In Agatha All Along, Aubrey Plaza’s portrayal of Rio Vidal has quickly become one of the standout characters in the MCU. Rio, known as the Green Witch, has a complicated history with Agatha Harkness that fans are eager to unravel. But where did Rio come from? Who is she, and why is she unable to kill Agatha? In this article, we’ll explore Rio Vidal’s backstory, her powers, and the nature of her relationship with Agatha.
A Mysterious Connection with Agatha Harkness
In the first episode of Agatha All Along, we find Agatha living in a dazed, alternate reality as Agnes of Westview. She’s portrayed as a cop investigating a murder, but she doesn’t realize she’s trapped in a spell. It isn’t until Rio Vidal and a teenager appear that Agatha snaps out of it. Rio, posing as Federal Agent Vidal, uses her cover to get closer to Agatha. Shortly after Agatha breaks free of Wanda’s hex, Rio reveals her true self in all her dark, chaotic glory. It’s also revealed that Rio can’t kill Agatha, and attempting to drain her powers would result in Agatha’s death.
There’s a clear history between Rio and Agatha, hinted at by their tense interactions and the strong chemistry between them. Press materials and interviews suggest that their relationship was more than just professional, implying romantic involvement. The black heart on Lilia’s list also hints at a heartbroken past between the two witches. Agatha, despite her attempts, struggles to hide the remnants of this relationship. For example, she even replaces the green witch with Mrs. Hart, who enjoys gardening, as a way to run away from her past with Rio.
Throughout the press tour, Plaza and Hahn have been dropping subtle hints about Rio and Agatha being more than just enemies. Plaza mentioned during the Agatha All Along press conference to expect a very intense and dynamic relationship between the two, “one that has all the colors of the rainbow.” The hints have led many fans to believe that Rio and Agatha were former lovers, which adds emotional complexity to their interactions.
Rio’s Powers: The First Green Witch
While much of Rio Vidal’s past remains shrouded in mystery, we do have some clues. The scoop from Can We Get Some Toast suggests that Rio is the first green witch. This already makes her incredibly powerful. In theory, a green witch can heal and communicate with nature, but since this is the MCU, her abilities are likely more enhanced. Could she reanimate someone whose body has decomposed in the earth? Possibly. As the first green witch, Rio is likely an ancient figure, filled with wisdom and power.
Green witches are said to possess earth magic, allowing them to control natural elements like wind and healing powers. During her fight with Agatha, Rio demonstrated her command over nature by using air elements to blast Agatha and heal a wound on Agatha’s hand. Plaza described her character as a warrior witch with a shape-shifting quality, adding to her mystique and unpredictability.
This theory aligns with earlier information from Can We Get Some Toast, where it was mentioned that Rio’s heart is black and beats for Agatha—something she says almost verbatim in the episode. This further hints at her deep connection with Agatha, possibly stretching back to before Agatha went mad with dark magic.
The Witchcraft Rules in the MCU
The nature of Rio and Agatha’s relationship becomes even more intriguing when considering the rules of witchcraft in the MCU. During their confrontation, they exchange an interesting line:
“You can’t kill me.” “You can’t kill me. It’s not allowed.”
This exchange points to the established rules of witchcraft: no practicing dark magic and no harming members of your coven. We’ve learned through both WandaVision and Agatha All Along that witches shouldn’t harm their own. Agatha is despised by many because she killed her own coven, so it stands to reason that Rio, as the first green witch, holds tightly to these ancient rules. It’s likely that this is why Rio can’t kill Agatha, even if she wanted to.
There may be more to Rio’s inability to harm Agatha than just witchcraft rules. In promotional material, we saw a tarot card that depicted Rio holding a flower and a heart. Though the heart doesn’t appear black, Rio later tells Agatha, “My heart is black, and it beats for you.” This may symbolize the emotional and magical bond between the two. Agatha may have physically removed Rio’s heart through witchcraft, binding them together and preventing them from killing each other.
During their fight, Agatha says, “You know that would kill me,” when referring to absorbing Rio’s powers. This is unusual, as Agatha has drained power from others before without dying, including her own coven and Wanda in WandaVision. The fact that Rio’s powers could kill her hints at a magical connection between the two, or that Rio’s green magic is simply too volatile for Agatha to handle.
Is Rio Vidal Who She Says She Is?
There has been speculation among fans that Rio Vidal may not be who she claims to be. Some suggest she could be Morgan le Fay, a dark sorceress from Arthurian legend and Marvel comics, or even an Enchantress from Asgard. Another theory is that Rio is Mephisto’s daughter, Blackheart, although in the comics Blackheart is portrayed as a male character. But after watching episode 4 of Agatha All Along, it seems she is the lady death from marvel comics.
Additionally, there are comparisons of Rio’s character to Gaea, the goddess of nature, and Blackheart, the son of Mephisto. Gaea’s influence can be seen in Rio’s connection to nature and healing, while the reference to a “black heart” aligns with Blackheart’s dark energy. These comparisons help flesh out Rio’s character as a unique addition to the MCU with connections to established comic book lore.
While these theories are fun to explore, the reference to Rio’s “black heart” seems to refer to her actual heart rather than being a code name. Additionally, actress Aubrey Plaza has teased that her character has a big reveal coming, so there’s clearly more to Rio than meets the eye.
What’s Next for Rio Vidal?
As an original character in the MCU, Rio Vidal’s future remains uncertain, but there’s plenty of potential for her to make further appearances. With supernatural projects like Doctor Strange 3, Midnight Suns, Scarlet Witch, Moon Knight season 2, and Blade on the horizon, it wouldn’t be surprising if Rio became a recurring character in Marvel’s darker, magical side.
Final Thoughts
Rio Vidal is a character with deep connections to Agatha Harkness and a rich, mysterious past. Her powers, history, and complex relationship with Agatha make her one of the most intriguing new additions to the MCU. The chemistry between Rio and Agatha, hinted romantic involvement, and theories about Rio’s true identity add layers of complexity to her character. As we continue to unravel her story, it’s clear that Rio’s role in the MCU has only just begun.