2. Agatha All Along
When Agatha All Along was first announced, Marvel fans were either pleasantly surprised or totally confused. On one hand, it made perfect sense; Kathryn Hahn earned an Emmy nomination for her awesome performance as Agatha Harkness / Agnes the neighbor in WandaVision, so it was a no-brainer to give her her own vehicle. On the other, there were fears that it came too long after WandaVision (and, you know, Agatha was trapped in a spell that made her Agnes again). So yeah, there was a lot to live up to.
To say that the show surpassed expectations would be a major understatement. Designed both for television and the spooky season, Agatha not only felt timely, it felt like it had a purpose - which is something that the MCU shows had struggled with in the past. This wasn't a six-part movie that struggled with flow and featured a questionable color palette; it was a genuinely entertaining TV show that worked so very well because, like WandaVision, it respected the TV medium.
Kathryn Hahn is a force in the leading role, reminding all of us why we fell in love with Agatha Harkness in the first place. And she's surrounded by such talent, whether it's the formidable Patti LuPone, Debra Jo Rupp, Aubrey Plaza, Sasheer Zamata Ali Ahn or Heartstopper's Joe Locke, who all work so well together, proving to be one of the strongest ensemble casts in recent memory.
Whether it's the haunting performance of The Ballad of the Witches' Road, the practical effects, the stunning sets, or the constant sense of mystery about it, Agatha All Along was an exhilarating experience to be part of that exceeded all expectations. It was, is, and always will be magic.