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Follow Me My Friend / To Glory at the End

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"Follow Me My Friend / To Glory at the End"
Agatha All Along episode
Promotional poster for Agatha All Along, highlighting elements seen in this episode
Episode no.Episode 8
Directed byGandja Monteiro
Written byPeter Cameron
Cinematography byIsiah Donté Lee
Editing byLibby Cuenin
Original release dateOctober 30, 2024 (2024-10-30)
Running time49 minutes
Cast
Episode chronology
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"Follow Me My Friend / To Glory at the End" is the eighth episode of the American television miniseries Agatha All Along, based on Marvel Comics featuring the character Agatha Harkness. It follows Harkness, who has been stripped of her identity after the events of the miniseries WandaVision (2021), and her coven as they continue their journey down the Witches' Road in search of power. The episode is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), sharing continuity with the films of the franchise. It was written by Peter Cameron and directed by Gandja Monteiro.

The episode centers on the final trial of the Witches' Road, in which the remaining members of the coven are tasked with cultivating plants in a basement reminiscent of a morgue. Following the trial, Harkness (Kathryn Hahn) and Billy Maximoff (Joe Locke) confront Rio Vidal (Aubrey Plaza), leading to the revelation of the Witches' Road's true nature. Apart from Hahn, Locke and Plaza, Sasheer Zamata and Ali Ahn also star in the episode. Filming took place in the Atlanta metropolitan area and in Los Angeles.

"Follow Me My Friend / To Glory at the End" was released on the streaming service Disney+ on October 30, 2024, alongside the ninth episode, "Maiden Mother Crone." It received positive reviews from critics, with particular praise directed at the performances of Hahn, Locke, and Plaza, as well as its emotional depth and unexpected plot twist. Disney reported that the episode drove 4.6 million views globally within the first 24 hours of streaming alone.

Plot

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Alice Wu-Gulliver awakens as a spirit in the cabin on the Witches' Road where she died. Death in the form of Rio Vidal appears, and while distraught, Wu-Gulliver accepts her fate and lets Vidal lead her to the afterlife.

Exiting the castle after the divination trial, Agatha Harkness is confronted by Vidal, who has learnt of the true identity of Billy Maximoff. Vidal asserts that Maximoff's reincarnation disrupts the natural balance and that he must surrender himself. Harkness promises Vidal to ensure that in exchange for living the rest of her days in peace and never seeing Vidal again, even after death. Vidal then leaves the Road.

Meanwhile, Jennifer Kale and Maximoff mourn Lilia Calderu's death and discuss Vidal's identity before rejoining Harkness and setting out to finish the Road. Walking towards the final trial, they arrive at the location where they first removed their shoes and deduce that the Road is actually a circle. Enraged, Harkness insists they must walk the Road again, but Maximoff, frustrated, puts his shoes back on in defiance.

The trio are transported to a morgue-like version of the basement in Harkness' Westview house where continually fading grow lights count down the time they have to cultivate a plant to pass the trial. As they are thinking of a solution, it is revealed that Harkness is the one who bound Kale's magic—unknowingly, casting spells for money. Kale performs an unbinding ritual, restoring her magic and disappearing, having achieved the goal she entered the Road with. Harkness assists Maximoff to locate Tommy Maximoff's soul and transfer it to the body of a drowning boy. Reaching his goal, Maximoff disappears as well.

Left alone and pressed for time, Harkness uses a seed from her locket and her tears to grow a flower within a floor crack, completing the trial and escaping the Road. She emerges in her backyard in Westview where Vidal confronts her for rejecting her affection and failing to deliver Maximoff as promised. Maximoff comes to Harkness' rescue, attacking Vidal and letting Harkness siphon some of his magic to restore hers. Harkness clashes with Vidal but soon admits that it is futile to fight Death. Vidal demands that either Harkness or Maximoff accompany her. Maximoff volunteers and Harkness surprises him by agreeing to let him proceed. Infiltrating her mind, Maximoff asks her if this is how her son died. This prompts a change of heart in Harkness, who kisses Vidal and dies, with flowers growing where her dead body fell.

Returning home, Maximoff is shocked to notice that many objects in his bedroom reflect the Witches' Road, and realizes that he unknowingly created it. He then hears Harkness laughing in the background.

Production

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Development

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In May 2021, Jac Schaeffer, the head writer of WandaVision, signed a three-year overall television deal with Marvel Studios and 20th Television to create new projects for their Disney+ lineup.[1] In pitches for several different projects focused on various characters, Schaeffer consistently suggested including WandaVision character Agatha Harkness, a powerful witch from Marvel Comics, as part of those series.[2] This led to her and Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige pursuing a series centered on that character instead.[2] By October 2021, a "dark comedy" spin-off from WandaVision centered on Kathryn Hahn as Agatha was in early development for Disney+ from Marvel Studios,[3] with Schaeffer returning as head writer and executive producer.[3][4]

During a Disney+ Day event in November 2021, the series was officially announced,[4] with Schaeffer revealed to be directing episodes of the series a year later.[5] By October 2023, Marvel Studios was changing its approach to television, hiring more traditional showrunners instead of head writers.[6] Schaeffer was being credited as the series' showrunner by July 2024.[7] Marvel Studios' Feige, Louis D'Esposito, Winderbaum, and Mary Livanos served as executive producers.[7] Released under Marvel Studios' Marvel Television label,[8] Agatha All Along was later announced to be second in a trilogy of series that includes WandaVision and Vision Quest (2026).[9]

Writing

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Jac Schaeffer explained that the series was always envisioned as "a spell," which inspired the concept of Billy creating the Witches' Road and tying its attributes to his personal interests and understanding of witches. To balance emotional depth with the level of action expected in an MCU project, Schaeffer assigned Peter Cameron to write "Follow Me My Friend / To Glory at the End". The episode was crafted as "a fake finale" to deliver an action-packed climax while setting the stage for the story's ultimate twist and conclusion.[10]

Casting

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The episode stars Kathryn Hahn as Agatha Harkness, Joe Locke as Billy Maximoff, Sasheer Zamata as Jennifer Kale, Aubrey Plaza as Rio Vidal, and Ali Ahn as Alice Wu-Gulliver.[11] Maria Dizzia and Paul Adelstein portray Rebecca and Jeff Kaplan, respectively, while several cast members reprise their roles as Westview residents, including David A Payton as Herb, David Lengel as Jones and Asif Ali as Norm.[11]

Filming

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Director Gandja Monteiro and director of photography Isiah Donté Lee were attached to "Follow Me My Friend / To Glory at the End" due to the dramatic nature of the episode, aiming to imbue it with "beauty and gravitas".[10] The backyard action sequence, filmed over four days, relied heavily on practical effects such as fire, wind, and wire work. Each actor performed their scenes independently of the others due to stunt logistics. Joe Locke and Aubrey Plaza used megaphones at several points during filming to project their lines to Kathryn Hahn, who was positioned at a considerable distance.[12]

Reception

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Viewership

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On November 1, 2024, Disney revealed that "Follow Me My Friend / To Glory at the End" drove 4.6 million views globally after just one day of streaming, up 48% from the performance of the miniseries' premiere episode "Seekest Thou the Road."[13] Nielsen Media Research, which records streaming viewership on U.S. television screens, reported that Agatha All Along accumulated 744 million minutes of viewing time across its nine episodes during the week of its two-part finale, reflecting a 75% increase from its premiere week.[14] Disney+, which calculates its "Top 10" list by considering daily views for episodes and movies alongside the growing popularity of newly released titles, announced that Agatha All Along was the second most popular title in the U.S. on October 30 following the release of "Follow Me My Friend / To Glory at the End" and "Maiden, Mother, Crone".[15] JustWatch a guide to streaming content with access to data from more than 40 million users around the world, revealed that the series was the second most-streamed original series in the U.S. for the week of the episode's release.[16]

Critical response

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Kathryn Hahn (left), Joe Locke (center), and Aubrey Plaza (right) received critical praise for their performances as Agatha Harkness, Billy Maximoff and Death in "Follow Me My Friend / To Glory at the End."[17]

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 100% approval rating based on twelve reviews. The site's critical consensus reads, "The penultimate episode of this windy road finds its end in a witches-brewed twist that works -- once again -- because of Kathryn Hahn, Aubrey Plaza and Joe Locke."[17]

Caroline Framke of Vulture lauded the episode for its focus on character revelations over action sequences, writing that "we [...] got a surprisingly bold and astonishingly self-assured piece of TV work that managed to avoid the usual Marvel pitfalls — endless blue-screen sky fights, Ouroboros references to Avengers lore, any single agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., et cetera — to become something all its own".[18] Writing for CBR, Joshua M. Patton gave the episode a 9/10 rating, commending the writing for meticulously setting up the plot twist at the end, stating: "Despite taking a "cards down" approach to storytelling common in other Marvel series, series creator Jac Schaeffer and her writers [...] made sure it was an actually compelling drama and mystery, not an overlong teaser for more MCU projects. Nowhere is this made clearer than the fact that [...] it turns out that the answers have been in front of viewers' eyes this whole time."[19] Joshua Yehl of IGN gave the two-part finale a score of 7/10, commenting positively on Agatha and Billy's dynamic: "The main thread of the show has been about wicked witch Agatha Harkness forming a mother-son/mentor-mentee relationship with fledgling sorcerer Billy Maximoff, and in that regard the final two episodes are a win. It seems Billy's true super power is seeing the best in people – even unrepentant magical mass murderers – and it's a mighty feat for him to break through to Agatha, to the point where she actually acts selflessly for once." Yehl further highlighted Agatha's death scene as "tragically beautiful, right down to the patch of purple flowers her body leaves behind."[20]

The A.V. Club critic Jen Lennon was impressed with the cast's performances, stating that "the core trio of Kathryn Hahn, Aubrey Plaza, and Joe Locke killed it at every turn." Lennon expressed mixed feelings on the episode's conclusion, noting that it "leaves viewers with a messy, difficult ending that reframes the entire series."[21] Taylor Gates of Collider also had words of praise for Hahn's performance, writing: "This entire show has truly been a career-defining performance for Hahn — a declaration that shouldn't be taken lightly considering just how impressive her career has been." Gates also lauded Zamata for her performance in the unbinding scene, but was more critical of her story's abrupt finish, opining that "her getting her power back gave me chills and immediately made me teary-eyed — but her ending felt a bit rushed."[22]

Accolades

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"Follow Me My Friend / To Glory at the End"'s ending twist was named Entertainment Weekly's most shocking TV moment of 2024.[23]

References

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  1. ^ Otterson, Joe (May 26, 2021). "'WandaVision' Head Writer Jac Schaeffer Sets Overall Deal With Marvel Studios, 20th Television". Variety. Archived from the original on May 26, 2021. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Iannucci, Rebecca (November 27, 2023). "WandaVision Steelbook Release Includes First Glimpse at Agatha Spinoff Footage — Watch (Exclusive)". TVLine. Archived from the original on November 28, 2023. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Otterson, Joe (October 7, 2021). "'WandaVision' Spinoff Starring Kathryn Hahn in the Works at Disney Plus (Exclusive)". Variety. Archived from the original on October 7, 2021. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Hipes, Patrick (November 12, 2021). "Disney+ Day: All The Streamer's Film & TV News From Premiere Dates To Series Orders". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 12, 2021. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  5. ^ Trainor, Daniel (November 10, 2022). "WandaVision's Emma Caulfield Teases What to Expect from Agatha: Coven of Chaos". E! News. Archived from the original on November 11, 2022. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  6. ^ Kit, Borys (October 11, 2023). "'Daredevil' Hits Reset Button as Marvel Overhauls Its TV Business". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 11, 2023. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Disney+ Debuts Trailer for Marvel Television's New Series 'Agatha All Along'". The Walt Disney Company. July 8, 2024. Archived from the original on July 8, 2024. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  8. ^ Vary, Adam B. (May 21, 2024). "Why Marvel Is Rebranding Its Television Shows to Eliminate the 'Pressure' to 'Watch Absolutely Everything'". Variety. Archived from the original on May 21, 2024. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  9. ^ Kit, Borys; Couch, Aaron (August 23, 2024). "James Spader Returning as Ultron for Marvel's Vision Series". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 23, 2024. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  10. ^ a b Campione, Katie (November 1, 2024). "'Agatha All Along' Showrunner Jac Schaeffer On Sticking The Landing With Final Episodes & What's To Come For Billy". Deadline. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
  11. ^ a b "Follow Me My Friend / To Glory at the End". Agatha All Along. Season 1. Episode 8. Disney+.
  12. ^ Gomez, Dessi (November 1, 2024). "'Agatha All Along' Star Joe Locke Talks "Brain-Muddling" Final Two Episodes, "Respect" Between Agatha And Billy, Going Full Wiccan And More". Deadline. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
  13. ^ Hailu, Selome (November 1, 2024). "'Agatha All Along' Episode 8 Hits 4.6 Million Views in One Day, Up 10% From Episode 7". Variety. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  14. ^ Porter, Rick (December 3, 2024). "Streaming Ratings: 'Agatha All Along' Hits High With Season Finale". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  15. ^ Tinoco, Armando (October 30, 2024). "Disney+ Introduces Top 10 List Of Movies & TV Shows To Help Users Discover New Content". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 3, 2024.
  16. ^ Gruenwedel, Erik (November 4, 2024). "JustWatch: 'Lioness,' 'The Substance' Top Weekly Streaming Through Nov. 3". Media Play News. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
  17. ^ a b "Follow Me My Friend; To Glory at the End". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
  18. ^ Framke, Caroline (October 31, 2024). "Agatha All Along Finale Recap: Like Mother(s) Like Son(s)". Vulture. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
  19. ^ Patton, Joshua (October 31, 2024). "Agatha All Along Episodes 8 & 9 Review: The Near-Perfect Finale Makes This Series the MCU's Best One Yet". CBR. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
  20. ^ Yehl, Joshua (October 31, 2024). "Agatha All Along Episodes 8 and 9 Review". IGN. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
  21. ^ Lennon, Jen (October 31, 2024). "Agatha All Along drops a daring two-part finale". The A.V. Club. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
  22. ^ Gates, Taylor (October 31, 2024). "'Agatha All Along' Episodes 8 and 9 Recap: The Ghost of Witches' Road Past". Collider.
  23. ^ "The 22 most shocking TV moments of 2024". Entertainment Weekly. December 4, 2024. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
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