Real witch explains what Agatha All Along gets right and wrong about witchcraft

As a seasoned gamer and a long-time practitioner of the craft, I must say that Agatha All Along has cast quite the spell on me. With a background steeped in fantasy and magic, it was only natural for me to be drawn into this enchanting tale.


Since its release in late September, Agatha All Along has bewitched critics and Marvel fans alike.

In simpler terms, the most recent installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s magical guidebook is being well-received, with a commendable rating of 82% on Rotten Tomatoes, and it garnered an astounding 9.3 million views worldwide in its first week on Disney Plus.

It’s obvious now that Agatha’s magic has successfully overcome the alleged disinterest towards superheroes among Marvel fans in recent times.

As I watched Agatha, Teen, and her friends traverse the Witches’ Road, my mind wandered to ponder the thoughts of a genuine witch regarding this series. Given that over 74,000 individuals in England and Wales self-identify as modern Pagans, with an additional 13,000 identifying specifically as witches (as per the 2021 census), it’s worth considering their perspective on their faith being portrayed in another superhero TV show.

Down the Witches’ Road

Real witch explains what Agatha All Along gets right and wrong about witchcraft

Sarah Kerr, who serves as the President of the Pagan Federation within the United Kingdom and identifies herself as a witch, is a practitioner with extensive experience. She started her practice at the age of sixteen and now, in her professional role, she functions as both a healer and a witch.

It turns out that Sarah found Agatha All Along quite appealing. This bodes well for Kevin Feige and his team working on the show since she seemed to be quite taken with it all.

As a fellow enthusiast, I shared with her my delight: “I found it truly captivating,” I confided. “The performance was outstanding! I’m always drawn to productions like this one, even when I find myself muttering, ‘Oh dear, here we go again’. However, this time around, I must admit that I genuinely appreciated the representation of the build-up for magical work. It seemed they had a deep understanding that at its heart, witchcraft is about self-discovery and exploration.

She went on to explain, ‘It’s all about personal development.’ She felt that, while perhaps exaggerated, they managed to convey the essence of that – delving into and comprehending the environment we live in.

Sarah found herself quite fascinated by Agatha’s character as well, acknowledging her admiration for the witches’ self-assuredness (which Agatha certainly embodies). Moreover, she emphasized that a key aspect of contemporary witchcraft lies in cultivating self-confidence and self-assurance. Nevertheless, what captivated Sarah the most was the concept of the Witches’ Path.

In my opinion, what I found most captivating about it was the use of the travel metaphor to represent the craft’s learning process. This is because, in essence, mastering a craft is a lifelong journey where you continuously discover more about yourself. So, for me, that symbolic representation of the journey was crucial within that series, and the Witches’ Road served as a symbol for this ongoing exploration.

Get behind me Mephisto!

Real witch explains what Agatha All Along gets right and wrong about witchcraft

I found that quite intriguing as it’s not often depicted in movies. It delved deeply into rituals and magic, which I haven’t come across before. What particularly caught my attention was the exploration of a witch’s initiation journey, a aspect that is seldom shown.

Before Kevin and the other Marvel bigwigs get too confident that they’ve got the witches on their side, though, it’s important to note that Sarah did have some criticisms of the show. Sarah took some issue with how sensationalized it was – no, we’re not talking about the way Marvel’s witches throw fireballs or fly – this has more to do with darker aspects of witchcraft in the MCU and their connection to Mephisto, Marvel’s Satan equivalent. 

She clarified when asked about Satan’s association with witchcraft, stating that Satan is not typically involved in most witches’ practices. However, she acknowledged that it might be accurate for some witches. She suggested that there’s an overemphasis on this dark figure, often referred to as a dark entity or dark lord, which many practitioners, particularly those in the Western world, find inaccurate.

For Sarah, the portrayal of witches in media has perpetuated a centuries-old stereotype against her religion, which isn’t solely rooted in historical witch hunts but rather dates back even further. She believes that this stereotype isn’t just about witchcraft; it’s about controlling women.

In contemporary Western societies, the fear and persecution of women as witches has largely diminished, but the concept continues to be trivialized and misinterpreted. Regrettably, this persists as a form of discrimination, which is precisely why my organization was established.

Sarah elaborated on her thoughts regarding the common portrayal of witchcraft in various media outlets and how it differs from reality. She pointed out that often, witchcraft is depicted as a malevolent force due to its association with the mysterious and uncharted aspects of life, things that people find difficult to comprehend, but her personal experiences with the craft tell a different story.

What Marvel needs to do next

Real witch explains what Agatha All Along gets right and wrong about witchcraft

Fortunately, Sarah feels that series such as Agatha All Along and characters like the Scarlet Witch are contributing to this matter positively. She opines, “The more witches are presented favorably, the better impact it has. It seems there’s a significant increase in individuals practicing witchcraft… This is likely because people seek something they can trust in and have control over. Witchcraft provides that.

To ensure that witches and warlocks worldwide remain content, what measures might Kevin Feige consider taking, according to your perspective?

Leave it as is since they’ve truly excelled. Continue to delve into the authentic metaphors associated with witchcraft. Disregard the clichés and stereotypes, many of which are inaccurate, but persist because, in truth, you’re doing a commendable job.

Sounds to us like the critics aren’t the only ones to fall under Agatha’s spell!

Have you embarked on the Witches’ Trail so far? If not, there’s still plenty of time to set off, but make sure to check out our guide for Agatha All Along Episodes 8 and 9 to find your starting point. Meanwhile, we’re marking Terror-Tober at TopMob with a collection highlighting the top 102 horror films and most spine-tingling moments in video game history. Have fun!

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2024-10-30 14:24