WandaVision‘s nosy neighbor turned out to be far more dangerous than most sitcom characters. Now the show’s spinoff starring Kathryn Hahn has introduced its own mysterious witch. Aubrey Plaza is an entirely new Marvel character who clearly has a complicated past with Agatha Harkness. But who is she and what happened between them? And does she really want Agatha dead? Here’s what we know about Agatha All Along‘s black hearted green witch Rio Vidal so far.
What Marvel Comics Character Is Aubrey Plaza’s Agatha All Along Character Based On?
Rio Vidal, who says she has a “black heart,” is an original character with no direct or obvious comic counterpart in name or role. As of now she seems to be an entirely new figure in the world of Marvel, though that could turn out to be a total misdirect.
Because Rio is a Green Witch, some have speculated she could be loosely connected to, or even based on, Marvel Comics’ villain Dian. He is a powerful evil sorcerer known as the Emerald Warlock. (Get it? Green Witch/Emerald Warlock? You get it.)
Beyond their names and the fact each has lived for hundreds of years (at least), there’s nothing to suggest the two characters are related. If they are, though, Dian’s history does provide some tantalizing possibilities. He once worked with Agatha Harkness and later became a major enemy of the Scarlet Witch, whom he battled with on the Witches Road.
Some fans have also theorized that the reference to her “black heart” could indicate she’s a gender-swapped version of Blackheart, son of Mephisto in Marvel Comics. With Agatha All Along officially confirming the infamous ruler of the Hell dimension exists in the MCU, that possibility seems a little bit more possible than before.
What Is a Green Witch on Agatha All Along?
Agatha’s efforts to form a coven revealed that their are different kinds of witches living in the MCU. Some are divination witches, others are potion or protections witches, and some are green witches. Green witches have a magical connection to the land, as revealed by Agatha using local gardener “Ms. Hart” (her real name is Sharon) as a green witch proxy.
When Rio joined the coven on The Road in episode four she said she’s “The Green” witch with a deep, terrifying demonic voice. Turns out she can also play the drums, but that might not be a magical thing. She might just be a good musician.
What Happened With Rio Vidal and Agathan Harkness Before Agatha All Along?
Rio Vidal came to Westview to help Agatha escape (the now-dead) Wanda’s spell. It had locked Agatha inside her own mind as Agnes for three years. But once Agatha broke out of her faux police procedural—which Rio appeared in as an FBI agent, suggesting Rio had created that fake reality—the fierce warrior Green Witch attacked Agatha. She said she would have killed the powerless Agatha if not for witch rules that forbid it.
But why would Rio help Agatha break out of her mental prison if she hates Agatha? Was it only so the Salem Seven could finish off Agatha Harkness for her? Or is their love behind that animosity? The two witches violent interaction hinted at a previous intimate relationship that goes back many centuries. Rio also knew that Agatha’s original coven betrayed her, which is why Agatha attacked them.
In episode four, Rio provided more insight into their past, which seemed to have been romantic, and also their present. Agatha said Rio came “too early.” Rio—who said she came “up” indicating she lives “below”—was also “impatient” and wanted to speed things along. Agatha asked for a “truce” and hoped the two could have one last “big adventure.”
Rio wants Agatha to kill her coven so Rio can get her “bodies,” an arrangement they seemed to have previously. Agatha secretly aired this conversation so the other witches would hear it and not trust Rio. Was that to protect them or herself? Will Agatha betray her coven in her quest for power? Or does she really hope they make it to the end of The Road unlike her previous coven when she walked it?
Those are just some of the questions that remain unanswered about Agatha and Rio. Does Rio really want to see Agatha destroyed? Or did she show up in Westview to ultimately save someone she loves? Or is she looking for something a little less serious/more fun we wouldn’t expect to see on Disney+?
She might be a literal demon of Hell and still love Agatha. When sharing stories about their scars, Rio said once had to do her “job” and that hurt someone she loved. That person seemed to be Agatha, Rio’s “scar.”
There’s so much more we have to learn about Aubrey Plaza’s Rio Vidal on Agatha All Along, and we can’t wait to see what other secrets she’s hiding. Just so long as the rest of the coven survive their encounter with both Agatha and her.
Originally published September 19, 2024.
