Hey there! Episode 6 of Agatha All Along has finally arrived, and it’s safe to say this is a moment the Marvel Cinematic Universe has needed for some time!
Warning: Major spoilers for Agatha All Along episode 6 below.
In this exciting sixth installment, titled “Familiar by Thy Side,” we dive deep into the origins of our beloved LGBTQ+ Marvel hero, Billy Maximoff (played by Joe Locke), also known as Wiccan or William Kaplan. The episode reveals the repercussions of events in the neighboring Westview, as well as a car accident mentioned earlier in the series. It appears that Billy’s essence has transferred from Westview to the body of William Kaplan, illustrating how Wanda’s fictional son manifested into the real world. Throughout the episode, we also uncover more about the limits of Billy’s abilities.
After a time jump of three years, we get to witness the moment when Billy kisses his boyfriend—or shall we say, his significant other—Eddie (Miles Gutierrez-Riley). This moment is charged with emotion, though it takes a turn when Billy begins to pick up on Eddie’s thoughts. It’s undeniably sweet—not quite Heartstopper level, but still delightfully charming in that teenage crush sort of way. (Let’s be honest, I was totally screaming with excitement!)
This significant kiss marks a breakthrough moment for LGBTQ+ representation in the MCU. While there have been teases and fanfiction inspired by possible pairings like Captain America and the Winter Soldier or Captain Marvel with Valkyrie, up until now, we received only minimal displays of romance. Yes, we did get a smooch between Phastos (Brian Tyree Henry) and his partner Ben (Haaz Sleiman) in The Eternals, but it didn’t quite deliver the depth fans were hoping for, albeit it was a much-needed moment. However, Agatha All Along took a leap forward with Billy sharing a passionate kiss with Eddie! Finally, we can move past mere hints of “queer representation,” such as the forgettable cameo of director Joe Russo as a nameless gay character, sharing stories of a disheartening date in therapy.
Fortunately, episode 6 of Agatha All Along doesn’t linger unnecessarily or make excessive self-congratulatory statements about being “revolutionary.” Instead, it swiftly advances, introducing us to other witches in Billy’s narrative; Lilia Calderu (Patti LuPone) serves as a fortune teller at Billy’s bar mitzvah and appears to have placed a significant sigil on him. Alice Wu-Gulliver (Ali Ahn) steps in as the police officer who assists Billy’s parents following the car crash. We also notice that Billy is watching a vlog by Jennifer Kale (Sasheer Zamata) on his laptop, and we are treated to Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn) in her investigative mode through Billy’s eyes.
However, this does bring up a concern. During promotional appearances, several cast members described the show as queer, yet skepticism arose given the rumored reduction in LGBTQ+ representation following Lightyear’s brief kiss. It rekindles hope for more tender moments for Billy and Eddie, including a second kiss. Yet, when Aubrey Plaza referred to Agatha All Along as the most “gay” MCU series to date, I hoped it also meant that she and Kathryn Hahn would share some intimate moments.
My deepest worry is that the chemistry between Rio Vidal (Plaza) and Agatha will not culminate in a pivotal moment. Although we’ve had a near-kiss and some meaningful looks exchanged, these fleeting moments offer little solace for queer women, who often find themselves in this predicament. It frequently seems that representations of gay men are more readily accepted, leaving others waiting for their turn. Still, with three episodes left, there remains a glimmer of hope.
And if that isn’t enough intrigue, we may have reached a peak body count for central characters in a single MCU project. So far, there are three witches and one local resident who meet their demise. Although the snap eliminated half of the universe and many Avengers, they eventually returned, and the earlier losses felt far less grim. Agatha All Along presents scenes of poisoning, a stolen lifeforce, and two drownings—does any other Marvel film boast a tally this high? What a thrilling time for queer goth fans of Marvel; we’re definitely coming out on top with this one.
The temporary alliance between the perpetually nosy Agatha and the moody specter child Billy pulls at our heartstrings. These formidable witches lead us on a rollercoaster of emotions. Their chemistry feels perfectly matched, but the destruction they leave behind is disheartening… I can’t help but channel Jennifer Coolidge: “These gays, they’re trying to kill me!”
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