The journey down the Witches’ Road may have just been Agatha (Kathryn Hahn) all along, but it’s taking far too long for fans of Jac Schaeffer’s hit series to see their favorite depraved spellcasters back in action again. Though Agatha All Along premiered less than a year ago, it already feels like a follow-up can’t come soon enough, even if a second season seems increasingly unlikely. With Agatha getting a ghostly glow-up and Joe Locke‘s Wiccan setting out to locate his brother’s soul by the series’ ending, the show’s conclusion is tortuously tantalizing, promising even more unethical adventures audiences will undoubtedly have to wait years to see. Thankfully, in the meantime, viewers can basically experience what a spin-off about the heir to the Scarlet Witch would feel like over on Netflix.
Based on author Sally Green‘s YA novel of the same name, Half Bad: The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself is an eight-episode adaptation released in 2022 with great success. Earning near-perfect marks from both critics and fans on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s safe to say the series was received well, and despite some notable departures from its source material, Half Bad‘s television debut remains a rare example of a story altered without losing narrative or dramatic momentum. Unfortunately, as with all good things…Netflix went and canceled it. Getting the programming axe not two months after its October premiere, Half Bad, like Agatha All Along, may not be getting a Season 2 anytime soon, but the series is still a bloody and brilliant ride through a unique magical landscape guaranteed to leave fantasy fans on the edge of their seats.
What Is ‘Half Bad: The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself’ About?
The series centers on Nathan Byrne (Jay Lycurgo), a 16-year-old witch who can’t catch a break from anyone because of his contentious parentage. The illegitimate son of the most wicked witch in the history of Half Bad‘s world, Marcus Edge, Nathan grows up worse than a social outcast, blamed by his sadistic half-sister, Jessica (Isobel Jesper Jones), for the death of their mother and harassed constantly by classmates related to the victims of Marcus’ past crimes. When Nathan’s father kicks off a new spree of brutal murders, Nathan is subsequently thrust into a world of prophecy and blood feuds, believed to be the only witch alive who can grow up to kill his ruthless father.
Sprinkled into this disturbing mix is a healthy dose of social prejudice. Like most fantasy series that opt for a more grounded, modern aesthetic, Half Bad doesn’t overwhelm viewers with large amounts of lore and backstory, but it drops just enough breadcrumbs and power-ups to leave you hungry for more. The greater context for Nathan’s struggle revolves around the fact that he is—like his father before him—a Blood Witch, a group long-persecuted in Half Bad’s well-balanced world-building for their great healing powers and some Blood Witches’ ability to steal other witches’ powers by eating their hearts. On the other side of this brutal spectrum are Fairborn Witches, the ruling class of the Western European world who present themselves as far more civil than their heart-craving counterparts.
As Marcus’ body count grows and the Fairborns’ top authority, the Fairborn Council, falls into greater disarray, the true callousness of this social hierarchy rears its ugly head, and Nathan is forced to flee the only home he’s ever known. Desperate to receive a blood sample from a family member before undergoing a ritual to receive his powers on his upcoming birthday, Nathan is joined on this journey by Annalise (Nadia Parkes), the daughter of a high-ranking Fairborn Council member, and Gabriel (Emilien Vekemans), an exasperated, wise-cracking alchemist who is easily the most entertaining character in the series. Despite their relatively short time together, the three make up one of the most underrated trios in fantasy television, and Nathan’s quest soon reveals that his world is far more complicated than the Fairborns ever allowed him to know.
‘Half Bad: The Bastard Son & the Devil Himself’ Puts a Brutal Fantasy Spin on Teenage Witchcraft
It’s truly remarkable just how many similarities Nathan shares with Locke’s Wiccan. Like the Marvel character, Nathan is a queer teen with an upbringing shaped by his relationship to an overpowered, controversial parent, and just like Billy, Nathan struggles to comprehend the great power inside him without succumbing to the even more tantalizing power of his own rage. Through his friendship with Gabriel and Annalise, the latter of whom is the only one who ever sees Nathan as human before he goes on the run, Nathan also builds his own family to compensate for his lacking blood ties, and the result is a witchy adventure filled with trials and tribulations that ultimately allow Nathan’s understanding of his true power to evolve. That said, Half Bad truly comes into its own when it comes to the story’s tone.
In both thematic material and visuals, Half Bad is a far darker fantasy series than Agatha All Along, resulting in a more harrowing adventure that delves deeper into the trauma of being a cursed teenager. The most noticeable manifestation of the series’ brutal ambiance is its gore. Annalise’s ability in particular treats fans to some of the most disturbing images you can find on fantasy television, pulling people apart from within and splattering their bloody insides over the screen, but that’s just the beginning of Half Bad‘s horrors. With Blood Witches and even Annalise’s spiraling father, Soul (Paul Ready), prepared to cannibalize fellow witches for power, Nathan frequently getting beaten and mutilated, and Gabriel’s backstory hinting at a truly horrific childhood, Half Bad is brimming with supernatural terrors that make for truly compelling television.
The catalyst for all these crimes resides with the story’s generational conflict, which it brings to life with heartbreaking skill. Through episodes dedicated to witch-based war crimes and one-sided massacres, Half Bad establishes an unending cycle of conflict between Blood Witches and Fairborns, condemning Nathan and his friends to walk a path littered with the bodies of former friends. The result is both grief and growth for a protagonist much more relatable than the typical hero of a high fantasy series, as well as stakes that culminate in an even more brutal and twisty ending. Yet, while Green’s work may not be getting the follow-up it rightfully deserves, the depth of Half Bad‘s storytelling still makes for a healthy balance of horror and (uneaten) heart, making the series a must-see for fans of all things witchy and those willing to walk Nathan’s own dark road until the bitter end.
