Episode 4 of Agatha All Along introduces some long-awaited character dynamics, especially with Rio Vidal’s (Aubrey Plaza) return, fiery trials, and backstory revelations for Alice (Ali Ahn).
As the coven moves deeper into their quest, Agatha (Kathryn Hahn) finds herself tangled in her own emotional web, straining between the past she shares with Rio and her current responsibilities.
With standout musical moments, tense confrontations, and a mix of humor and heartbreak, this episode lays the groundwork for the next phase of their journey while teasing deeper mysteries. Let’s break it down!
Who is the New Green Witch?
One of the key takeaways from Agatha All Along Episode 4 is the introduction—or reintroduction—of Rio Vidal. It’s safe to say that fans have been eager to see what this wild, flirtatious character would bring to the table, and her arrival doesn’t disappoint. After all, the coven desperately needed a new Green Witch following Sharon’s tragic demise.
The episode begins with a somber yet strangely distant acknowledgment of Sharon’s death. She lost her life during the water trial, and while most of the coven mourns, Agatha seems largely indifferent. This contrast highlights Agatha’s continued isolation from the others, who struggle to understand her coldness.
Of course, Agatha’s nonchalance over Sharon’s death isn’t necessarily malicious. Instead, it reveals more of Agatha’s “big picture” mentality. For her, the trials and challenges they face are dangerous, and casualties are inevitable.
“Come on,” Agatha scoffs at her fellow witches. “You can’t tell me you’ve never wanted one of your group project partners to bite the dust.”
Agatha’s dismissiveness towards Sharon’s death sets the tone for the episode: the Road is brutal, and not everyone will survive. The coven must adapt or face extinction.
Agatha coldly reminds them that the purpose of having the entire coven present was simply to open the Witches’ Road. Now that they’ve made it this far, Sharon’s absence is no longer an issue—at least to Agatha.
However, not everyone is so heartless. Teen, still recovering from the emotional high of finally reaching the Witches’ Road, takes it upon himself to bury Sharon. He gently adorns her grave with flowers, his actions in stark contrast to the petty bickering of the other witches.
Teen’s emotional openness is a recurring theme, making him somewhat of the emotional anchor for the group. His disillusionment with their journey becomes apparent when he admits he no longer wants to be part of the trials—he just wants to go home.
Agatha, upon hearing Teen’s desire to leave, becomes visibly concerned. Though she doesn’t say it outright, the implication is clear: she needs him, and his departure would jeopardize her plans.
The group channels this emotional tension into action, deciding to summon a replacement Green Witch. They are a coven of rule-breakers, so why not summon someone outside the traditional coven rules?
Teen cracks open his spellbook, and they perform a summoning spell with varying wishes for the new Green Witch.
Lilia (Patti LuPone) wants the newcomer to be wise and skilled, Agatha wants someone smart and not too annoying, Jen (Sasheer Zamata) hilariously hopes the witch is “hot,” and Alice simply prays for Advil.
In a fun twist, their summoning ritual succeeds—sort of. What they get is Rio Vidal, who emerges with a cheeky smile, offering Agatha a flower and saying, “Surprise, my lady.” Agatha’s immediate reaction is to lunge at Rio, setting up the kind of tension that suggests a deep and complicated history between these two witches.
The Return of Rio: Agatha’s Old Flame (Literally and Figuratively)
Rio Vidal isn’t just any Green Witch—she’s a problem for Agatha. From the moment Rio arrives, it’s clear that her presence disrupts the fragile balance within the coven.
The witches are unsure whether to be attracted to or terrified of Rio, and frankly, that’s a valid reaction. She’s chaotic, unpredictable, and playful in a way that suggests she’s always two steps ahead of everyone else.
Rio’s behavior throughout the episode oscillates between flirtatious and menacing. She refers to herself not just as a Green Witch but the Green Witch, which hints at a level of power and experience far beyond the coven’s understanding. The other witches aren’t sure if they can trust her, but they decide that the fact Agatha hates Rio is probably a good sign.
For Teen, Rio’s arrival signals a new level of danger. He immediately goes to Agatha, asking if Rio’s presence means more trouble for them. Agatha, ever the world, refuses to answer, choosing instead to disengage.
This moment signals Agatha’s increasing internal struggle—she’s keeping secrets from the group, and her history with Rio is clearly more complicated than she’s willing to admit.
The dynamic between Agatha and Rio is fascinating. Rio spends much of the episode teasing and toying with Agatha, trying to rekindle whatever relationship they once had.
Agatha, however, is having none of it. She resists Rio’s advances at every turn, trying to maintain control, but it’s clear that Rio’s presence rattles her.
At one point, Rio follows Agatha into a control room, revealing that she’s eager to stir up trouble. She tells Agatha she wants to cause some damage and hints that she’s losing patience.
Agatha, irritated, tells Rio that it’s too early for her to start causing chaos. This exchange implies that Agatha is planning something, and Rio’s premature arrival complicates those plans.
The tension between these two witches reaches a peak when Agatha turns on the intercom to let the rest of the coven hear Rio’s true intentions.
Rio casually suggests that Agatha should kill the witches—Agatha would gain their power, and Rio would get their bodies for whatever nefarious purpose she has in mind. The coven, understandably horrified, overhears the conversation, which was precisely Agatha’s plan.
In true Agatha fashion, she performs a dramatic protest, exclaiming, “Hey, that’s my coven you’re talking about! I’m not that kind of witch anymore!” This dramatic outburst, meant to further distance herself from Rio, is classic Agatha—always the performer, always manipulating the situation to her advantage.
But despite her best efforts to deflect Rio’s influence, the truth remains: Rio and Agatha share a complicated, possibly romantic, past. This history will no doubt come back to haunt Agatha in future episodes.
Alice’s Trial: Facing the Fire (Literally)
While Agatha and Rio dominate much of the episode’s intrigue, Alice’s backstory takes center stage during the fire trial.
Up until now, Alice has been a somewhat mysterious character. She’s reserved, keeping her distance from the coven’s more dominant personalities. But in Episode 4, we finally get a views into her tragic past, specifically her relationship with her mother, Lorna (Elizabeth Anweis).
Lilia (Patti LuPone) reminds Alice that her mother could still be somewhere on the Road, but Alice quickly dispels this idea as a myth.
In truth, her mother died in a hotel fire while on tour, leaving Alice with unresolved grief and guilt. Alice reveals that her mother always believed the Witches’ Road could save her, but Alice never bought into that belief—until now.
The fire trial is particularly poignant for Alice because it forces her to confront her deepest fears. When another mysterious house appears, and Alice recognizes it as hers, she knows she can’t escape the trial ahead.
The house, marked with a waxing moon on the door, signifies that they’ve arrived at the fire trial, a terrifying and painful experience for Alice, given her mother’s death.
Once inside, the coven splits up to search for clues, with each member reacting differently to the strange, psychedelic surroundings. Alice, however, is drawn to a photograph of her mother.
This moment reveals that Lorna, her mother, wasn’t just a musician—she was trying to open the Witches’ Road through her concerts. Her fans weren’t just fans; they were part of her coven.
However, this glamorous lifestyle wasn’t without its struggles. Alice remembers how her mother had to sell their belongings to keep a roof over their heads when Alice was a child.
The fire trial forces Alice to confront the reality of her mother’s life—Lorna wasn’t the perfect, untouchable figure Alice once thought she was. She was human, flawed, and trying to survive in a world that demanded more from her than she could give.
As the trial progresses, the coven faces literal flames as burns begin to appear on their shoulders. Agatha accuses Alice of bringing a curse upon them, and Alice finally breaks down.
She reveals that the mark on her shoulder wasn’t a birthmark, as she had always believed—it was a generational curse passed down from her mother. Lorna had the same mark, and she spent her life trying to protect Alice from the curse.
In a powerful moment, Alice realizes that her mother’s version of The Ballad of the Witches’ Road wasn’t just a song—it was a protection spell.
Lorna created the song to ensure that somewhere, someone would always be playing it, keeping Alice safe from the curse.
The Power of Music: Breaking the Curse
The climax of the fire trial comes when the only way to survive the flames is by playing Lorna’s ballad together. Each member of the coven grabs an instrument, and together they play, even as the fire rages around them.
Alice, now fully embracing her mother’s legacy, sings with all her might, confronting the curse head-on.
As Alice sings, the curse manifests as a terrifying winged creature. Though the creature sets Alice on fire, she doesn’t falter. In a triumphant moment, Alice expels the curse, proving that she has the strength to face both her past and her future.
Their victory is short-lived, however, when Teen is thrown through a wall, seriously injured. Agatha’s desperation to save him leads to a tense moment where Rio steps in, offering a healing potion. Miraculously, Teen recovers, but Agatha’s suspicious look at Rio suggests that there’s more to this healing than meets the eye.
What’s Next for the Coven?
The episode ends with the witches gathered around a campfire, reflecting on their experiences.
Jen shares a story about losing her power after being tricked, and Alice opens up about her complicated feelings towards her mother. Lilia offers words of comfort, reminding Alice that sadness is better than anger.
Agatha, always one to keep her emotions hidden, shares a funny story about a knitting needle injury, lightening the mood.
But the emotional weight of the episode lingers, especially as Rio reminds Agatha that the boy—Teen—isn’t hers, leaving the coven with more questions than answers.
Episode 4 of Agatha All Along masterfully blends humor, drama, and high-stakes magic. With Rio’s chaotic energy now in the mix, Alice’s heartbreaking confrontation with her past, and Agatha’s increasingly murky motives, the show continues to deliver complex character arcs and thrilling plot twists.
The fiery trials may be over for now, but the emotional and magical challenges are only just beginning. Fans will no doubt be eagerly anticipating what comes next as the coven’s journey down the Witches’ Road grows darker and more dangerous.
