WARNING: This article includes SPOILERS from Agatha All Along, episode 7.With Lady Death officially part of theMarvel Cinematic Universe, theAgatha All Alongshowrunner shares how they reinvented the character for the Disney+ series.The MCU timelineis known for bringing in major Marvel Comics characters, but with a big twist in many instances. With Agatha All Along getting closer to finishing its run, the Phase 5 show dropped a crucial reveal to the audience as Aubrey Plaza’s Rio Vidal is none other than Lady Death.
Screen Rantrecently interviewed Jac Schaeffer leading up to the two-partAgatha All Alongfinale, and one of the big topics that was addressed was Lady Death’s MCU reveal in episode 7.When asked about the decision to turn Death into the original Green Witch and have her serve a similar role to Shiva as both a destroyer and a creator, Schaeffer went into depth about how they wanted to reinvent her forAgatha All Along, sharing the following:
Jac Schaeffer: Yes, Andy, you’re speaking my language. You understand our show! I love that. When we came up with the idea of incorporating Lady Death into the show, we did want to make her our own, and we were already playing in this pool of witches. What does it mean to be a witch? Thinking about ritual creation, the divine feminine of the witchcraft space, and so thinking of Lady Death as not being just about death, not just being about really destruction at all, that she is about the Twin Flames of birth and death. That it’s really sort of the natural cycle of growth and decay. That felt so right for this idea of the original Green Witch. I don’t know if you just looked at her costume and intuited that, but you’re on the right track! [laughs]
What Jac Schaeffer’s Lady Death Comments Mean
Given the large lore that comes withLady Death in Marvel Comics, bringing her into the MCU was always going to be a crucial point. In the case ofAgatha All Along,Schaeffer makes it clear that they wanted to find a natural way to bring Lady Death into the story, but also tie it into the concept of witches. From all the name-drops and Easter eggs to Lady Death in previous MCU projects, this is a unique way to utilize her.
WiththeAgatha All Along, episode 7 ending, the MCU has added new stakes to the franchise through Lady Death now being a proper active player.Despite her name, it’s clear from Schaeffer’s explanation thatAgatha All Alongwanted to give Lady Death more meaning, rather than simply only depict her in a very black-and-white way. This also allows Lady Death to be a complex figure that other MCU properties can explore down the line.
Our Take On Jac Schaeffer’s Lady Death Comments
Ever since Schaeffer boarded the MCU withWandaVision,one of the fun elements she has elevated in the franchise is the element of surprises with characters that fans expect to see but are still finding ways to defy their expectations. FollowingAgatha All Along, episode 7will be fascinating to see how Lady Death gets utilized beyond this series, as 2024 will most definitely not be the final time the MCU audience sees her in action. Hopefully, the finalAgatha All Alongepisodes will clarify what is next for Plaza’s character.
Agatha All Alongepisodes 8 and 9, will be released on Wednesday, October 30, at 9 pm ET, only on Disney+.
Agatha All Along
Cast
Agatha Harkness, after the events of “WandaVision,” seeks to regain her magical powers. Joining forces with unexpected allies, including the son of an old adversary, she battles new mystical threats while uncovering hidden secrets in the magical realm.
