Disney‘s 9-episode fantasy drama was more of a meme before it fully materialized into a successful full-fledged series. It followed a miniseries format and only lasted for a season, but managed to prove that even some of the most unlikely concepts can be turned into compelling shows with the right creative vision.

Filmmakers and showrunners draw inspiration from a wide set of sources. While some use their own life experiences to come up with intriguing ideas, others heavily draw from other forms of media. However, it is rare to see a show that originates as an internet joke or an offhand concept evolve into a fully realized narrative.

Owing to this, one Disney fantasy show is a rare drama that found its origins in a viral internet moment before it became a small-screen hit and a worthy addition to a massive franchise.

The “Agatha All Along” Memes From WandaVision Made A Spinoff Inevitable

Agatha Harkness has been a part of Marvel’s lore for a very long time. However, her standalone show, Agatha All Along, would probably not have seen the light of day if it wasn’t for a viral internet phenomenon. In 2021, the Disney+ series WandaVision featured a reveal song titled “Agatha All Along,” which eventually gained immense virality and even hit #1 on the iTunes Soundtrack chart before winning an Emmy.

As both the show and track gained more traction, the “Agatha All Along” phrase and Kathryn Hahn’s “winking” face became a ubiquitous meme. It turned into a perfect template to explain away any plot twist or mistake in pop culture.

Before WandaVision happened, Agatha Harkness was supposed to be nothing but a one-off character in the series. However, the virality of the meme set a chain reaction of events that led to the creation of Disney’s Agatha All Along. As the fan obsession with the character grew more and more with each new meme, Marvel could not help but greenlight her own spin-off.

Interestingly, Marvel initially shied away from directly riffing on the meme’s popularity. Owing to this, several alternate titles, like “House of Harkness” and “Coven of Chaos,” were given to the show. However, the studio ultimately settled on Agatha All Along, directly referencing the song and the meme that triggered the show’s development.

The fact that the show primarily happened because of its titular character’s unexpected internet fame made it hard not to be a little skeptical about its long-term viability and overall creative merit. After Marvel kept changing its title, its identity and place in the overarching MCU became even more confusing and doubtful.

However, despite all the uncertainty surrounding what it was trying to be, Agatha All Along surprisingly proved to be a promising addition to the superhero franchise.

Agatha All Along Was A Surprisingly Great Addition To The MCU

The growing superhero fatigue in audiences has primarily been attributed to the MCU’s focus on way too many side characters in recent years. Owing to this, Agatha All Along also seemed like a risky addition to the studio’s massive superhero catalog. However, the show still managed to thrive by ensuring that, instead of coming off as a filler series, it etched its own identity in the overarching franchise.

While Kathryn Hahn’s performance alone was enough to keep most viewers hooked throughout the show’s runtime, the show’s roster also included several other talented leads, including Patti LuPone, Aubrey Plaza, and Joe Locke.

Surprisingly, unlike most additions to the MCU, Agatha All Along did not even try to deliver a high-stakes drama. This itself worked wonders for the show because it gave it a more lighthearted appeal and made it seem like a distinct addition to the franchise that wasn’t trying too hard to set up more follow-ups.

The show also displayed immense self-awareness, realizing that it originated from a viral internet meme. Instead of taking itself too seriously, the Disney series embraced “campiness” with its fun horror homages and background scores. Agatha All Along also has moments of genuine horror that perfectly balance its non-serious elements, making it one of the better small screen additions to the MCU.