Agatha All Along has been exciting for three weeks. The show led by Kathryn Hahn has been full of surprises. It started as a spin-off of WandaVision, had a sad moment with Mrs. Hart’s death, and now confirms a couple that fans wanted to see together.
There has been tension between Agatha and Rio, played by Aubrey Plaza, since the beginning. Episode 4 suggests that they were once lovers.
This is a major advancement for Disney’s franchises, especially for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Disney often targets a PG-13 rating, and for some unknown reason, sexual orientation has been a sensitive topic.
Although some films and shows included queer characters, this is the first time the main character identifies as part of the LGBTQIA+ community, and it truly matters to the story.
Disney Productions Have Often Disappointed with Queer Characters
Disney has a history of building up queer characters in their projects but failing to deliver real representation. There are often announcements about queer characters, followed by negative reactions from some viewers who boycott the shows.
Supporters expect to see these characters, but they are often disappointed. For example, in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, there was a promise of a queer character, Commander Larma D’Acy, but her role was very small. She only had a quick kiss with her wife during a celebration.
In animated films, Pixar introduced a non-binary character in Elemental. However, besides using the correct pronouns, the character did not have much impact on the story. The show The Other Two humorously criticized shallow PR strategies that lack depth.
Recently, The Acolyte included queer characters, Mother Aniseya and Mother Koril, who are witches raising two other characters. Although there was good intention, the message got lost in the reaction from toxic fans.
This makes Agatha All Along’s reveal very important because it is not just a PR move. Agatha is the main character who identifies as queer, along with Plaza’s character.
Disney+ Has Previously Focused on Family-Friendly Content
Disney has been cautious about discussing topics like sexuality. For example, the Lizzie McGuire revival faced problems when creator Terri Minsky left the project after filming two episodes. Hilary Duff wanted a grown-up version of Lizzie, but Disney wanted a family-friendly version, and they could not agree.
Another example is Love, Victor, a spin-off of Love, Simon. Although it was set to be a Disney+ original, the show ended up on Hulu because Disney felt the scheme of Victor’s sexual orientation was not family-friendly enough. Disney could have chosen this route with Agatha All Along, but thankfully, they chose to represent queer identities correctly.
Agatha All Along Features Strong Queer Representation
From the first episode, viewers can see the strong connection between Rio and Agatha. At first, it seemed to be just the chemistry between Kathryn Hahn and Aubrey Plaza. However, Agatha’s hesitation to include Rio in the second episode suggested they had a complicated relationship.
In Episode 4, titled “If I Can’t Reach You/Let My Song Teach You,” Rio shares that she once loved someone but hurt them. Agatha quickly leaves after this, indicating deeper feelings.
Later, they embrace with great passion. Although they want to kiss, Rio feels the need to discuss Agatha’s emotional struggles. She makes it clear that Joe Locke’s character is not Agatha’s son. Agatha All Along openly accepts its main characters’ queerness.
The storyline does not just serve side characters or try to trick viewers. If Disney continues this direction, it will be a significant moment for the Marvel franchise.
Having a queer main character is a major step for the MCU and Disney, showing that their universe includes real people with various desires and sexual orientations. Allowing this freedom in storytelling should inspire the rest of Disney’s projects.
Agatha All Along is available to stream on Disney+ in the U.S.
