 |
This Article Contains Spoilers -
WARNING: This article contains major spoilers. If you do not wish to know vital information on plot / character elements in a story, you may not wish to read beyond this warning: We hold no responsibility for any negative effects these facts may have on your enjoyment of said media should you continue. That is all. |
|
| “ | I take power from the undeserving. It's kinda my thing. You're clearly in over your little red head. So, why don't you surrender your magic to someone who knows what to do with it? And I'll let you keep this pathetic little corner of the world all to yourself. | „ |
| ~ Agatha Harkness giving Wanda Maximoff an ultimatum |
| “ | Wanda, Wanda, Wanda. You didn't think you were the only magical girl in town, did you? The name's Agatha Harkness. Lovely to finally meet you, dear! | „ |
| ~ Agatha revealing her true nature to Wanda Maximoff |
Agatha Harkness is the main antagonist of the Disney+ miniseries WandaVision.
She went under the alias "Agnes", and acted as Scarlet Witch's neighbor. She was always in the background of the series popping up and checking in on Wanda. When Wanda makes her way to Agatha's basement, she discovers a lair filled with artifacts, books and glowing vines. Agatha comes out of the shadow and reveals herself as a fellow witch to Wanda. She is Scarlet Witch's arch-nemesis.
She was portrayed by Kathryn Hahn, who also played Doctor Octopus in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Ericka Van Helsing in Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation.
Contents
Appearance
Agatha has the general appearance of a roughly forty-year old woman with brown hair. Her outfit would constantly change as Wanda kept moving Westview up a decade to fit her reality and her perfect life, but she always wears a brooch on the collars of her shirt. When she reveals herself, her hair is messy and down and wears a purple top.
Personality
When she first arrives, she acts as a friendly neighbor to Wanda, welcoming her to the neighborhood, bringing a plant as a housewarming gift. She helps Wanda with her anniversary night with Vision, giving constant suggestions on what she should do. She appears as a nosy neighbor in most of her episodes, more likely as a showoff. Agnes is able to get close enough to Wanda for her to start trusting her, enough to where she can use her magic in front of Agnes. Once Wanda discovers Agatha's lair, she appears more deranged and proudly so, with her own theme song calling her "evil", indicating Agatha's true nature and revealing that she had been manipulating Wanda and the fake Westview reality all along.
Biography
Past
In 1693, in the Salem Witch trials, Agatha was being dragged through the woods by three witches. She begged to be spared, but was tied up against a wooden post with Magic. A women enquired if she was a Witch to which she replied yes. The lady responded saying she had betrayed her coven and stole knowledge above her place and that she practiced the darkest of magic, which she denied. The Witches tried killing her with beams of Witch power and Harkness pleaded with the Lady, who was her mother. Harkness cried as she was being killed by the Witches. But her power took over and she reversed the effect of the beams onto the Witches, who were all rapidly drained and aged to death in seconds. Harkness broke free of the post and begged for mercy from her mother once more, saying that she could be good. Her mother disagreed and attempted to kill Harkness herself, causing Harkness to reverse her mother’s magic back at her and drain her life in self-defense. She then stole a brooch off her mother’s corpse.
WandaVision
Welcoming Wanda Maximoff
| “ | Hello, dear. I'm Agnes, your neighbor to the right. My right, not yours. Forgive me for not stopping by sooner to welcome you to the block. My mother-in-law was in town, so I wasn't. | „ |
| ~ Agatha to Wanda Maximoff. |
Harkness first appears under the guise of clueless housewife Agnes, who greeted Wanda after she and Vision moved to Westview as a happily married couple. Once Maximoff had introduced herself, Agnes noticed how Maximoff had arranged their belongings so quickly, and Maximoff lied to her that she had used a moving service.
Maximoff shared that she was preparing for a special occasion later that day, and instead affirmed Agnes' guess that it was the anniversary of Maximoff and Vision. Agnes' questions about her having no wedding rings and their non-specific anniversary date caught Maximoff off-guard. She offered to help Maximoff plan their special night, while complaining to her about her deadbeat husband Ralph.
Once Wanda realized that her special night was her and Vision treating dinner to Vision's boss Arthur Hart, and his wife Sharon Hart, she called Agnes to help. Agnes happily agreed, and she arrived at the Vision Residence with a large amount of food that she and Wanda could use to cook.
She accidentally dropped a pot, which the Harts and Vision overheard. Maximoff rushed out Agnes, so she could use her abilities to cook, despite Agnes' offer to help cook and to exchange gossip.
Committee Meeting
| “ | Really, how is anybody doing this sober? | „ |
| ~ Agatha to Wanda. |
Agnes had helped Wanda and Vision's magic act for the Westview Talent Show, by lending them her pet rabbit, Señor Scratchy, whom she says previously played Jesus at a Christmas pageant.
Having exchanged some a playful banter with Dennis the Mailman, she accompanied Maximoff to Dottie Jones and her group of fellow housewives for the committee meeting. She warned Maximoff about Jones' influence on the town, and advised her to get on Jones' good side to make her life easier.
She sat beside Wanda during the meeting, and later offered alcohol to Bev, after she was humiliated by Jones. She continued drinking and silently remarks to Maximoff, that she was surprised that anyone could stay sober.
Westview Talent Show
Agnes was among the several audience members to attend the Westview Talent Show, and secretly sabotaged Wanda and Vision’s performance to make it look comedic due to Vision's intoxication. Upon seeing Señor Scratchy on stage, Agnes bragged to the other audience members about the rabbit's real star quality.
When the pair brought out the Cabinet of Mysteries, Agnes jokingly offered Ralph to the couple so that he could disappear, which elicited laughs from everybody. With an unintentionally successful show staged by the couple, she was the first to offer a standing ovation among the crowd.
Suspicion about Geraldine
| “ | Agatha: There's no family. No husband. Vision: Well, there's nothing wrong with that. Agatha: Hmm... No home. |
„ |
| ~ Agatha and Vision. |
Agnes was seen helping Wanda Maximoff buy baby clothes, while they walked through Westview together. Later on, she cast a spell on Herb, in order to make him act like he knew about Westview's secret, in order to make Vision suspicious.
When Vision saw them gossiping and approached the two, he deduced that they were talking about something related to them. When Vision tried to leave, Agnes called him over and asked if Geraldine was with Maximoff. She and Herb explain that Geraldine is new to the town, but seems suspicious since she has no family nor home in Westview.
When Herb tried to explain why Geraldine arrived in town, Agnes stopped him, and instead left the two, saying that she needed to set up her macramé at home.
Babysitter in Need
| “ | Agatha: Do you want me to take that again? Wanda: I'm sorry? Agatha: You want me to hold the babies. Should we just take it from the top? |
„ |
| ~ Agatha and Wanda Maximoff. |
With Wanda and Vision unable to rest due to their newborn children, Tommy and Billy, Maximoff then suggested they need help. Right on cue, Agnes arrived, offering to help them instead of her scheduled jazz-ercise. Agnes' timing aroused Vision's suspicions, which made him tell her not to help them.
Agnes suddenly shifted in demeanor; she suddenly asked if she should repeat her lines and redo the scene from the beginning. This further confuses Vision, and shocked Maximoff as she realized Agnes was aware of her created reality as a simulated sitcom. Maximoff declared Agnes will help, so Agnes returned to her persona to take care of the twin babies, using an exercise routine to rock their cribs, spraying lavender on them, and finding dark liquor for the twins.
When the babies suddenly aged up to five years old, Agnes was unfazed, instead contemplating about the uncontrollable nature of children.
Creating and Killing Sparky
Agnes later returned to the Vision Residence with exactly the item they need, a new doghouse, which Agnes had brought over after seeing that they have a new pet dog. She subsequently named the family's new dog Sparky.
While Agnes was still present, Wanda Maximoff created a dog tag in Agnes' presence, despite her and Vision's agreement to hide their abilities, attributing to her obliviousness when the boys aged up. When the twins aged again to ten years old, Agnes merely quipped that they hoped Sparky stays the same size.
When Sparky ran away from the Maximoffs' home, Agnes killed the dog before they could find him. She wrapped him up in a cloth before the Maximoff's arrived at her home, where she broke the bad news, by claiming that Sparky had died from eating from her azalea bushes, and that she found him too late.
Agnes then overheard Tommy stating Maximoff could fix the dead, and Agnes asked her if she could resurrect the dead. She then stood by, and agreed as Maximoff advised her children that she could not run away from situations like the boys' aging, or reversing death.
Agnes later brought the fake Pietro Maximoff to the Vision Residence door in order to confuse her further.
Awakened by Vision
| “ | Vision: Agnes, it is my intention to reach those outside of Westview and make sense of our situation. Agatha: How? No one leaves. Wanda won't even let us think about it. All is lost. |
„ |
| ~ Vision and Agatha. |
During Halloween night in Westview, Agnes drove to the outskirts of Westview just nearby the barrier of the Westview. Vision discovered Agnes in her car at an intersection furthest from town, pretending to be frozen in a trance. She told him that she took a wrong turn trying to get to the Town Square Scare, to which Vision asked how she got lost in the town she grew up in. Vision decided to use his powers derived from the Mind Stone to take her out of her trance.
Agnes then pretended to be shocked by Vision’s presence, recognizing him as one of the Avengers, and asked if he was here to help. When Vision revealed he didn't know what an Avenger was, she asked if she had died. He assured her that she had not, and asked her why she would think so, to which she replied with telling Vision that he himself was dead, as he was killed during the Battle of Wakanda. She later told him that no one could leave Westview and Wanda would not let anyone think about it. She then proceeded to cackle maniacally before Vision put her back to her previous state. Agnes suddenly acted in-character, and drove back towards the center of the city, much to Vision's confusion.
Agatha All Along
Stealing Billy and Tommy
Due to Wanda Maximoff wallowing in her depression, Agnes offered to take Tommy and Billy Maximoff away from her so she could relax. She gave them food and drink whilst letting them watch television, assuring them that their mom would be fine, even though she was not sure herself.
Revealing Her True Self
Later, during a confrontation between Maximoff and Monica Rambeau, Agnes got involved to help Maximoff. She took Maximoff back to her house, and informed her that the kids were in the basement.
Once Maximoff was down in the basement, she discovered Agnes' lair as Agnes finally revealed herself as Agatha Harkness. She enthralled Maximoff, revealing herself to have orchestrated all of the recent oddities, which included controlling Herb, lying to Vision, revealing to have killed Sparky, and sending "Pietro Maximoff" to Wanda.
Learning Information about Wanda
After revealing her true nature to her, Wanda attempted to read Agatha's mind, but this proved to be ineffective as Agatha had placed a protection spell around the room with runic symbols, and in turn, bound Wanda in magical bonds. She then demonstrated her magical powers to Wanda, including transformation and mind control, and explains to Wanda that she is capable of performing such magic. She then demanded to know how Wanda created the Hex in the first place, but Wanda was unable to recall how she pulled it off.
Deciding to use a bit more finesse in her interrogation, she plucked a hair from Wanda's head and used it to open a gateway into Wanda's memories. To ensure Wanda would follow her, Agatha revealed she was still holding Tommy and Billy somewhere in her dungeon, and having no other choice, Wanda followed Agatha through the door. The two went through Wanda’s traumatic life experiences, including the death of her parents, the mind stone granting her powers and her falling in love with Vision, as well as her lifelong obsession with sitcoms, having grown up watching them in order to learn English.
They then witnessed Wanda arriving at S.W.O.R.D and seeing Vision's dead body before going to Westview, where Vision had planned for them to start a life together after the Battle of Wakanda. In her grief, Wanda created the Hex as well as reconstructed Vision, seemingly from the Mind Stone. Having seen all she needed to put the pieces together, Agatha applauded Wanda's display of magic before teleporting outside where she held Tommy and Billy with magical nooses around their throats. Agatha then reveals to Wanda that she is a being long thought to be a myth, a being capable of creating something from nothing with the great power of Chaos magic, and that she was, in fact, a Scarlet Witch.
Final Battle
As Agatha still choking Billy and Timmy, Wanda warns her that her powers work outside, but she insists that she's counting on it. When Tommy and Billy try to escape from towards their mother, Agatha pulls back the wires attached their throats, causing the twins to fall to the ground as Wanda uses her powers with an energy blast, throwing her back, and releasing her grip on the boys. Wanda orders her sons to go to their room, and they insist on staying with her, until Agatha tells them to listen to their mother, and the pair run away.
An energy blast is thrown at her, but this time, Agatha catches and harnesses it for herself, while also causing Wanda's left hand to rapidly age. She redirects it back at Wanda, blasting her back, as Agatha requests to surrender her magic. She levitates in the air, and adds onto her offer that she'll allow Wanda to keep Westview to herself, however, Wanda throws a car from behind her, crashing Agatha, into a house.
She teleports herself onto the roof, as Vision and White Vision also join in the battle. Agatha comments on how awkward it must be for Wanda with her ex, and current partner, as she flies away, into the town with Wanda following, before disappearing from her line of sight, causing Wanda to begin searching in the middle of town.
Agatha shoots a beam of energy to Wanda from behind, stating to her that she's never battled with another witch before. She informs her that there's an entire chapter devoted her in the Darkhold, and conjures it, to explain the power she holds as the Scarlet Witch, and how she's destined to destroy the world. Wanda disregards this, as Agatha makes a point to her by proving of all the suffering she's already caused, and unearths the true persona of Dottie Jones.
Agatha watches Wanda being overwhelmed by the citizens, and when she promises to free them, Agatha questions what's stopping her, as she has the power, and heroes don't torture people. Wanda unleashes her magic, and begins lowering the barrier, to which Agatha chuckles to, telling Wanda that now she'll see. As the Hex weakens, Vision and her children begin fading, and Agatha elucidates how her family are tied to the Wanda's reality. Wanda restores the Hex, and runs to her family, before Agatha fires at her, and begins absorbing Wanda's magic. During the short period of time when the barrier was lowered, S.W.O.R.D. were able to infiltrate the town. They drive in, and aim their guns at Agatha, but she telekinetically lifts the personnel in the air, and expresses how women such as her and Wanda will always be hunted, and drops them to the ground.
Agatha throws a ball of energy towards Wanda, while heading in her direction, however, Wanda suddenly disappears, much to Agatha’s confusion. She settles on the roof of a building, observing Wanda's family, when the young witch creeps upon her, from behind, and uses her power to induce a nightmare.
As she's bound, a red crown, made up of magical energy, is conjured onto Wanda's head, and Agatha calls for her power, and in return, she will correct the flaws in Wanda's original spell, allowing her to be at peace with her family. Wanda fires a beam of energy knocking back the witches that held her back, and runs into Agnes, removing the two, from the nightmare. The pair tussle in the air, and head into the clouds. Wanda fires at Agatha, telling her she doesn't want her powers, and Agatha continues to provoke her.
The two move in the sky, and Wanda hits Agatha, various times, but also misses, and hits the barrier. With each blast, Agatha's powers strengthen, and she begins absorbing Wanda's magic, leaving Wanda aged, and seemingly defenseless. Agatha discloses that the deal the pair made has been rescinded, as once cast, a spell can never be changed, leaving her world broken as she prepares to fire at her, and pushes her hands forward, however, nothing happens and in her seconds attempt, nothing changes. Wanda's youth is restored before Agatha, and the runes of a protection spell cast by her are revealed in corners of the town, leaving Agatha powerless. Wanda thanks her for the lessons, and states she doesn't need her to tell her who she is.
Agatha screams in agony, as Wanda absorbs all the magic Agatha took from her, transforming into the Scarlet Witch, before her own eyes. Agatha utters that Wanda doesn't know what she's done, and the pair are lowered to ground level. Agatha lies in defeat, and praises Wanda, before questioning what she plans to do with her. Wanda decides that she will be tied to Westview, under the persona of "Agnes", the nosy neighbor. She pleads with her, and labels her fate cruel. She insists Wanda will need her, as she's unaware of what she's unleashed, but Wanda simply replies that if she does, she'll know where to find her. She touches Agatha's temple as the witch transforms into Agnes. She cheerfully greets Wanda as "hon", and makes a comment on her new uniform. Wanda tells her that she lives in Westview, and no one will ever bother her, and the pair part ways.
Relationships
Ally/Minion
Ralph Bohner
Ralph Bohner is a resident of Westview that is being mind-controlled by Agatha and she always mentions that he is her husband. She characterizes him as dull and uninteresting. In the end, the fake Pietro that was pretending to be Wanda's brother is revealed to be Ralph and he is the real owner of the house that Agatha lives at Westview.
Enemies
Wanda Maximoff
Agnes warms up to Wanda, and the two start to appear to be best friends in the neighbor, walking around town, gossiping, and having a sense of trust between them. Pretending to be among the many residents of Westview that were abducted by Wanda, she pretended to have been under Wanda's control, using a TV alias, obeying Wanda's commands, asking for permission to do certain things, and appears to be in pain when she talks to Vision. Despite this, she later reveals to Wanda that she had been manipulating her and the whole false reality all along. Her motivations is to learn how Wanda created the fantasy reality and then steal her powers for herself.
Powers and Abilities
Powers
- Telekinesis: As a witch, Agnes was able to do various acts of magic within Westview, open and close doors, change clothing, and messing with Wanda and Vision's magic show.
- Mind Manipulation: Like Wanda, she is also able to manipulate people's minds, project images inside their head, and able to control the actions of the neighbors within Westview and ideas.
Abilities
- Expert Tactician: She was able to outsmart and play along with her ploy and act as one of the hostages that were stuck in Westview and under Wanda's control. She played her part and stayed in line as per Wanda's wishes and acted like a normal citizen of Westview.
- Longevity: As revealed in Episode 8, she is revealed to be over 300 years old.
Victims
- Evanora Harkness (mother; drained her life force)
- Salem Coven (drained their life force)
- Sparky (Maximoffs' dog; likely poisoned)
Quotes
| “ | Oh this is going to be a gas! | „ |
| ~ Agnes |
| “ | Who's been messing up everything? It's been Agatha all along! Who's been pulling every evil string? It's been Agatha all along! She's insidious (Ha-ha!), so perfidious. That you haven't even noticed, and the pity is, (the pity is, pity, pity, pity, pity) It's too late to fix anything, Now that everything has gone wrong! Thanks to Agatha (Ha!), naughty Agatha. It's been Agatha all along! |
„ |
| ~ Agatha revealing how she manipulated everything behind the scenes to Wanda in her own theme song. |
| “ | And I killed Sparky too! | „ |
| ~ Agatha's most infamous line at the end of her song, revealing that she killed Billy and Tommy's dog, Sparky, followed with an evil laughter. |
Trivia
- In the comics, Agatha Harkness is a witch who survived the Salem witch trials and watched the fall of Atlantis. She was a foe and mentor to Scarlet Witch.
- Agatha mentions that her supposed marriage anniversary to Ralph is on June 2nd, the first day that the Salem witch trials started in 1692.
- In the comics, Agatha Harkness wasn't always a villain as she mostly plays the role of Wanda Maximoff's mentor and an anti-hero throughout her multiple issues. According to Jac Schaeffer, it was originally planned for Agatha to serve more like a mentor towards Wanda in the show, but the crew realized that making her a proper antagonist would serve the show's structure as they were breaking the episodes.
- There was an extremely popular theory that Agatha's frequently mentioned husband, Ralph, was actually the iconic Marvel villain Mephisto, which was further hinted by the birth of Wanda's children, who are both fragments of Mephisto who dissapear when he did. When asked, Paul Bettany said that answering whether Mephisto would be in the series could get him fired. Despite this, in the end, Ralph is revealed to be the fake Pietro.
- Another theory surrounding Agatha is her pet rabbit, Señor Scratchy, who could possibly be Nicholas Scratch — Agatha's son in the comics. Additionally, her rabbit's name means Mr. Scratch, a common old English nickname for the Devil. "Nick Scratch" and "Jack Scratch" were both pseudonyms of Mephisto.
- Agatha Harkness is Kathryn Hahn's first live-action role in a Marvel production, and the second Marvel role she played. Her first role was as Olivia Octavius/Doctor Octopus in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
- Agatha Harkness is the first main antagonist in the Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, the first Phase Four main antagonist was going to be General Dreykov from Black Widow, the first Phase Four film, which was originally slated to be released prior to WandaVision until the COVID-19 pandemic delayed its release.
External Links
- Agatha Harkness at the Marvel Cinematic Universe wiki
