Understanding Marvel’s Lady Death Reveal in “Agatha All Along”

Note: This article contains spoilers for episode 7 of Agatha All Along.

Main Insights

Lady Death is introduced into the MCU through Aubrey Plaza’s character.
The character of Rio Vidal is revealed as Lady Death, a cosmic being embodying death itself.
There is potential for Lady Death’s character to continue in the MCU beyond Agatha All Along.

When it comes to introducing Lady Death into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the Disney+ series Agatha All Along has effectively done so in its seventh episode.

This series serves as a spin-off centered around witches, following Agatha Harkness (played by Kathryn Hahn), who transitions from ally to adversary of the Scarlet Witch in 2021’s WandaVision. Following her defeat in the season finale, Wanda Maximoff cast a spell on Agatha, forcing her into a false existence in Westview. However, she eventually breaks free, allied with Joe Locke’s character, Teen. Together, they and a group of witches embark on the legendary Witches’ Road, a path said to grant any who reach its end their heart’s desire. The show has already introduced several notable adversaries, including the Salem Seven, but the revelation in this episode may introduce a critical new player.

Unveiling Aubrey Plaza’s Character in Agatha All Along

Identifying Rio Vidal

Among the fresh faces seen in Agatha All Along, Aubrey Plaza’s character, Rio Vidal, stands out as particularly fascinating. Initially appearing as a completely original figure for the series—there is no existing Marvel comic character by that name—Rio emerged in the first episode as a formidable witch with a secretive connection to Agatha. By the fourth episode, she has taken on the role of the Green Witch in Agatha’s coven, replacing the recently deceased Mrs. Hart. This episode confirmed their past romantic relationship hinted at in previous scenes.

Revelation of Rio Vidal’s True Identity

Aubrey Plaza as Death in Agatha All Along

Rio Vidal returned in Episode 7 after being absent in the sixth installment, unveiling a significant twist. Throughout the season, fans speculated that her character was a disguise for a different Marvel villain, specifically Death. Numerous clues had been laid out: for instance, Rio dubbed herself “the green witch,”which hinted at her original mastery over Earth magic. Furthermore, her reaction to an Ouija board session implied a connection to death, as did a conversation with Agatha that suggested their destructive teamwork—Agatha’s powers leading to untimely demises that Rio would handle.

All speculations culminated in Episode 7 when Lilia Calderu’s trial led to her acceptance of her forthcoming death, after which a hooded figure appeared. When the figure asks, “Don’t you recognize me, Lilia?”and steps into the light, Rio’s skeletal visage is revealed. “Ultimately, all paths lead to me,” she states, suggesting a direct connection to the theme of mortality as the coven traverses the Witches’ Road. This raises speculations that Rio, or Death, could be the ultimate challenge they face.

Understanding Lady Death in Marvel Comics

In Marvel Comics, the character known as Death—or Lady Death—is depicted as a cosmic entity functioning as the human embodiment of mortality. One of her pivotal story arcs involves Thanos, who seeks her affection through his destruction of life across the universe. Death’s narrative also intertwines with characters such as the Collector, the Beyonder, and Deadpool, depending on various comic storylines. When not in human form, Death resides in a dimension referred to as the Realm of Death.

The Role of Death in Agatha All Along

A crucial aspect of the character of Death is the inherent ability to end or restore a soul’s life. This power might play a significant role as various characters in Agatha All Along could leverage it. Earlier, Rio insinuated that her duties would lead her to inflict suffering upon Agatha, with speculation suggesting this pertains to the demise of Agatha’s son, Nicholas Scratch. As the series progresses, it’s unclear what Agatha’s ultimate wish might involve, but the revival of her son appears to be a plausible outcome.

Additionally, there’s Teen, who is now revealed to be Billy Maximoff. Billy’s aspiration as the story unfolds is to reunite with his twin, Tommy, yet uncertainties loom regarding Tommy’s status. It’s believed that Tommy may have met a fate similar to his brother and could be trapped elsewhere—or perhaps languishing in the Realm of Death, awaiting rescue by Lady Death.

Regardless of how her arc unfolds in Agatha All Along, there’s chatter suggesting this isn’t the last we’ll see of Plaza embodying Death within the MCU. With her character firmly established, numerous avenues open up for her involvement in upcoming projects, especially with major Avengers films on the horizon.

Agatha All Along episodes 1-7 are now available for streaming on Disney+.

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