Kathryn Hahn has proven herself to be an MCU trailblazer thanks to two big new features in Ágatha Everything Together, and I’m seriously impressed. Agatha all the time was extremely well-received after concluding with a two-part final episode in late October. Praise was given to its stellar cast, original narrative, enchanting set design and the beautiful way it handled motifs of trauma and ostracism. For me, it was also a reminder of how engaging Kathryn Hahn is as the titular redeemed villain – and I can’t wait to see even more of her in the future.
It’s safe to say that Hahn stole the show in many scenes, which is logical with it apparently being his solo series. Agatha’s tense relationship with her coven of witches was especially compelling to watch, thanks in large part to the talent the cast shares. Her relationship with Rio Vidal, whose true identity as the MCU’s Lady Death was finally confirmed in Agatha all the time episode 7, was an especially gripping premise in Agatha all the time – and reached its peak with a monumental debut for the MCU in the penultimate episode.
Kathryn Hahn and Aubrey Plaza shared the MCU’s first same-sex kiss
The moment follows some examples of kisses between men of the same sex
Agatha all the time episode 8 was functionally the series finale, with episode 9 acting more as an epilogue to the series. It featured a final confrontation with the series’ big bad, Death himself, as Rio Vidal decided to claim his last soul by force. Although it momentarily appeared that Agatha was happy to sacrifice Billy Maximoff for that purpose, she finally gave in to Death in the most poetic way possible: sharing a kiss.
It may be surprising to know that This is the first time the MCU has depicted a same-sex kiss between women. Even better was the fact that the moment didn’t feel worn out at all, as the sexual tension between Agatha and Rio had been building since episode 1. Although it’s not surprising that this happened Agatha all the timewith the show containing at least three queer main characters dealing with themes like self-acceptance, I find it somewhat shocking that it took 16 years.
Agatha Harkness and Rio Vidal’s relationship was a huge win for diversity in the MCU
Agatha and Rio’s relationship was fundamental to the narrative
It may have taken a while for a lesbian kiss to occur, but I’m not about to suggest that this isn’t a huge step forward for the MCU. Marvel is well-versed in queer representation, with all of the X-Men being an allegory for LGBT+ issues – something the Fox films didn’t shy away from. In turn, the MCU is also home to several queer characters, including Korg, Valkyrie, Loki, Sylvie, and Phastos. Yet, Representations of these characters and their sexualities largely feel like lip service.
Agatha all the timeMeanwhile, it made its queer relationships central to the plot. Agatha and Rio’s centuries-old romance is rooted in the fact that Agatha is so murderous, providing Death himself with a cascade of bodies, while Death gives Agatha special treatment thanks to his affection. The kiss they share at the end of Agatha all the time felt earned and perfectly matched Agatha’s MO, as she may have been”trying“to steal Death’s power – which she established in a previous episode would be guaranteed to kill her.
In Agatha All Along Episode 1, Kathryn Hahn became the first MCU actress with a nude scene
Agatha’s nude scene established her brazen personality
What makes Kathryn Hahn’s co-starring with Aubrey Plaza even better is the fact that she can add him to another MCU first. In the space of the same show, Kathryn Hahn was also the first woman in the MCU to bare it all – that is, within the confines of the standard PG-13 age rating. This occurs in Agatha all the time episode 1, in which she marches naked down a Westview streetjoining a modest list of examples occupied exclusively by male characters.
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Examples of nudity in the MCU |
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|---|---|---|
|
Film |
Character |
Scene |
|
Thor: The Dark World |
Erik Selvig |
Selvig is seen in a news report running naked through Stonehenge with his nether regions blurred. |
|
Thor: Ragnarok |
Hulk |
Hulk climbs out of a hot tub naked, giving Thor a once-over before looking out the window with his ass exposed. |
|
Thor: Love and Thunder |
Thor |
Zeus restrains Thor and “Films” he takes off his clothes, leaving Thor’s ass and tattoo tapestry on display. |
|
Agatha all the time |
Agate |
Agatha leaves the house to question John Collins completely naked. |
In terms of representation, I would say, of course, that the kiss was more important. Still, it shows how pioneering Agatha all the time was, proving that the MCU still has a lot of potential to deliver truly compelling products without being forced to break the bank. Now that Billy Maximoff has been established as what will likely be a central character in the MCU, it seems like the MCU isn’t about to hit the brakes when it comes to representation – which I think is great.