“Agatha All Along,” streaming on Disney+, has cast a spell on audiences and critics alike. The series marks the return of Kathryn Hahn as Agatha Harkness, the scene-stealing witch introduced in “WandaVision.” Far from a mere spinoff, the show has carved out its own identity, rising above the noise of MCU fatigue and fan skepticism to become a bona fide hit. Joining Hahn is an impressive ensemble, including Aubrey Plaza, Joe Locke, Patti LuPone, Sasheer Zamata, Ali Ahn, and Deborah Jo Rupp, all of whom bring whimsy and intrigue to this magical world.
One of the series’ most captivating elements is its musical centerpiece, “The Ballad of the Witches Road.” Composed by Oscar-winning duo Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, this haunting melody has become an integral part of the show’s DNA, enchanting fans and critics alike. The song appears in various forms across the nine-episode season, each rendition offering new layers of meaning and narrative clues.
In separate interviews with AwardsFocus, series creator Jac Schaeffer and the Lopezes shared the creative journey behind both the show and its now-iconic track. As Schaeffer notes, “The Ballad of the Witches Road” is more than a song—it’s a storytelling device woven into the very fabric of the series. Thanks to this seamless collaboration, “Agatha All Along” transcends expectations, blending heart, humor, and magic with a standout musical score that’s already generating serious awards buzz.
The Lopezes, celebrated for their groundbreaking work on Frozen and Coco, bring their unparalleled musical storytelling to “Agatha All Along.” Reflecting on the opportunity to work within the MCU’s intricate universe, Robert Lopez explains, “There’s always a certain sense of expectation when you’re working with a massive franchise like the MCU, but there’s also a tremendous amount of freedom. We were able to find a way to balance what fans expect with the chance to do something truly original, especially in terms of the music.”
Schaeffer, the series’ head writer and executive producer, prioritized weaving music into the storytelling from the outset. This creative vision aligned seamlessly with the Lopezes, who were tasked with crafting the show’s pivotal song, “The Ballad of the Witches Road.” Kristen Lopez elaborates, “We’ve always loved the idea of a song that can stand on its own but also reveal something essential about the characters and their journeys. With ‘Agatha All Along,’ it was important that the music could help drive the plot, not just embellish it.” She adds, “We wanted to create something that had an emotional arc. The character of Agatha is so layered, and we wanted the music to reflect her journey, her pain, and her growth. In that sense, it became a collaboration with Jac from the start.”
Robert Lopez highlights the emotional depth they sought to infuse into the series. “I think the key to the success of this show, musically and creatively, was finding the emotional truths within the chaos of magic and mystery. There’s a lot of whimsy, but there’s also this deep emotional core, and that’s where we’ve always wanted to go with our work.”
One of the show’s standout features is how “The Ballad of the Witches Road” evolves, with each version reflecting the emotional arcs of the characters. Kristen explains, “The song started as something more somber, something that reflected Agatha’s isolation and the heaviness of her journey. But as we dug deeper into the characters and their relationships, it became clear that there needed to be a shift — more complexity, more emotion.” Robert adds, “It was about creating a song that could both stand on its own as a powerful anthem but also fit within the broader emotional landscape of the show.”
For the version played during the sacred chant scene, the Lopezes drew inspiration from Bulgarian folk music, using its distinctive, layered harmonies to create a haunting, mystical atmosphere. “We were really inspired by that eerie, otherworldly quality you get in Bulgarian chants,” Kristen says. “It felt like the right kind of vocal texture to add a sense of the supernatural.”
In contrast, the ’70s version featured in episode four carries a completely different energy and significance. Kristen Lopez explains, “The ’70s version is the one we had to write first because it had to hold the most layers. We knew it needed to convey key elements about witches, the Witches’ Road, and the protective spell, all while functioning as a hit love song from that era.” The team took inspiration from Fleetwood Mac’s “Silver Springs,” aiming to capture the drama and emotional depth of Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham’s storied relationship. Robert Lopez reflects on the process, sharing, “We weren’t deeply familiar with Fleetwood Mac at first, but this project gave us a new appreciation for their music. Now we’re obsessed.”
In the episode, the 70’s version is performed by Alice Wu’s (Ali Ahn) mother, Lorna Wu, but the vocals heard are actually by South Korean rock star Seo Moon Tak, whom the team discovered and recorded remotely. “She had no idea her voice would actually be used in the show and was so thrilled when she found out,” Robert shares. Kristen adds, “She sent us a video of her mom cheering for her after hearing the news. It was so sweet—just pure joy.”
A significant part of the ballad’s stickiness lies in the performances of its ensemble cast. Kristen and Robert are quick to highlight several performances that made an impression. “Well, I want to shout out to Allison (Ali),” Kristen says, “Allison was a competitive classical pianist, so she came into this with a lot of experience. She’s got this incredible soprano voice, and she was so dedicated to learning the music from the ’70s. Her work brought such a beautiful texture to the piece.” She goes on to praise the vocal qualities of Sasheer Zamata, who plays one of Agatha’s coven witches, Jennifer Kale. “Sasheer’s voice has this richness to it that really acted as the harmonic glue for the piece. It has this velvety texture that gave the music a grounded, organic quality.”
Robert chimes in with an anecdote about the fun Aubrey Plaza brought to the set. “Aubrey really dove into learning the drums,” he says. “There are shots where she’s smiling and having so much fun, just enjoying the rhythm. But she also did these ironic little cymbal faces, which just cracked me up. It was such a joy to watch her perform, especially because she brought so much energy to it.” Kristen smiles, adding, “It felt like everybody was contributing a different weapon to the sisterhood, you know? Like The Fellowship of the Ring—every character brought a different skill set, a different piece that came together to create something special.”
The Lopezes weren’t the only ones surprised by some of the cast’s talents. Schaeffer also had her own revelations about the cast’s musical abilities. “We didn’t know Ali Ahn was a trained singer and pianist when we cast her,” Schaeffer reveals. “That was such a wonderful discovery. When I first heard her voice, I didn’t expect it to be so high and clear, given how grounded and restrained her character is. It was such a delightful surprise.” She continues with a specific mention of Sasheer, whose performance caught everyone off guard. “Sasheer brought such depth and vulnerability to her vocal performance, despite her character being so guarded and tough. It really added layers to the show.”
Schaeffer is also moved by one particular moment. “Joe’s vocal performance in episode six always makes me cry. It’s so sincere, pure, and almost sacred. There’s a purity to it that touches the heart every time.”
On incorporating the vocal talents of Patti LuPone, who plays one of the witches, Lilia Calderone, Robert recalls, “We didn’t know Patti was going to be in the show when we wrote the music… When we found out, we had to figure out what to do. Patti LuPone is a force, but she didn’t want us to write her a song. She just wanted to be part of the show. We thought, ‘Well, what do we do? Patti LuPone can’t just sing backup!’” Kristen added, “But then Patti added the top line (singing) Down down down down down down. The way she did it, she transformed that piece into something thrilling that we hadn’t even necessarily known that it could be.”
As the show continues, Schaeffer and the Lopezes hint at how the rest of the season will play out and what comes next. “I think one of the most exciting things about ‘Agatha All Along’ is that it has the potential to go in so many different directions,” Schaeffer says. “We’ve only scratched the surface of these characters, and there’s so much more to uncover. And from a musical standpoint, the possibilities are endless. Kristen and Robert are masterful at crafting songs that reveal things about the characters and the story, and I think audiences are going to continue to be blown away.”
Schaeffer is particularly proud of how fans have embraced the music and characters in “Agatha All Along,” marveling at the joy and creativity the show has inspired. “I think the fan reaction has been incredible,” she says. “They’ve really latched onto the music, and it’s been amazing to see how much they connect with the characters’ journeys. That’s the beauty of ‘Agatha All Along’: it’s so much more than just a superhero show. It’s about the heart, the pain, and the strength we all have to keep going, even when the world is against us.”
One fan tribute in particular has captured widespread attention, showcasing the joy and creativity the show inspires. “They’re having such a good time, and it’s pure joy and silliness,” she recalls, clearly delighted. “I love seeing the TikToks and videos of fans dancing to the ballads. It charms me when extraordinary singers share their renditions online. Fans taking ownership and enjoying the seriousness and camp of the show is exactly what I’d hoped for.”
Kristen Lopez echoes this sentiment, noting how rewarding it is to see the show with true followers of witchcraft. “Some of the most fun we’ve had is hearing the fan reactions, especially the ones who say they’re incorporating the music into their rituals. Bobby will occasionally read the comments, and one of the most fun things was seeing witches say, ‘I’m going to incorporate this into my ritual’ because it feels so organic and true to the Wiccan belief system. That was really fun to hear,” she shares. Kristen also highlights the sense of joy the show brings to fans. “There’s a joy in this show—there’s danger, and a really good story, but there’s also this campy joy that I feel is so needed right now, especially in times full of stress, like during an election year or with everything going on in the world. The idea of isolated, lonely people coming together to joyfully go down a spooky road felt like exactly what we needed this fall.”