Jac Schaeffer may be the creator of both Agatha All Along and WandaVision — two of Disney+‘s most successful shows to date — but when it comes to Taylor Swift, she’s just like all of us.
Ahead of the Agatha All Along finale, the writer and director spoke with Decider to break down the first seven episodes of the show and to talk about what is still ahead for Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn) and the other witches in her coven, Jennifer Kale (Sasheer Zamata) and Billy Maximoff (Joe Locke).
Whatever Episode 8 and Episode 9 have in store plot-wise, it’s all but certain that music will be integral as the show has established itself as a goldmine for new songs and needledrops, alike. In fact, in Episode 2 (“Circle Sewn With Fate/Unlock Thy Hidden Gate”), Agatha and the others conjure up the Witches Road by singing an original song from Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, the songwriting duo behind the WandaVision theme songs and the music for Frozen and Frozen 2. That original piece of music, “The Ballad of the Witches Road,” even entered the Digital Song Sales chart in early October, according to Billboard. It was also remixed for Episode 4 (“If I Can’t Reach You, Let My Song Teach You”), and released on streaming platforms by indie-pop group Japanese Breakfast.
It’s safe to say that music is important in the show.
Now, Schaeffer is opening up about the music that inspired her as she was working on the project, including Swift, who she calls a “storyteller.” Schaeffer told Decider that while many artists played a role in her writing, the “Willow” crooner’s hand cannot be understated.
“For me, writing this — like during this sort of process, I love Haim. I think that those three sisters are very witchy. Kathryn [Hahn] listens to a lot of Bjork — I love Bjork as well, sort of later stage,” Schaeffer shared, adding, “I listen to a lot of Taylor Swift because she’s a storyteller and I find that very inspiring when I’m trying to write.”
She continued, “As I listen to her songs, it makes me want to write. It’s sort of like a trigger for writing.”
Another trigger for writing, specifically for Agatha’s love story with Rio Vidal (Aubrey Plaza)? BoyGenius, the three-person girl group with a major following in the queer community. The band — comprised of Julian Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus — is known for its alternative pop sound and fit the angsty, titillating back and forth for the two characters.
“Boygenius was a big one while I was working on this show, oh man. Boygenius with the Agatha-Rio love story,” the showrunner said. “But then also with like some — a little bit of Metallica in there.”
Outside of the direct inspiration from Swift and the other singers, Schaeffer told Decider that she is grateful to be surrounded by creatives who picked incredible music to go in the show.
One particular example that became a social media meme is Episode 3’s final moment where Agatha — who had failed to call Debra Jo Rupp’s character, Sharon Davis, anything but “Mrs. Hart,” her assigned name during Wanda Maximoff’s Hex — ended the episode with a hilarious juxtaposition.
After Locke’s character tells the coven, “Sharon’s dead,” leaving them all in a solemn lull, Agatha breaks the silence and asks, “Who’s Sharon?” The line was quickly followed by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ “Heads Will Roll,” which fans could not help but obsess over. Schaeffer could not take credit for that moment but said it was executive producer Mary Livanos who thought it would make for a comedic ending, which has been dubbed the “most unserious credit roll in history.”
“Well, so that needle drop, I think that was Mary Livanos’ idea. And she, Mary, was really all about the needle drops and was always there with the suggestions. Also, Mary Parker, our music supervisor, was so instrumental in in choosing the needle drops,” she added.
As to whether or not Episodes 8 and 9 will feature any key needle drops or more “Ballad of the Witches Road” remixes, that will all be revealed this week.
Agatha All Along‘s first seven episodes are currently streaming on Disney+. Episodes 8 and 9 hit the streaming platform at 6 pm PT on Wednesday, Oct. 30.