Back to the 70s…

This is the tightest episode yet as well as the most cheesy (the line ‘play it like a real witch’ is peak cheese but also disastrously paired with the most middle brow rock you could imagine).

I don’t mind cheese. It’s part of the schtick here and it works in the camp horror setting and, as the show attempts to deliver a plot best described as a 1970s rock album cover come to life, complete with winged female demon spewing fire off to the side, it’s nothing short of flawed glory.

The return of Aubrey Plaza is a bit of a nothing except for a single moment that, honestly, justifies the price of entry (I won’t spoil it here).

The show is clearer about being an ensemble by this point, the writing more at ease with itself about this choice. Agatha is just another member of the coven. I remain a little frustrated by this because it remains unclear why she acts the way she does – especially in contrast to WandaVision where she was a complete badass.

Here she’s more pantomime dame with moments of seriousness. In the right place a Dame is great. I think it’s a disservice to Agatha Harkness and the talent of Katherine Hahn. Other opinions are surely available.

The dynamic between the characters is great, they have their archetype roles to play without being too one dimensional. Having said that, they are squeezed in so carefully that the few great individual lines of dialogue are necessarily moved on from too quickly.

To this point it’s been pretty formulaic. We are promised a challenge per member of the coven. We have hints of previous problems and challenges, histories and disasters and have some signposting towards the final showdown.

I think it may surprise us yet. I hope it may surprise it yet. The writing is aware enough to not rest on its laurels.

Verdict: In summary, I continue to enjoy it but it’s in danger of being the kind of show best described as ‘background television’.

Rating? 7 rock ballards out of 10

Stewart Hotston