Agatha All Along introduced actor Joe Locke to the MCU, and his character has some major connections to Wanda Maximoff’s Scarlet Witch. Revealed to be a unique member of Agatha Harkness’ new coven of witches, Locke’s character is supporting Agatha in her goal to restore her magical powers, traveling with her and her coven along the Witches’ Road. However, it seems he may have his own motives as well.

Initially, the show revealed he would play a new ally of Agatha’s after she breaks free of the spell Wanda Maximoff cast on her in the MCU timeline at the end of 2021’s WandaVision, alongside the 7 witches that make up Agatha All Along‘s new coven. However, the show also teased that Joke Locke was most likely playing a brand-new version of one of the Scarlet Witch’s sons, hiding his identity until it was officially revealed.

How Agatha All Along Set Up Joe Locke’s Marvel Character Mystery

Freeing Agatha From Wanda’s Spell

While the identity of Joe Locke’s MCU character wasn’t yet to be officially confirmed even after the show started to release, it was heavily speculated and teased that he would be playing Billy Kaplan. Likewise, the official synopsis for Agatha All Along teased the mysterious nature and importance of Locke’s role in the MCU show:

In “Agatha All Along,” the infamous Agatha Harkness finds herself down and out of power after a suspicious goth Teen helps break her free from a distorted spell. Her interest is piqued when he begs her to take him on the legendary Witches’ Road, a magical gauntlet of trials that, if survived, rewards a witch with what they’re missing. Together, Agatha and this mysterious Teen pull together a desperate coven, and set off down, down, down The Road…

The Witches’ Road in Agatha All Along is the perfect means to restore Agatha’s magical abilities. However, the true interest was in who Locke’s character truly was and why “Teen” also wanted to go down the Road, where his motives are still yet to be revealed. Being revealed as the teenage son of Wanda Maximoff is certainly a big deal for the MCU and opens the door to several follow-up questions.

The show itself began to sow seeds that make it more likely “Teen” was Billy even before the reveal, as the character mentioned his mother was dead, and was the one who broke the Scarlet Witch’s spell on Agatha, despite revealing that he didn’t have much or anything in the way of magical ability himself. Agatha not being able to hear Billy’s name or his past when he talked about either with her, supported this idea, since it suggested this information was being specifically hidden from Harkness, and the character being Wanda’s son explains this.

Joe Locke Is Confirmed To Be Wiccan In The MCU

Billy Shows Off His Power

After a long period of speculation, Agatha All Along’s episode 5 ending confirms that Joe Locke’s character is indeed Wiccan, or Billy Maximoff, in the series. Prior to the reveal, it seemed like his character didn’t have much in terms of powers, as he was the familiar to Agatha and only following along with the rest of the coven. Now, not only did it reveal that he was Wiccan, and he already had powers, but that he can actively stand toe-to-toe with Agatha and the other witches.

This changes the dynamic of Agatha All Along moving forward, and frankly, the entire MCU, especially if Wiccan is able to get close to the strength of his mother, the Scarlet Witch. Joe Locke’s role as Billy has long been speculated to be the case, but even with it being revealed, it still hits hard. The rest of Agatha All Along will hopefully answer more questions about his plans in the series and also Joe Locke’s future with the MCU.

Who Is Billy Kaplan In Marvel Comics?

Also Known As Wiccan

Years after Wanda and Vision lost their original twin sons to Mephisto in the comics, Billy Kaplan and Tommy Shepard were born as the reincarnated versions of the Scarlet Witch’s children. Their lives eventually collided as members of the Young Avengers, with Billy’s Wiccan wielding powers similar to Wanda as a powerful mage, and Tommy’s speed gaining super speed to mirror his uncle Pietro aka Quicksilver. More recently on the page, Billy got married to fellow Young Avenger Hulking (who’s currently the Emperor of the Skrull/Kree Empire).

While it’s unknown where exactly Billy’s powers come from due to his reincarnation, it’s likely that the power was still inherited due to Wanda’s status as a powerful nexus being. Billy is also destined to become an all-powerful magical god known as The Demiurge, which could also explain the origins of his magical abilities.

As such, it’s quite possible that Joe Locke’s MCU version of Billy Kaplan is just beginning his magical journey, perhaps even hoping to be trained by Agatha herself. The ease with which he was able to overcome the coven on the Witches’ Road suggests it’s also possible the character may not be telling the entire truth about his potential powers, since – as Agatha suggests – it seems if he simply wanted magical abilities, he could hone them over time, rather than risking his list in some dramatic fashion.

Why Teen Can’t Say His Own Name In Agatha All Along

In Agatha All Along, Teen’s name is concealed from both Agatha and the audience because whenever the character says his name, magic appears to cover his mouth and prevent Agatha from hearing it. This also extends to details about Teen’s origins and history, as when he goes to tell Agatha, she realizes she can’t hear him even as he is clearly talking – but that she’s still able to hear other noises.

So, episode 5 of Agatha All Along came in at around 24 minutes, whereas the previous episodes were around the 35-40 minute mark. I honestly didn’t notice it at first, mainly because the episode was really gripping and because of the Teen twist at the end. I didn’t hate the shorter episode, but it was quite strange from a production standpoint, and I’m a little confused as to how they managed it. I always assumed that there needed to be an equal split in runtimes because of editing, but perhaps not.

Teen himself doesn’t appear to be aware this is the case for Agatha, appearing lightly confused at the distress she shows during these times. The character’s reaction suggests this isn’t a curse on Teen himself – as he’d no doubt have realized he couldn’t say his name or talk about his past in a way anyone could hear if this were the case – and instead appears to be a result of something specific that’s happened to Agatha herself, and is by extension preventing viewers from hearing who “Teen” is.

It’s possible some effect of Wanda’s spell is having this impact, as Agatha and the coven can’t hear his name, and logistically, this would make most sense if it were Scarlet Witch’s magic protecting her kin. The concept seems doubly true since the reality-altering moments are most in line with Wanda’s chaos magic, and appear much in the same capacity Agatha previously experienced the delusions and warped reality that Scarlet Witch’s spell locked her into.

How Billy Maximoff Fits Into Agatha All Along’s Story

Trying To Bring Wanda Back From The Dead?

“Teen” essentially works as Agatha’s familiar, serving as the titular witch’s attendant and doing whatever she requires in exchange for her help traveling the Witches’ Road. However, it seems like he has ulterior motives, with the end of episode 5 showing that he is more powerful than the coven realized. There is still so much to be revealed. The mystery of why others can’t hear his name and also why he is much older than in WandaVision is still up in the air.

How Billy Maximoff Is Alive In The MCU

Reincarnation (Just Like In The Comics)

Much like in the original comics, the full history of Wanda Maximoff’s children in the MCU is somewhat confusing. Having been born as manifestations of Wanda’s powers within the Hex in 2021’s WandaVision, Billy and Tommy Maximoff were born to Wanda and Vision from the Scarlet Witch’s own chaos magic (the same is true on the page). After realizing the Hex is a figment of her own imagination and powers – and that other people are being harmed by her forced control over them – Wanda finishes the Hex, and loses her children and Vision in the process.

Wanda then tries to co-opt versions of her boys from another reality (Earth-838) as seen in 2022’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, having been corrupted by the Darkhold. Wanda eventually realizes the error of her misguided desires before sacrificing herself to destroy all copies of the Darkhold.

Now, the MCU could continue mirroring the comics origins by introducing Joe Locke as Billy Kaplan, the reincarnated soul of Billy Maximoff with the reveal that Wanda’s original sons had been created using preexisting souls that had been lost. It is officially revealed that Joe Locke is playing Wiccan, but how he is alive and where he came from remains a mystery. The recent mid-season trailer for Agatha All Along has Agatha calling him Billy Maximoff instead of Billy Kaplan, raising even more questions.