the verge of giving birth. Death visits her and tells her it’s time to take her son. Agatha pleads, and Death relents by saying she will return later but doesn’t tell Agatha when Nicholas’s time will come.

The episode continues in this period. Agatha uses Nicholas as a distraction to get close to other witch communities and suck up their magic. Throughout the episode, Nicholas charms her mother and communities with lyrics that will eventually morph into “Down the Witches Road.”

One night, while Agatha and Nicholas are sleeping, Death appears and takes Nicholas. Agatha awakes with a lifeless Nicholas by her side. No warning from Death or a chance to say goodbye.

Agatha begins a crusade for more power. She crafts a fake story about the Witches Road, convinces three other witches to form a coven, then ridicules them until they attack her with their magic. Agatha sucks up their power. The process is shown in a stunning montage that depicts Agatha through the centuries.

The finale jumps back to the end of the last episode. Billy is in his room and utters a quick yell. Agatha is now a ghost. She explains everything to Billy and puts what has happened into context. Billy is responsible for Sharon and Lilia’s deaths but not Alice’s.

Billy decides to return to Agatha’s basement. He wants to banish Agatha by using her Nicholas locket, but he is unable to banish her. Agatha offers to help Billy find Tommy. She does give a word warning. Agatha has a habit of killing coven members, to which Billy replies, “So do I.”

Agatha All Along Finale Final Thoughts

This two-parter brings Agatha All Along to a terrific conclusion. Both episodes succeed in capping off the main storylines concerning Agatha’s relationship with Death, connecting Agatha’s relationship with Billy through her love of Nicholas and Billy’s role in creating the Witches Road.

Fantastic production design, great performances and excellent writing helped make the latter half of Agatha All Along‘s first season a witchy good time.