Warning: Spoilers ahead for Agatha All Along Episode 9, “Maiden Mother Crone.”
After the penultimate episode of Agatha All Along ends with a thrilling cliffhanger, the season finale slows things down for a flashback of Agatha Harkness’ (Kathryn Hahn) history with her son, Nicholas Scratch (Abel Lysenko). Throughout the conclusion, Agatha’s motivations and history are further explored in what feels more like an epilogue than a typical Marvel finale.
Jac Schaeffer continues to prove she deserves complete control over the mystical corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as she now has arguably the two best seasons of Marvel Television under her belt between Agatha All Along and WandaVision. Check out all the details from our Agatha All Along Episode 9, “Maiden Mother Crone” recap below!
The Origin of Nicholas Scratch Is Revealed in ‘Agatha All Along’
Although it’s been speculated by her peers that Agatha either traded her son’s life for the Darkhold or let him die to accumulate more power, the truth is far harsher for Agatha to bear. He was supposed to die at birth, but Agatha is able to convince her longtime love, Death (Aubrey Plaza), to give them more time together. It’s not explicitly stated as the reason why in Agatha All Along Episode 9, but Agatha spends her life using her son as a method of luring witches into her coven so she can drain their magic and take their lives, seemingly giving Death their bodies so her son can continues to live.
Six years pass, and as he gets older, Nicky becomes more involved in the scheme. In the biggest surprise of the episode, Nicholas and Agatha are revealed as the true authors of the “Ballad of the Witches Road.” Nicky’s song becomes a legend among witches around the world, with many believing it’s the key to finding the legendary Witches’ Road. However, Agatha’s son doesn’t like all the killing. Unfortunately, the one night they decide to spend together without luring witches to their doom, Death returns to take Nicky’s life, devastating Agatha as she mourns the lack of time with her son. In her grief, Agatha continues to utilize her “knowledge” of the road to lure covens together and steal their power.
Agatha Harkness Becomes a Ghost in “Maiden Mother Crone”
Fans have speculated whether or not Agatha had ever actually walked the Witches’ Road, and Agatha All Along Episode 9 confirms it has all been a lie. The mystery of how Agatha knew Billy (Joe Locke) was Wanda Maximoff‘s (Elizabeth Olsen) son unravels as well. Since she helped create the ballad, she knew the road was never actually real. Therefore, Billy must have manifested it with magic like his mother’s Hex, which could only be possible if he was the son of the Scarlet Witch.
Although Agatha sacrifices herself to Death in the previous episode, she returns as a ghost in the Agatha All Along finale. She consoles Billy when he realizes he created the Witches’ Road and is complicit in the deaths of Lillia Calderu (Patti LuPone) and Alice Wu-Gulliver (Ali Ahn). Their relationship has been rocky all season, but now, their bond is stronger than ever. The final member of their coven, Jennifer Kale (Sasheer Zamata) escapes Westview with her magic back, and although it’s disappointing not to get more of her in the finale, her character finally gets to live a fulfilled life with her powers returned to her.
‘Agatha All Along’ Episode 9 Review: An Emotional End to a Great Series
Agatha All Along Episode 9 concludes with Agatha Harkness and Billy Maximoff embarking on a quest to find Billy’s twin brother, Tommy. However, while it’s a hopeful conclusion, it’s a bit disheartening considering the lack of a Young Avengers or Wiccan project on the Marvel schedule, with a second season Agatha All Along being unlikely as well. Yet, despite the slower, emotional conclusion to the series following an epic showdown in the penultimate episode, the series is still capped off wonderfully. With a stellar two-part finale, Agatha All Along cements itself as one of the best series on Disney+.
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'Agatha All Along' Episode 9 "Maiden Mother Crone" Review
'Agatha All Along' Episode 9 "Maiden Mother Crone" ReviewThe Good
- Agatha's motivations are explained by her trauma from losing her son Nicky.
- Kathryn Hahn has been brilliant all series, but gives an extra special performance in the finale.
- Jac Schaeffer continues to be the queen of reveals, with Nicky's origin and the Ballad of the Witches' Road.
The Bad
- The change in pace by drastically slowing things down with an emotional flashback after a thrilling cliffhanger the episode before is jarring.
- It's hard not to worry that the quest for Tommy with Agatha and Billy won't happen anytime soon with the way Marvel stingers have been treated in Phases 4 and 5.
