REVIEW: ‘Agatha All Along’ Episode 6 — “Familiar By Thy Side”

Teen’s backstory—now known as Billy Maximoff (Joe Locke)—unveils itself in the moving but glacially paced Agatha All Along Episode 6. While Episode 5 rushed the story until its shocking finish, Episode 6 takes the opposite route. Following the major cliffhanger, the story pivots to reveal the story from Teen’s perspective as we dip back into his life as William Kaplan, a teenager from Eastview. How the story unfolds connects Teen with the rest of the characters, all of whom, in their own way, help set him forth on his path to meeting Agatha.

One of the best parts of Agatha All Along Episode 6 is how it redefines what we think we know about Teen—and not just in regards to his backstory. So far, the version of him we’ve seen has been largely cheerful and optimistic. However, now we know the paths he’s walked have been ones with more significant tensions and resilience as he determines to learn the truth.

We learn through a flashback of Teen’s origins, first meeting him as he’s celebrating his Bar Mitzvah as William. During the celebration—shot beautifully—he speaks with Lilia (Patti LuPone), who is performing as a fortune teller at the event. In the first significant reveal, we learn that Lilia is the one who cast the sigil on Teen. This adds another layer to the many relationships in the series, with Lilia seeing a future from which he needs to be protected. Lilia, however, is just the first of the coven he meets.

Episode 6 wonderfully captures what the outside of Wanda’s hex would look like and the chaos it causes, even to those not under its spell. The party ends due to the hex beginning to fall, and the direction by Gandja Monteiro casts a post-apocalyptic energy as William and his parents race home. The glowing orb in the background is formidable—a reminder of Wanda’s immense power, the orchestrated story rumbling through the car’s radio. In a moment of tragedy, however, their car crashes, and William dies. However, as he dies, Billy Maximoff’s soul enters William’s body, and he wakes up. It’s also interesting that Alice is the responding officer, further tethering this coven’s future meeting.

This origin keeps Billy’s story anchored in tragedy for multiple reasons. There’s the fact that his family is scattered, his parents presumably dead and his brother missing. But there’s also the fact that William’s parents don’t realize that their son is dead. Billy can’t remember anything from William’s life before the accident, causing a bizarre intersection of two lives. This is compounded by the fact that he can suddenly read minds. William’s parents are none the wiser, however, as he pretends to regain his memories so as not to cause them any more pain.

And Billy’s life isn’t without happiness. We move three years into the future, and he now has a boyfriend who gladly accompanies him on missions while he tries to investigate his past. One leads them to Ralph Bohner (Evan Peters) from WandaVision. Once controlled by Agatha while inside Wanda’s hex, Ralph unlocks something crucial for Billy. He mentions Wanda’s kids, Billy and Tommy, and suddenly, Billy realizes who he is. With determination, he heads to Agatha to use the Witches’ Road to find his brother.

Agatha All Along Episode 6 has a lot of fun letting Kathryn Hahn play up the comedy as we see Agatha through Billy’s eyes during their first meeting. Her delusions of being a detective are exaggerated as she sprawls and utilizes props to heighten the humor. It’s all deliberately broad to fit the character and Hahn’s performance.

That broad expanse of performance extends to the dramatic as well. The biggest issue with Agatha All Along Episode 6 is that, no matter how necessary the backstory is, it runs way too long—so much so that it momentarily derails the story’s momentum. The pacing resolves itself once we’re back in the present, with Agatha clawing her way out of the mud trap.

Hahn and Locke work wonderfully together, with so much tension bouncing between them in their exchange. Agatha pieces it together with the sigil destroyed, though she admits to having guessed his true identity since the start due to a certain tell. What is wonderful about the scene is how much is conveyed without being spelled out. Hahn, in particular, delivers a layered performance. She has a discerning amount of sincerity in her tone when she tells him how good it is to see him again. We believe her. And while Billy is still, rightfully, distrustful of Agatha, it seems likely he’ll come to rely on her as they continue the Witches Road. Especially as he continues to master his power.

Agatha All Along Episode 6 delivers significant reveals as we learn more about Teen’s life before he met Agatha. With subtle, moving performances and exciting lore, it sets the stage for even greater, more emotional interactions between two characters holding each other at arm’s length.

Agatha All Along Episode 6 is out now on Disney+.