Against the glittering backdrop of 1930s Hollywood, the enchanting narrative of "What If…? Season 3 Episode 2: What If…Agatha Went to Hollywood?" unfolds, intertwining the fate of the mesmerizing Agatha Harkness with the celestial protectors, the Eternals, in a daring quest to harness the immense power of Tiamut, the nascent Celestial dwelling at Earth's very core. This episode, a mesmerizing tapestry of magic, might, and the allure of moviemaking, delves into the depths of Agatha's relentless pursuit to attain her ultimate aspiration—to ascend to the status of a goddess in her own right.
The episode kicks off with Agatha Harkness, not merely a practitioner of dark arts, but a burgeoning starlet whose allure captivates the world of cinema. However, the adoration of her fans fails to quench her insatiable thirst for power. Her sights are set firmly on Tiamut, with the intention of absorbing its energy and elevating herself to godhood. To orchestrate her grand ascension, she seeks a stage of unparalleled grandeur, and Hollywood, with its magnificent sets and an unsuspecting populace, emerges as the perfect backdrop for her sinister magic.
Agatha cunningly manipulates Howard Stark, a visionary industrialist whose dreams of cinematic supremacy know no bounds, into casting her as a star. With the aid of Stark's assistant director, Edwin Jarvis, Agatha infiltrates the very heart of Hollywood, embedding her hexes and mystical markings within the opulent sets of Stark's ambitious productions. Unbeknownst to Stark, Agatha's true intention is to utilize the grandeur of Hollywood as a stage for a ritual of unimaginable proportions, one that will empower her to drain the very essence of Tiamut.
In a twist of fate, Agatha's plan requires the unwitting assistance of Kingo, a sensation from Bollywood and a member of the Eternals, lured into Hollywood's dazzling limelight under the false promise of stardom. As the rhythmic beats of dance numbers and the exhilarating chaos of film shoots unfold, Kingo gradually uncovers Agatha's deceit and the imprisoned Eternals, each stripped of their powers by Agatha's relentless quest for magical supremacy.
The stage is meticulously set for an inevitable clash between Agatha and Kingo, with the destiny of Tiamut precariously hanging by a thread. Agatha, now an unstoppable force wielding the amalgamated powers of the Eternals, stands as a towering adversary. However, Kingo pierces through her charade with keen insight and proposes a Faustian pact—betray Arishem, the Prime Eternal, and side with Agatha in her quest for unparalleled power, dangling the lure of fame and adulation before her eyes.
As the narrative unfolds, Agatha's meticulously crafted plan is thrown into disarray with the sudden arrival of Arishem, who seeks to usher in Tiamut's birth and mold the Earth anew. Agatha, transformed into a being of colossal might, engages Arishem in a battle that reverberates through the very fabric of reality. She ensnares the Celestial within her inverted pentagram hex, siphoning his power and erasing him from the annals of existence.
With Arishem vanquished, Agatha stands poised on the cusp of reshaping the world according to her whims. But Kingo, guided by the sagacious wisdom of Jarvis, appeals to Agatha's yearning for love and admiration, reminding her that her power extends beyond mere might; she is a luminary capable of captivating the hearts of millions. Tempted by the promise of eternal fame, Agatha agrees to ally with Kingo and Stark, embarking on a cinematic endeavor based on their surreal adventure, titled "Cosmic Queen."
The episode culminates in the glittering premiere of "Cosmic Queen" at Grauman's Chinese Theatre, a box-office phenomenon that alters the trajectory of Howard Stark's fate and lays the groundwork for a sequel where the Eternals will clash with the Celestials, now alert to Arishem's demise. Agatha, empowered by the essence of two Celestials within her, and Kingo, embracing his role as her co-conspirator, brace themselves for a confrontation that will seal the fate of the cosmos.
"What If…? Season 3 Episode 2: What If…Agatha Went to Hollywood?" is a mesmerizing spectacle of magic and might, where the boundaries between fiction and reality blur, and the quest for power takes pride of place. It's a narrative that delves into the depths of ambition and the intoxicating lure of stardom, set against the dazzling backdrop of Hollywood and the boundless expanse of the Marvel multiverse.
