Marvel Studios
Be warned, this piece contains spoilers for the seventh episode of “Agatha All Along,” titled “Death’s Hand In Mine.”
Jac Schaeffer, the brain behind “Agatha All Along” and “WandaVision,” has a clear fascination with the concept of time. Her inaugural feature, “TiMER,” is a sci-fi rom-com set in a reality where a wrist implant countdown clock informs individuals of their destined soulmate, fundamentally changing their approach to life on Earth. “WandaVision” delves into how Wanda Maximoff’s Westview Anomaly distorts a whole town’s perception of time via television cliches, while Agatha Harkness enters the scene to provoke Wanda out of sheer spite and a hunger for dominance.
In the latest turn of events in “Agatha All Along,” Lilia Calderu, portrayed by Patti Lupone, is disclosed to be living her life out of order. Her acceptance of this continually shifting timeline proves crucial to deciphering her tarot examination while journeying on The Witches’ Road. I recently had an opportunity to discuss “Agatha All Along” with Schaeffer, ahead of the two-part series finale on October 30, 2024, and was curious to understand the root of her fascination with time.
“I’ve been pondering over my preoccupation with time. I’m captivated by narratives that handle time in a mind-boggling manner,” she shares with me. She cites “Arrival” as one of her all-time favourite movies. Denis Villeneuve’s time-warping, sci-fi magnum opus about extraterrestrials and communication features a heart-wrenching performance by Amy Adams as linguist Louise Banks, reducing everyone in the audience to tears. (I still can’t fathom how she missed out on an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.) However, when it comes to Schaeffer’s penchant for time-related narratives, she credits Christopher Nolan’s “Memento” as the film that entirely transformed her life.
How Memento’s non-linear storytelling influenced Agatha All Along’s creator Jac Schaeffer
Newmarket
For those unfamiliar, “Memento” is Christopher Nolan’s sophomore feature film that catapulted him to fame. This neo-noir psychological thriller revolves around Leonard Shelby, played by Guy Pearce, a man suffering from anterograde amnesia who endeavours to solve his wife’s murder while struggling with his 15-minute memory span. The non-linear structure of “Memento” left audiences and critics spellbound and has since been a monumental inspiration for many. The bewildered reaction from viewers took Nolan by surprise. Jac Schaeffer confides in me that “Memento” was the film that altered her artistic path because “I didn’t realize you could be that intelligent and deconstruct a narrative. I mean deconstruct, as in dissect, and I thought, ‘That’s what I aspire to do.’ I want to dissect it and then reassemble it.”
Upon the release of “Memento” on physical media, the special features allowed the audience to view the film linearly, a testament to Nolan’s complete understanding of Leonard’s story from start to end and an illustration of a creator’s mastery over the “rules” before opting to break them. However, “Memento” wasn’t Schaeffer’s sole inspiration — she’s also an ardent fan of the TV series “Lost,” a show that continues to spark debates about its “true meaning” almost 15 years post its finale. “I was constantly amazed. I was on the edge of my seat every episode. I had to fully engage my mind to keep up with it, and it was incredibly rewarding,” Schaeffer recounts her experience with the show. “So I love the mechanics of [telling stories about time], but I think the emotional aspect of it is … yeah, it’s me making sense of my time here.”
Schaeffer and I delve deeper into her thoughts on time-bending narratives during our conversation, which can be heard on today’s episode of the /Film Daily podcast:
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FAQs:
Q: Who is the creator of “Agatha All Along”?
A: The creator of “Agatha All Along” is Jac Schaeffer.
Q: What is Jac Schaeffer’s debut feature?
A: Jac Schaeffer’s debut feature is a sci-fi romantic comedy called “TiMER.”
Q: What film does Jac Schaeffer credit as changing her life?
A: Jac Schaeffer credits Christopher Nolan’s “Memento” as the film that completely changed her life.
Q: What other TV series is Jac Schaeffer a fan of?
A: Besides “Agatha All Along” and “WandaVision,” Jac Schaeffer is also a fan of the TV series “Lost.”
Credit: www.slashfilm.com
