I think a lot about this specific bit of promotional material for Agatha and Rio.
I think one of the things I find really interesting about it is that Agatha's primary identifier, the one that is the largest is her shamelessness. And honestly, yeah, that is a huge part of her character. She is shameless in going after Wanda; she's shameless allowing a teenaged boy to unknowingly architect his own version of Saw therapy.
(I think we see some of this leak into her diabolical-ness, she is willing to go to lengths in spite of other people's wellbeing. She's a notorious serial murderer of her own kind, for her own gain after all.)
But, for me, the most interesting part here is that little bit of her that is brave. For everything Agatha is, for everything that her traumas have shaped her into, there's a bit of her that is brave. And I think we see those cracks of Agatha in the show beautifully. The part that has sympathy for Lilia post-hallucination, the bit of Agatha who tries to meet Billy a bit where he is after throwing her into the mud.
The part of Agatha that can sit alone, not knowing if she is going to survive, and admit to herself, "sometimes boys die." And can embrace her estranged/ex wife after so many years in turmoil. And the version of her that saves the boy, despite the parts of her that could give in to her worst survival instincts.
For all Agatha is selfish, as I personally read her, a lot of it is due to her need to survive. Of course, Agatha always has a selfish thread, do not get me wrong. But the woman who she was with Nicholas, the woman she melted into briefly with Rio, who she is trying to be with Billy--she's more than her need to survive. We see this in Jen too, selfishness as a response to being rejected, outside of the community, needing to rely on and protect the self.
With Rio, on the other hand, there is a focus on her as a mystery, but also on the fact she is an unstoppable and vengeful. We never quite get a clear picture over what is the vegence driving Rio exactly. If it is Agatha hiding behind the Darkhold, rejecting their love over and over, or something else (the rejection of herself as Death, the fact she did not get to raise Nicholas, et cetra).
But there is also the interesting fact that she is noted as original. One of the things that I remember reading early on about Rio was that her character was not just inspired by Mistress Death, but also by Gaea (as well as Morgan le Fay and the Emerald Warlock, I believe). And I think it is very clear in the series how she differs from comic Mistress Death and is her own unique spin on the character in a new shape and light. Gaea being one of her inspirations to me, if that was true, is really interesting. (I believe it is likely somewhat true, at least to play into the Green Witch and cycle of all living things aspect of the character, even if Death is the primary part of the character.)
I don't have a thought tying this all together, I just wanted to chatter about these. My final thought: I love that Agatha looks like she is about to give a sermon in her photo.
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Tumblr decided to tell me that I have made 500 posts over on this sideblog, and frankly that's horrifying (I mean, great!). I just wanted a place to sort out my thoughts on Agatha All Along after the finale, and nearly two years later here I am... still trying to pick apart everything. 🫡 Thank you to everyone for chilling, looking at my art, reading my rambles and fanfics, and all of that. I really appreciate y'all for making it chill to hang around.
I really want to sit down and write a proper ramble about it sometime (said by me a million times over), but I think so much about how each member of the coven ties into Agatha's own journey and character.
Alice with her self-hatred and self-blame as she is struggling with generational trauma, her maternal issues... Jen with her ostracization from the witching community, her lack of power and place... Lilia and her grief, her fear of Death, and her isolation over connection. And then Billy who has so many similar struggles, but is also tied up in a frame that can be read through the lens of Nicky.
I wrote a bit about Agatha and Alice's similarities, but I want to do the entire coven eventually...
Thirsting for companions in games is great. But. But what about what about the romance being so fragile. With fears that it won't last. That the feelings aren't as strong as they thought. But they stay. And they love more than you thought they did. And you can open up and be vulnerable. I. I am so. I yearn for the softer moments. I yearn for a romance in which they treat each other so gently.
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The bg3 community is very normal about their pale elf guy. No shame tho! I was tryna see what everyone was excited about, I just hope there is a strong lady companion :D
