Photo credit: www.dexerto.com
The finale of Agatha All Along provided closure to various plot threads, yet it left unanswered the intriguing mystery of Agatha Harkness’s acquisition of the Darkhold, an artifact known for its insidious power. (Spoilers are ahead!)
Agatha’s journey depicted a blend of tragedy and hope, culminating in poignant moments as we glimpsed her son Nicholas and witnessed Billy’s ongoing quest for Tommy. Yet, the series stopped short of explicitly revealing how Agatha came to possess the Darkhold, a source of formidable dark magic that has captivated fans’ imaginations.
While the show refrained from providing a definitive answer, it offered several clues that could hint at the source of this powerful tome.
The Darkhold’s Origin Remains Unexplained in the MCU
Neither WandaVision nor Agatha All Along clarified how Agatha attained the Darkhold, preserving the mystery around its possession.
To summarize, the Darkhold made its debut in WandaVision, where Agatha utilized its powers to manipulate and deflect Wanda’s abilities. Eventually, Wanda managed to steal it, and a post-credits scene from the series depicted her deeply engrossed in its secrets.
In Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Wanda exploited the book to explore the multiverse in hopes of finding her children, Billy and Tommy. This arc culminated in a revelation of her darker nature, leading to the destruction of all Darkhold variants, resulting in her own demise.
Related:
New Featurette Sheds Light on Upcoming Episodes of Agatha: Darkhold Diaries
The Darkhold made a return in Agatha All Along, illustrated vividly during a haunting vision experienced by Agatha. The sight of the Darkhold replacing a baby’s crib led to speculation that she sacrificed her son Nicholas for the book, presenting her as a manipulative individual. However, subsequent revelations clarified that this assumption was false, as her son was taken by Death (Rio) before childbirth.
While the series did not provide clarity on how she obtained the Darkhold, fan theories propose that Nicholas may have played a pivotal role in its acquisition, complicating Agatha’s moral ambiguity.
Exploring Theories Regarding the Darkhold
One prominent theory posits that Agatha may have made a deal to acquire the Darkhold in exchange for her firstborn child, only to reconsider her decision upon becoming pregnant.
Nevertheless, other explanations may emerge in future narratives. If there is a connection to be revealed within Agatha All Along, it likely involves Nicholas Scratch.
Despite the disproved speculation about Agatha exchanging her son for the Darkhold—her desire to protect Nicholas was unwavering—she might have initially made a bargain.
There is a suggestion that Agatha could have struck a deal with Death (or another entity) to trade her firstborn’s life in exchange for the Darkhold. However, once she became a mother, her maternal instincts may have compelled her to keep her child.
Consequently, when Death arrived during childbirth, she implored for more time, ultimately leading to a delayed reckoning when Death returned to collect Nicholas six years later.
Should Agatha have struck a deal before childbirth, it might clarify why Nicholas was claimed when he was.
Support for this theory is strong among fans. A user on Reddit suggested, “I assumed she made a deal well before her son was born that her firstborn’s life would be forfeit in exchange for the Darkhold. So Rio was just showing up to collect a debt.”
Another user echoed this sentiment, theorizing, “Guessing she made the deal with Death before or during pregnancy, regretted it during childbirth which made her plead with Death not to take him.” This implies that after Nicholas’s death, Agatha could have obtained the Darkhold as part of that earlier transaction.
Conversely, there are theories suggesting Agatha may have acquired the Darkhold post-Nicholas’s death, possibly as a means of resurrecting him or avoiding a confrontation with him in the afterlife.
Such pursuits resonate with her deepest fears, motivating her to seek out the Darkhold’s power—a means of vengeance or an effort to process her grief.
The challenge with these theories remains that the acquisition of the Darkhold has yet to be visually represented in either Agatha All Along or WandaVision, leaving the MCU’s depiction of its origins open to speculation.
Should Scarlet Witch receive a standalone feature film, audiences may finally uncover the full story behind Agatha’s connection to the Darkhold.
For additional insights, explore our analyses regarding the dynamic between Agatha Harkness and Rio, touted as a highlight of the finale, and discuss why Agatha All Along may have successfully concluded without a post-credits sequence.
Source
www.dexerto.com