Agatha All Along: The Perfect Song for Lilia’s Story in ‘If I Could Save Time in a Bottle’

This week’s episode of Agatha All Along unveiled the narrative of Lilia Calderu, portrayed by Patti LuPone. As the story unfolds during her trial, we witness her back in action alongside Agatha (Kathryn Hahn), Billy/William (Joe Locke), and Jennifer (Sasheer Zamata). LuPone’s performance in this episode was nothing short of mesmerizing.

**Warning: Spoilers for Agatha All Along**

Throughout the season, Lilia has exhibited signs of glitching. With every installment, she seems to oscillate through various time periods, leaving viewers questioning the force driving her to express such eccentric remarks. In episode 7, titled “Death’s Hand In Mine,” we finally gain insight into her peculiar outbursts. We delve into Lilia’s childhood in Sicily, where she witnessed the downfall of her coven and felt powerless to intervene, even though she possessed the knowledge to rectify the situation, she could never find herself in the right place at the right time.

When both Jennifer and Lilia tumble from the road, Lilia realizes what actions she must take: returning to her trial to support Billy and Agatha. The episode alternates between Agatha and Billy grappling with their tarot trial, lacking their tarot witch, and Jennifer and Lilia’s attempts to reach them. The highlight of “Death’s Hand In Mine” for me was how it allowed Lilia to truly flourish.

Patti LuPone has long been recognized as a theatrical powerhouse by Broadway enthusiasts. However, witnessing her infuse such depth into her role as Lilia within the Marvel Cinematic Universe adds another layer to her talent. Rather than portraying a woman teetering on the brink of madness, she embodies a character who is disoriented in time. Consequently, the final song that accompanies the credits emerges as an incredibly poignant and brilliant selection.

“I loved being a witch”

Jim Croce’s “Time in a Bottle” played during the credits of Agatha All Along. The conclusion, which implies LuPone’s Lilia falling onto swords (the very ones she used to vanquish the Salem Seven), paired with Croce’s melody, was soul-stirring.

The lyrics resonate with, “If I could save time in a bottle the first thing that I’d like to do is to save every day ’til eternity passes away, just to spend them with you.” This profound song, coupled with a poignant shot of child-Lilia reuniting with her mother, delivered a weighty emotional impact. This is precisely what makes this episode so memorable. While LuPone’s acting prowess is undeniable, she was also gifted with a beautifully crafted storyline to portray.

Additionally, there was a significant confirmation regarding Rio (Aubrey Plaza) being Death, an intriguing twist that, while anticipated, remained captivating to witness. However, what truly stood out in this episode was the focus on Lilia. There was no distraction from multiple plotlines, allowing viewers to simply watch Lilia rediscovering her identity and embracing what it signifies to her as a witch.

The bittersweet aspect of this experience is my desire for extended moments with Lilia. Unfortunately, as Croce’s song poignantly states, “But there never seems to be enough time to do the things you want to do once you find them.” LuPone’s brilliance is well-known, yet her portrayal of Lilia takes it to new heights.

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