Agatha All Along episode 8 recap and ending explained: Is SPOILER really dead?

Our journey down the Witches’ Road is quickly coming to a close and we inch one step closer to the end in the penultimate episode of Agatha All Along, which dropped the same night as the finale giving fans a super-sized finale event. 

Heading into the final two episodes of the season, Agatha’s makeshift coven is hanging on by a thread having just lost yet another member in episode 7 when Lilia sacrificed herself after completing her trial on the road. The episode was a masterclass in acting from Patti LuPone, whose character gave her own life in order to take out the Salem Seven – or at least five members of the Salem 7 as evident in the five bodies hitting the ceiling after Lilia flipped the Tower Reversed card from her trial sending the members of the Salem 7 falling to their deaths and buying Agatha, Billy and Jen time to complete their journey on the road. 

Lilia died a hero’s death and while we’re still mourning her loss, the rest of the coven must carry on and they do so with the arrival of the final trial in the Witches’ Road. 

With that in mind, let's dive into episode 8 and recap, review, and explain all of the major things that went down on the Marvel Cinematic Universe's version of the Witches' Road this week. As always, be aware that there are some MAJOR SPOILERS in this article.

Episode 8 confirms the deaths of Alice, Lilia and the Salem Seven

Surprisingly, episode 8 opens by taking us back to the third trial as Rio aka Death comes to claim Alice’s soul following her death at the hands of Agatha in episode 5. Alice is understandably shocked that her life has come to an end, feeling robbed after having just broken the curse and embraced her powers but Death waits for no one and escorts her through a doorway, presumably the beyond. 

It’s then that we return to where we left off in episode 7, with Jen realizing that Lilia has left behind as the door to the previous trial closes for good. 

Rio then appears back on the road where she confirms that Alice, Lilia, and the Salem 7 are all dead. She then confronts Agatha about keeping Billy’s secret, calling him an abomination and disruption to the sacred balance. Agatha tries to put up her usual walls, brushing off Rio’s not-so-subtle hints about the bond Agatha has built with Billy and the protective nature she’s displayed. It’s then that we peel the layers back a bit as Rio hints that no one has gotten special treatment like Agatha has, to which Agatha says Rio gave her nothing. 

Rio hints that Agatha is letting people believe something that’s not true about Agatha’s son Nicky, and it becomes clear there is something more to the story we’ve been told. 

Reeling from Lilia’s death, Jen and Billy piece it together that Rio is, in fact, Death as Billy races off to find Agatha. 

Rio informs Agatha that what Billy wants from the road is a violation, telling Agatha that Billy’s brother isn’t out there – at least not at the moment. Rio makes it clear that she cannot allow Billy to claim a second life in order to save his brother and that she must take him. So why hasn’t she? 

As Agatha deduces, Death can’t take Billy as he’d just reincarnate himself again and the only way she can claim him is if he turns himself into her. Surprisingly, Agatha agrees to get Billy to the finish line and deliver him to Rio in exchange for Rio letting her go. No more pursuing her, no more making her life hell, and when she finally does die she doesn’t want to see Rio’s face. 

Rio accepts the terms of the deal and tips a literal hole through time to sleek off, just as Billy and Jen make their way back to the road to find Agatha, who is ready to finish their journey on the road. 

The final trial is not what we expected

Much to the group’s surprise, their path leads them back to the beginning of the road which sends Agatha into a spiral as it seems they’ve gone in a literal circle. As the group sees their shoes sitting on the road, a frustrated Billy says they took the shoes off out of respect for the road but Billy has had enough. He slides back into his shoes which is when he’s transported to into what appears to be the final trial courtesy of a body bag. 

He’s then joined by Agatha and Jen, who are transported to the trial space which is apparently a growing room but looks like a futuristic morgue.

As the trial begins, we discover that it was actually Agatha who cast the binding spell against Jen which left her without her powers. Upon realizing Agatha was the one who bound her, Jen uses an unbinding ritual that allows her to regain her powers. With her powers restored, the road gives her what she was missing and Jen disappears from the room leaving just Agatha and Billy. 

With time ticking down, Agatha instructs Billy to sit down so that they can find his brother. She informs Billy that Tommy is out there but doesn’t have a body, telling him that this is what has Rio in a tizzy: knowing that Billy can give Tommy another life. The only problem is Billy doesn’t know how. 

Agatha instructs Billy to tell her the last moment he remembers with Tommy. He recalls falling asleep with Billy as everything begins to go quiet – the moment that Wanda pulled back her spell in the WandaVision finale. With Agatha’s help, Billy sees a young boy who is drowning from a prank. Billy calls out with guilt that he’s killing this boy to save his brother as a crack forms in the room and Billy suddenly disappears from the room – hinting that he was successful in finding his brother. 

Agatha All Along episode 8 ending explained: Is Agatha dead?

Now alone in the room, Agatha sits as the timer on the trial ticks down. She opens her locket and pulls out the hair belonging to her son, which is when she finds a dandelion seedling. Agatha plants the seedling and much to her surprise a flower blooms, but her relief is shortlived as the room around her quickly begins caving in. 

Agatha emerges from the road back to her home in Westview where Rio is waiting for her after Rio failed to live up to her side of their deal in delivering Billy to her. Just as it looks like all hope is lost for Agatha, Billy arrives in all his glory as Wiccan to help save Agatha from Rio by using his magic to help restore Agatha to her former glory.

The pair team up to try to defeat death, but they realize that it’s a losing battle and the only way to win is for one of them to give in. They share a sweet moment and it seems like Agatha is going to give herself up to save Billy which is when Billy tells Rio he’ll go with her. Much to his surprise, Agatha seems to walk away telling him she’s a coven-less witch which is when he then uses his abilities to speak to Agatha using his mind asking if this is how Nicky died. 

The question triggers something within Agatha as she turns around and passionately kisses Rio, a kiss that quite literally appears to be the kiss of death as Agatha withers away to nothing before Billy’s eyes, her body disintegrating to give way to a beautiful patch of wildflowers. All that is left behind of her is her locket, which Billy takes as Rio tells him he’s free to go. 

Billy makes his way to his car and drives back home, where his parents are in a panic as it seems he’s been missing for 24 hours. As Billy cleans himself up, he’s quite literally surrounded by reminders of those he lost along the way within in room that is full of witchy memorabilia… memorabilia that all ties back to the Witches’ Road, which is when Billy realizes it was all his doing, hinting that he was the one responsible for manigesting the Witches’ Road.

As he comes to this realization, he hears Agatha’s laugh and turns around as a figure yells “Boo” and the episode closes.

Was the Witches' Road all in Billy's mind similar to how Westview was a picture perfect town conjured up by his mother, the Scarlet Witch? And does this mean Agatha isn't truly dead after all? Episode 8 defintely leaves audiences with a lot to process as they head right into the final episode of the season but it's clear a version of Agatha did perish in episode 8 -- it's just a death that isn't likely to stick.

Agatha All Along is streaming on Disney+ now!