The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has continued its expansion into television, with Agatha All Along being one of the latest additions to its rich tapestry. This WandaVision spin-off centers on the dark and mysterious Agatha Harkness, a character who quickly became a fan favorite.
Episode 6 of Agatha All Along, titled Familiar by Thy Side, delivered an emotional rollercoaster for fans, especially with the introduction of Patti LuPone’s character, Lilia Calderu, a divination witch whose abilities and sacrifices have become integral to the plot.
Broadway legend LuPone brings depth to Lilia Calderu, a witch with dark magic ties and tragic foresight that propel much of the story. As the series progresses, Lilia’s role becomes crucial to the fate of the witches and Agatha Harkness’s coven.
The character’s mysterious actions and her connection to pivotal events in the series make her an essential figure in Agatha All Along.
Patti LuPone's role in Agatha All Along explored
In Agatha All Along, Patti LuPone plays the enigmatic Lilia Calderu, a Romani witch with powerful divination abilities. Her character’s abilities are not just about seeing into the future; she plays a crucial role in shaping it.
Episode 6 reveals that it was Lilia who placed the identity-masking spell on Billy Kaplan (played by Joe Locke), an act that was driven by her foresight of his untimely death in a car accident. This spell masked Billy Kaplan’s true identity and allowed the spirit of Wanda Maximoff’s son, Billy Maximoff, to inhabit his body.
Lilia Calderu’s spellcasting is particularly tragic, as she doesn't remember performing the ritual due to the sigil's side effects. LuPone brings a haunting fragility to the character, portraying a powerful witch slowly coming to terms with sacrifices needed to protect those around her.
In an October 23, 2024, interview with Entertainment Weekly, LuPone humorously noted she even forgot about Lilia’s spell, just like her character. Lilia’s role is one of mystery, memory loss, and self-sacrifice, adding emotional depth to the dark world of Agatha All Along.
Who is Lilia Calderu in Agatha All Along?
Lilia Calderu is more than just a side character in Agatha All Along, she is a central figure in the unfolding story of the witches’ coven. As the Witch-Queen of the Romani people, Lilia is both a protector of her heritage and a powerful mage.
She holds the ancient Book of Cagliostro, a mystical tome filled with arcane knowledge, which makes her a target for both allies and enemies alike.
Lilia comes from a long line of powerful Romani witches, inheriting her role as queen from her mother. Her lineage is steeped in history, tracing back to Nikolai, the first Baron of Mordo, and his mistress Miarka. This connection also makes Lilia a distant relative of Karl Mordo, also known as Baron Mordo, one of Doctor Strange’s greatest adversaries.
Her past is laced with betrayal, particularly at the hands of Mordo, who seduced her to gain access to the Book of Cagliostro. Mordo’s treachery left Lilia for dead, though she survived and bore his child, Astrid Mordo.
As Witch Queen and guardian of the Book of Cagliostro, Lilia Calderu’s life is shaped by immense responsibility. Her powers go beyond spellcasting—she can control minds, even manipulating powerful sorcerers like Doctor Strange. In the comics, Lilia once wore the Serpent Crown, a mystical artifact that significantly boosted her abilities but also heightened her paranoia and instability.
In Agatha All Along, Lilia's tragic arc comes to a head as she slowly realizes her own premonitions about the Witches' Road and her role in saving the coven. In Episode 7, Death’s Hand in Mine, viewers watch Lilia grapple with the weight of her destiny, knowing she will need to sacrifice herself for the greater good.
In the comics, Lilia’s hatred for magicians like Mordo is palpable, and it deeply informs her decisions. Despite her reservations about magic and those who wield it, Lilia joins a coven of powerful witches, including Margali Szardos and Maria Russoff, to guide and protect a young Wanda Maximoff.
Lilia is also tasked with preparing Wanda for her mystical destiny, even if that means staying in the shadows and sacrificing her own desires.
What is Agatha All Along about?
Agatha All Along is a spin-off series from the wildly successful WandaVision, and it explores the backstory and future of Agatha Harkness, played by Kathryn Hahn. The series delves into the darker side of witchcraft in the MCU, focusing on Agatha's rise to power and the coven of witches that play pivotal roles in shaping the magical world.
Created by Jac Schaeffer for Disney+, the series builds on the momentum of WandaVision and continues to expand the MCU’s mystical lore.
Set against the backdrop of the MCU’s post-WandaVision world, Agatha All Along explores the intricate web of witches and magic, interweaving new characters like Lilia Calderu and familiar faces like Billy Maximoff.
Interested viewers can watch Agatha All Along on Disney+.