“We come to this place for magic…”
How was one episode of Marvel’s What If…? somehow a crossover of Agatha All Along, The Eternals, and Agent Carter?! If you’re only a fan of one of these Marvel properties, I can sort them out and explain the starry ending to “What If… Agatha Goes To Hollywood” on Disney+.
The “what if” in this episode of the animated series all about stand-alone alternate Marvel universes posits that Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn), became a movie star in the 1950s. This takes place decades before Agatha would meet Wanda Maximoff or “Teen” or any of the characters we’ve seen her interact with on screen already. Instead, she teamed up with Peggy Carter’s pals Howard Stark (Dominic Cooper) and Edwin Jarvis (James D’Arcy.) The episode also involves the plot of an obscure-ish MCU film (if you can call a blockbuster obscure) The Eternals.
If you haven’t seen The Eternals (2021)–and based on the film’s performance at the box office compared to a Spider-Man or Avengers movie that’s unfortunately likely–here’s what you need to know: “Eternals” are robots from outer space sent by a god-like being called “Celestial” named Arishem to different planets to live among the people and protect them. But, as the Eternals learn in The Eternals, Arishem’s actual mission for them is to facilitate the birth of a new Celestial on Earth named Tiamut whose “emergence” will destroy the planet. Yikes, oops, etc.
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(For what it’s worth, I found The Eternals to be quite pleasant to watch compared to some of the other more recent MCU offerings. The characters are sweet and optimistic instead of jaded and sarcastic. It’s not goofy for the sake of being goofy. But it is nerdy lore-heavy in a way that might put some people off. I get that. Couldn’t be me, but I do get it. It definitely is a lot for an episode of What If… ?)
Agatha’s after more than what the “Witches’ Road” can grant her.
In “What If… Agatha Goes To Hollywood,” the infamous witch has discovered the presence of Tiamut under the Earth’s surface and wants his power for herself. She devises a spell and steals power from the Eternals to get it. By manipulating Howard Stark’s production company, she enlists Kingo (Kumail Nanjiani), an Eternal who has spent his time on Earth becoming a famous actor, to complete her spell. That also means that Agatha, ever the drama Queen, can convince Kingo to join her through song and dance.
Arishem finds out about Agatha and Kingo’s plan
Since it would technically stop the Earth from getting destroyed, Kingo agrees to help her out. Unfortunately, that alignment alerts Arishem. Quickly, Agatha and Kingo do the spell and the witch siphons Tiamut’s power from the center of the earth– which Howard Stark and his assistant Jarvis film. Arishem shows up, and a Celestial Agatha fights back. She binds him in a rune and takes his power too.
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Surprise! Agatha betrays them!
More powerful than ever, Agatha announces to the crew that she is not going to give up this power. Thankfully, Kingo talks her down. And with a Nicole Kidman “heartbreak feels good in a place like this” AMC theaters moment, at that! He convinces her to change the world not unlimited power, but with the magic of the movies. It’s corny, ofc, but in a sweeping, charming Old Hollywood way. And in this alternate universe, Howard Stark stops making weapons to focus on making more films. So they probably did save some lives in a roundabout way.
Where was Rio Vidal in all of this?
As fans of Agatha All Along can tell you, one of the most compelling aspects of this character’s journey in the MCU is her love-hate relationship with Rio (Aubrey Plaza), a.k.a. Death. Sadly, Agatha’s ex-girlfriend does not appear in the episode. There’s only a brief mention of her dating history when Howard asks if she and Kingo are a “thing” and the two respond that the other is not their type in unison. Sure, it’s a shame that we don’t know if or how Rio factored into Agatha’s plan, but you know what I always say? That’s what fan-fiction is for.
Will we ever see this version of Agatha again?
Probably not. The What If…? characters aren’t really meant to cross back over to the big screen. These are just imaginative, fun alternate universe scenarios.
In the final moments of the episode, Kingo expresses worry that the other Celestials could come for him, Agatha, and the rest of the Eternals at any moment. “Who doesn’t love a cliff-hanger,” teases the Watcher. But since this is the final season of What If…?, we aren’t likely to see a proverbial “sequel” to this adventure.
