The first episode is important because it sets up roles, dynamics, and the overall arc of the entire narrative of the Road. That includes the parts with Detective Agnes and Agent Vidal as they are important to set up the places on the heirachy that Agatha and Rio sit, as well as their dynamics together. And if we the viewer/reader want, we can extrapolate that out further to include their presentation within that dynamic together, because it is one of the few times we get to see how they work at length together, without the weight of the grief behind their overall interactions.

Agatha is a character who plays with masks, hides behind her cons, and we rarely see the reality of who she is peek out. In fact I would argue that as much as she is running from Rio (from Nicholas), she is also running from herself (a refusal to sit with herself). While gender presentation and expression are not the end all and be all of being butch, it is important that this is not a human, this is a television character. Specifically a character within a show where she is not being fully open and honest with us, and so some of the signifiers of costuming and what they could mean is important in a reading. Especially the clothing Agatha choses for herself, or places herself in as she gets control of the hex.

I have discussed this at length before, but I believe it is important to keep in mind that Agatha is a witch who fails at and struggles to fit in with other witches. Historically speaking, within the context of culture and art, witches are women who flaunt sexuality and power outside of the traditional mileu of "good Christian culture" within how they are often framed and imagined (think the witch flying naked across the moon, or dancing with the Devil in the woods).

Agatha is a queer woman who struggles to find place among other witches. She is too curious for her own good, outside of her internal magicks own specific issues. She does not fit in among other witches (read: other women). Hell, even though the Triple Goddess on the brooch may be the journey she is on, she makes fun of it under the hex ("what no working professional goddess?").

So the fact that she crafts herself into Detective Agnes, in clothing that may be read as masculine, in a role (the detective) that is a traditionally masculine one is important and interesting. Because, as we know from John (Herb), Agatha has only been Detective Agnes for a few days. And from Jac, we know that this is Agatha taking control of the hex, and moving it from Wanda's sitcom to Agatha's own true crime preference. Agnes of Westview is a reflection of how Agatha sees the world, seeks out seeing the darkness in others, and it is not a jump then to say that may be how Agatha internalizes herself.

Butch as an identity is a complex one, because it has historical precedent, and it has evolved over the years. Early butch identity was closely associated with the working class, something that also is interesting given Agatha's salt of the earth coven beginnings. As well as the fact that, that is who she is in the role of Detective Agnes: a working class woman. It is arguable too, that Agatha may see herself to some extent as a working class woman, despite the hedonism that she hides herself under during some of her cons, because she has to continue to hunt out magic to keep herself empowered.

Outside of the first episode though, we also see Agatha, despite herself, take on the role of the physical protector and defender of her coven multiple times. She guards them with her body on the Road when Rio is rising from Sharon's grave. We also see her take on the role of guarding and protecting Billy from Rio's eyes. She also bodily puts herself between the coven and Billy to guard him when they are curious about the sigil.

When she is given witches she does care about, despite the hot air, Agatha will try to protect them. She even, arguably, did this centuries before for the Seven, allowing them to live when they were children. Also, depending on how you read the interaction—when Evanora approaches Rio, Rio seems shaken, and it is at that point that Agatha steps down to confront her mother. While Rio is unwilling to abandon Agatha to Evanora, Agatha is the one who puts herself in harm's way again, redirects her mother's anger back towards her.

I do go into more depth about Agatha herself within a ramble I wrote last year where I unpacked how I handle writing and thinking about Agatha. So, I will link that as well. Agatha is a fascinating character. One that she often is hiding behind her con so that people do not see her raw truth.

More twigs and Agatha chatter here.