Marvel Television’s Agatha All Along is a fine example of the place analogue techniques have in digital media. 

The entire set of The Witches’ Road, which is the backdrop of majority of the episodes, designed by John Collins, is created with practical techniques rather than green or blue screens. 

The blocking of scenes and shots uses forced perspective and matte painted backdrop screens to immerse the viewer in the world of the show and serves a greater purpose for the storyline of the series with easter eggs in the physical realm of the road that hint at the central mystery of the show. 

The overall atmosphere of the road was inspired by the golden age of horror to embody the sacred walk which is based on James Robinson’s 2015 Scarlet Witch comic run where The Witches’ Road is first introduced, as well as to echo back to the era homage paying of WandaVision, the show’s predecessor. 

The practical set serves an active purpose which comes to fruition in the last two episodes when the road itself is revealed to be a construct of the character of Billy/ Teen’s mind. It makes for visually interesting moments such as in episode 8 when the character of Rio Vidal physically tears through the matte painted backdrop for her exit hinting at the fact the road is not actually real which is then revealed in the season finale. 

It further allowed the set designers and writers to include hidden features that clue in the audience to the overall story with information pertaining to each character and trial that gives the show its well-rounded storytelling mastery. 

Analogue techniques while arguably outdated have their place in the making of digital media in order to create interesting experiences and scenes that immerse consumers in the world of the story conveyed. 

Faramade Olaitan.