‘Agatha All Along’ 1×03 review: The first trial brews new danger

The first trial has claimed its first victim on Disney+’s Agatha All Along. “Through Many Miles of Tricks and Trials” gave us a taste of what challenges the coven will face on the Witches’ Road. It will be a mission of talent, trust, and knowledge as the group must put their witchy skills to the test. However, it seems that mind games will be the most harrowing hurdles to cross and the level of trust they have in one another. Heartbroken that we had to lose our first coven member so early on into the Witches’ Road – and it was our favorite underdog that suffered too!

A coven by the lake

“Through Many Miles of Tricks and Trials” had a slow build-up before the action commenced. This chapter was the perfect example of the calm before the storm. The idyllic seaside cottage (mansion?) that lured the coven in looked innocent at first, but it was simply a mask for what was to come. Once they started the trial, the real evils emerged looking to distract and cause plenty of damage. This type of test was an enjoyable one to start early into the adventure of Agatha All Along. It was more of a mind game to expose more backstories about the coven members, and it was an easy enough challenge that could be solved if they picked up the pace. There will no doubt be more dangerous and evil games in the future awaiting them.

The design of the cottage looked absolutely stunning. If the trials are geared towards any of the coven members, this one was Sharon’s dream. Between the furniture and the opulence, it feels like something on her vision board. The quick outfit changes to Hamptons’ wear suited the location nicely (this was a nice costuming touch for the series). And you could tell how happy Sharon was to jump into that bottle of wine. Sharon isn’t a regular Westview citizen – she’s a cool citizen! She would’ve loved spending all day with the coven chatting on the couches with the wine.

The cracks in the coven

One aspect that improved from the second episode was the exposition of the coven members. “Through Many Miles of Tricks and Trials” treated us to needed information about each member and some history about Agatha too. As with the complex and dark history of witchcraft, it was fascinating to learn how each member was persecuted or dealt with some trauma. For instance, Lilia during her time in the Renaissance Era, Alice seeing her mother about to take her life, and Jennifer being drowned by a doctor. All these hallucinations were quite telling about what fears each witch held deep inside of them. And for eagle-eye MCU fans, Sharon’s hallucination tied back to WandaVision and a very iconic scene at the dinner table with Sharon’s husband.

Will Teen heed Alice’s advice about Agatha? Now that everyone knows about the sigil placed on Teen, it loops them all together into the greater mystery. There is something special about Teen that could be dangerous in the wrong hands. Agatha protected Teen in some spots to keep him from danger, but she also protected first herself in cunning ways. Agatha hiding the fact that she didn’t drink the poisonous wine reconfirmed that she isn’t afraid to risk others for her benefit first. Teen looked so disappointed in her for her shady behavior – and we were right there with him.

But the truth of Agatha sacrificing her son (Nicholas Scratch) to get the Darkhold isn’t something the coven should easily forget. Teen is the perfect comparison to see if history will repeat itself. Agatha’s hallucination showed that she has lingering regrets about giving up her son for the power. She was practically horrified to see that crib and the book. However, Agatha wants power first and foremost. Teen should be careful he doesn’t become her next sacrifice to get it.

The start of the trials

The trial itself was equal pairings of humor and terror. As mentioned above, the poisonous test could easily be solved if the coven was quick and got its ingredients. Jennifer stood out here due to her knowledge and quick mind in the face of danger. Agatha’s moment of sharing her respect for Jennifer was a touching scene; we typically don’t get humility from a supervillain like Agatha. It shows that deep down, Agatha acknowledges how important the coven members are to her mission and witchcraft.

At first, the bloated faces were hilarious; Lilia and Sharon were eating this up. The reactions from the coven members made the serious situation campier and funnier than expected. However, when the hallucinations started, the atmosphere got a lot creepier and infused more horror elements. This blend summed up Agatha All Along’s style of camp and horror; a strong pairing we’ll no doubt see more of in the future.

Poison picks its victim

Were you surprised that Sharon died this early on? Her odds were very low surviving the Witches’ Road, especially not having real magical powers. However, it’s hard not to root for the underdog and innocent victim in this situation. Sharon had no idea what she got herself into – all she wanted was a party. Her death seemed inevitable during this trial, particularly due to her drinking the potion late and not having her hair in it. The hair seemed like it was an essential part of the potion. Still, it would’ve been fun to see Sharon encounter all the different trials. She would’ve had no idea what was going on or what to do.

“Through Many Miles of Tricks and Trials” showed us the coven’s dynamics during their first real trial. We witnessed how they would work together, and what fears lay dormant inside of them. Agatha All Along’s first trial built up from a calming joke to an intense team battle filled with horrors and hallucinations. It’s a good taste for what’s to come with the rest of the trials down the Witches’ Road.

Agatha All Along airs Wednesdays on Disney+.