Marvel Series Gets Another Name Change

Why so many name changes? It could have a lot to do with the fact that Marvel announced this spinoff several years ago and a lot has happened with Wanda, and by association Agatha, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since then. 

It could also be a matter of Agatha’s character shifting as the writers develop her character, of which we know only a little from WandaVision. But the little we got about Agatha from Marvel certainly left us wanting more.

Fans already loved Vision and Wanda as a couple, which led to the original series WandaVision, and Marvel hit it out of the ballpark with the show. Not only did Elizabeth Olsen (Wanda Maximoff) and Paul Bettany (Vision) do justice to the evolution of their characters, but Kathryn Hahn, as usual, helped create a character in Agatha that screamed for her own Marvel spinoff.

For those playing catchup, Agatha Harkness was introduced to viewers in WandaVision as just another happy housewife in the town of Westview. Prior to WandaVision, fans watched on in sympathy as Wanda’s heart was broken by Vision’s death at the end of Avengers: Infinity War. Refusing to accept reality, Wanda used her phenomenal powers to capture the town of Westview in a reality bubble of her own making. 

She designed a world in Westview that was a throwback to the television shows of the 1970’s, a real Leave It to Beaver, happy-go-lucky life, and she placed herself at the heart of it, with Vision as her husband. Except that Vision is dead, so Wanda had to create him from nothing, from her own imagination. Now that’s power. 

The cracks begin slowly forming as the 9 episode series progresses, as Vision realizes he’s not real, as Wanda begins waking from her own enforced brainwashing, and the other characters start waking up alongside them. Enter Agatha, a new Marvel villain. 

Before our eyes, sweet, helpful Agatha, the kindly neighbor reveals that she has been playing Wanda and everyone else all along. In episode 7, with just two episodes to go, Agatha announces that she is a powerful witch who sensed Wanda’s power as Wanda was casting the spell over Westview. She cloaked herself and walked into Westview to steal Wanda’s power for herself. 

Now, all die-hard Marvel fans will already know that Wanda Maximoff is arguably the most powerful character in the MCU, and here is Agatha entering Marvel as a witch with powers to rival those of Wanda’s. The final battle between the two is a close-call, but Wanda finally defeats Agatha and strips her of her powers. 

Almost immediately after WandaVision aired Marvel announced that Agatha: House of Harkness would be part of its Phase 5 strategy. Yes, Agatha is a huge hit. From rumors and chatter, we expect to see Agatha stripped of her powers in her own show and, ideally, playing a sort of anti-hero role where she reckons with her troubled past. 

In the end, no matter how many name changes the show experiences, fans are sure to line up in anticipation of what will happen next.