WandaVision: Agnes' Brooch Has Serious Connections To The Marvel Comics
Contains spoilers for WandaVision
There's a lot to keep track of in WandaVision, Marvel's first Disney+ TV series. As Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany) try to blend into their new environment, the world is slowly getting invaded by outside factors — or, at least that seems to be what's going on. In episode 2 of the series, the theme is magic. Wanda and Vision join the activities of their neighborhood, including a talent show in which they plan to do a "magic" act together. To help out, their friendly-yet-nosy neighbor Agnes (Kathryn Hahn) lends Wanda her pet rabbit.
So far, Agnes' role has been to keep Wanda on her toes and guide her through life as a housewife. She's always nearby and ready to lend a hand, though whether that's a good thing or a bad thing is still unclear. Whenever Agnes appears, there's one thing that you can always expect to see her sporting: her go-to accessory — a classic cameo-style pin brooch. Traditionally, cameo brooches were made from luxury materials like ivory, and were worn by the upper class (via Collectors Weekly). As for Agnes' particular brooch, the oval piece has an ornate frame around a unique embossed image of what looks like three women gathered together.
Though at first glance this might seem like a simple costume choice meant to compliment the '50s and '60s eras of WandaVision's first two episodes, we all know that every choice Marvel makes holds meaning. This one small detail might be the ultimate clue to Agnes' real identity.
Agnes' brooch looks very similar the one worn by Agatha Harkness
For fans of the Marvel comics or anyone who's read into WandaVision theories, the idea that Agnes is really the comic book character Agatha Harkness isn't new or surprising. Considering most characters in Marvel projects have a tie to a comic book counterpart, it was surprising when Kathryn Hahn was first announced as joining WandaVision as a random character named Agnes. Fans got right to work trying to figure her real role in the story, and they've ultimately deduced that Agnes is probably Agatha Harkness.
In the Marvel comics, Agatha is a powerful witch who becomes a mentor to Wanda in all things magic. She plays a key role in the story of Wanda and Vision's children, twin boys William and Thomas, and their connection to Mephisto, whom many fans believe will make an appearance in the show at some point. Since Vision is an android, Wanda used her magical powers to conceive her sons, but inadvertently used pieces of Mephisto's soul to create them. And that's not a good thing, since Mephisto is based on the demon Mephistopheles and is basically the equivalent of the Devil in Marvel Comics. Agatha is the one who eventually tells Wanda the truth about William and Thomas: They aren't actually real, and whenever Wanda isn't thinking about them, they disappear. WandaVision is already beginning to set the stage for some form of this storyline, with the second episode ending with Wanda pregnant.
Looking at the brooch Agnes wears in WandaVision, the tie between Agnes and Agatha is too strong to deny. In the comics, Agatha is always wearing a brooch right at the base of her neck; it's a signature feature of her look. For Agnes, it's not much different. She may switch it up and wear the brooch different ways — off to the side at some points and at the base of her neck at others — but just like Agatha, it's always there.
The possible meaning behind the brooch's cameo design
For Agatha, the specific design of the brooch doesn't seem to hold much significance, but for Agnes, there might be a reason behind the choice of cameo. If you look closely, the brooch appears to feature three figures standing and leaning together. There are quite a few possibilities for what this could symbolize.
One possibility is that the three figures are the Fates, also called the Norns. Common characters in old mythology, the Fates are a part of the Marvel Comics as both the Norns for the Norse gods and as the Fates for the Olympians. The Fates are three prophetic sisters who oversee the destinies of everyone in the Ten Realms. Considering that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has not yet incorporated the Greek gods of the comics, it's more likely that if this is referencing the Fates, it's the Norse version.
Another possible meaning for the imagery is the three Graces. Though they have never appeared in the Marvel Comics, the Graces are also a part of Greek mythology. The three women are goddesses of nature, beauty, fertility, and more, and are commonly connected to Hera and Aphrodite. Because of their prominence in mythology, the three Graces are also common fixtures of classic art, and it's very likely you've seen a painting or sculpture of them during your last visit to an art museum.
With no true indication of who Agnes is just yet, fans will have to keep watching WandaVision to see how this all plays out.