As a longtime Marvel enthusiast, I must say that the upcoming finale of Agatha All Along has me absolutely thrilled! The prospect of witnessing the climactic face-off between Agatha Harkness and her beloved, Rio/Death, is nothing short of electrifying. If Aubrey Plaza’s portrayal of Death is anything like her brilliant performance as Parks and Recreation’s Leslie Knope, it will undoubtedly be a sight to behold!
This article contains MAJOR SPOILERS for Agatha All Along
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- Death in the Marvel Cinematic Universe So Far
- Death’s Future Role in the MCU
In Episode 7 of Agatha All Along, titled “Death’s Hand in Mine,” another major character identity twist was unveiled. Previously confirmed that Joe Locke plays Billy Maximoff/Wiccan, this episode revealed Aubrey Plaza’s character, Rio Vadal, is none other than the embodiment of Death from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This connection has been subtly hinted since the series premiere, as Agatha warned that draining Rio’s powers could be fatal, and in the fifth episode, Rio chuckled when the Quiji board mentioned they were speaking to Death. Many viewers were taken aback by this revelation, as Death is a significant character in Marvel Comics.
Death as a concept has existed since the beginning of time, but the personification of Death in Marvel Comics, often called Lady Death or Mistress Death, debuted in Captain Marvel #26 in June 1973 and was created by Mike Friedrich and Jim Starlin. Her presence in the MCU is now interesting as the character is commonly associated with Thanos. In the MCU, Thanos was motivated to wipe out half of all life in the universe to bring balance to the cosmos and, in his mind, save the universe from destruction. His comic book counterpart wiped out half of his life to impress Death, with whom Thanos was in love, yet Death never shared these feelings for him. Yes, the comic book Thanos was a simp for Death.
Despite Thanos no longer being the central figure, Death’s influence might significantly shape the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This could potentially impact characters like Agatha Harkness, Deadpool, and Doctor Doom in substantial ways.
Death in the Marvel Cinematic Universe So Far
As a fan following the Marvel Cinematic Universe, I must say that Agatha All Along was indeed the first time we saw Death physically manifest on screen in the MCU. However, hints and allusions to this character have been subtly woven into the franchise long before this. For instance, depictions of Death reminiscent of her Marvel Comics persona can be spotted on temple walls when Star-Lord discovers the Power Stone in Guardians of the Galaxy. Moreover, a statue of her was unveiled during the climax of Thor: Love and Thunder. Thus, even though Death has long been an abstract concept, she has now officially made her debut in the MCU.
From a passionate cinephile’s perspective, it’s fascinating to observe how death, a universal concept, has been portrayed within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Unlike their comic book counterparts, who often return from the dead, the MCU maintains a strict rule: when a character dies, they don’t come back. Tony Stark, Black Widow, Loki, Gamora, T’Challa, Yondu, and Quicksilver are all characters who met their end and have remained deceased. The only exception is when a character from another universe crosses over, but this isn’t a resurrection in the traditional sense. As illustrated in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, the new Gamora is not the same as the one who perished in Avengers: Infinity War. Until now, death has been an immutable part of the MCU, but it seems that this rule might be challenged in the future.
The scene in WandaVision where Tommy Maximoff suggests that Wanda can “undo death” after Sparky’s demise leaves audiences intrigued, especially considering Agatha Harkness’s reaction indicates her surprise. Now that we know about the romantic past between Agatha and Death, this scene seems to foreshadow the full potential of Scarlet Witch’s abilities.
Death’s Future Role in the MCU
It appears that the storyline of Agatha All Along will culminate in a dramatic confrontation between Agatha Harkness and her ex-lover, Rio/Death. The series may conclude with Agatha Harkness making the ultimate sacrifice to protect Billy Maximoff, which aligns thematically as she sacrifices herself for the son of her longtime enemy, the Scarlet Witch. This act could also be seen as a form of redemption, considering Billy could serve as a substitute for the child she lost. Given Agatha’s romantic past with Death, their reunion could symbolize a bittersweet ending, allowing them to depart together into the sunset. The selection of Aubrey Plaza to portray Death has been widely praised by fans and is undoubtedly an excellent choice.
As a movie enthusiast, let me express that it would be a regrettable omission not to witness more of her on-screen exploits again. Marvel Studios’ knack for storytelling suggests they’ll find ways to reintroduce her, given the versatility she brings to various Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) narratives – from cosmic tales to supernatural adventures to multiverse explorations.
In the upcoming Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) Avengers films like Doomsday and Secret Wars, Death could have a significant role to play. The multiverse collisions depicted in Jonathan Hickman’s “Time Runs Out” storyline might lead to Death being extremely active due to numerous lives being lost. A well-known quote from Hickman’s New Avengers and Secret Wars run is, “everything dies,” echoing the sentiment expressed in Agatha All Along, “all roads lead to me.” This suggests that Death could be central to Avengers: Secret Wars, as it marks the end of the MCU’s Multiverse Saga and may signal the end of the current MCU before a soft reboot. In essence, Death might effectively ‘kill off’ the MCU, only for it to potentially be reborn, completing the narrative circle with the powers of the Scarlet Witch.
In a similar vein, Death in the MCU can be compared to the character Adam Warlock, as both have significant ties to Thanos. Now that Thanos has been defeated, the Marvel Cinematic Universe offers an opportunity to develop these characters further, much like how James Gunn skillfully set up Adam Warlock for expansion beyond Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 and Agatha All Along. This demonstrates the power of adaptation.
Thanos didn’t rely on Death as his driving force to be an intriguing character, and it’s interesting that the comics never portrayed them as former lovers like Agatha Harkness in the MCU. This unique twist adds depth to both characters. Fingers crossed for Aubrey Plaza’s Death to interact with Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool), Robert Downey Jr. (Doctor Doom), Elizabeth Olsen (Scarlet Witch), and potentially others on screen someday. By the way, don’t forget to catch “Agatha All Along” on Disney+!
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2024-10-26 05:31