WandaVision comes to an end and with a witch fight. Who would have guessed? Episode nine brings the mini-series to a close and leaves us with as many questions as answers. Who was the aerospace engineer Monica was referring to a few episodes back? What does the revelation about Pietro mean for my multiverse theory? Why did they focus on the dang mailman so much? Oh, the unsaid, how it haunts me!
As with most (all?) Marvel outings WandaVision culminated in a giant CGI slugfest, chocked full of fan service and characters awkwardly standing around while others pose at them. Luckily, the character’s silhouettes and color pallets allowed us to distinguish them during all the mayhem. What WandaVision set out to do was establish Wanda as the Scarlet Witch and prep the MCU for the coming multiverse. In that regard, it succeeded in spades. Time for some spoilers. Five thoughts begin now.
1. Vision V Vision: A lesson in how to fight with your mind
We can all safely assume that the special guest cameo Paul Bettany was referring to was himself. Construct Vision takes on Reconstructed Vision in a head-to-head CGI brawl full of phasing, punching, and identity metaphysics? If there was ever a character that could win a fight with metaphysics, it’s Vision. Construct Vision uses mind judo to confound and conflict a full-ass robot into ignoring its programing. All this fight proved to me is Vision went out like a straight-up punk in Infinity War. Watch this fight again; Reconstructed Vision goes to the Thanos play and fails because Construct Vision phases through his hand. Why the hell didn’t OG Vision do that when Thanos had him all wrapped up? If there was anyone who could talk Thanos into realizing the error of his plan, it was OG Vision. He forgot he had powers, I suppose.
2. The fall of Westview
Watching all the residents of Westview break free of their control and confront Wanda was a powerful scene. Watching Dottie basically beg to see her daughter again was heartbreaking. That little girl is trapped in her room asleep. How effed up is that? As each individual resident approaches her to plead their case for release, you really get to digest the weight of what Wanda did. Whether knowingly or not, she tortured these folks. “When you let us sleep, we have your nightmares.” That is one messed-up notion, especially for someone with so much grief. What the hell they were put through. By an Avenger, no less. It continues Wanda’s storyline of being one of the most dangerous, unpredictable, and unstoppable characters in the MCU. Westview, NJ, may become the first town full of people who need mandatory therapy for life.
3. Hey Monica, how’d you do that?
This entire episode was a superpowered flex on all the main meta-people. From the witch fight to the Double Impact style Vision confrontation. But Monica had the most comic book style flex of them all. She joins the ranks of newly-crowned super people who simply know how to use their new powers. No training required, it seems. After subduing Ralph, a.k.a Pietro, Monica scans him with her electro-sight and finds Agatha’s haunted necklace. How did she even know she could do that, let alone trigger it at will? Then, in her most heroic move yet, Monica jumps in front of Hayward’s bullets to save Wanda’s constructed kids. Did Monica know her new energy-rich body would slow those shots? Doesn’t matter; she’s a hero now. Monica is fully comfortable in her new skin and has accepted that she has superpowers. Just once, I want to see these heroes freak out at the prospect of being super for the first time. Alas, Monica is too cool for school.
4. Is the Scarlet Wich attire awarded, or conjured?
So, Wanda becomes the Scarlet Witch. Hooray. Now, where did that costume come from? It “shows up” in the pages of the Darkhold book Agatha was reading. Is that because the book foretold that Wanda would conjure that outfit, or do all Scarlet Witches wear that getup. Compared to Agatha’s witchy wardrobe, Wanda’s costume looks pretty modern. It seems like the Avenger’s tailor sewed it up for her. Maybe it’s only the Scarlet Crown that is passed down. It’s murky. Magic is a funny thing. You can do whatever you want with it, especially when you call it Chaos Magic. Either way, I dig the new duds, Wanda. You will look fantastic in the new Avengers line-up.
Continued below5. A sincere moment
Watching Wanda and Vision tuck in their kids, knowing that was the last time they will see them, really got to me. As a parent, I find myself watching my daughter as she sleeps and taking stock of each day we had. You never want to think, “I will never see this little person again.” Even writing that sentence was a burden on my psyche. You want to protect your kids from harm and from your own mistakes. Wanda was unable to do that, and that had to kill her inside. Sure, she’s not a real person, but these stories work the best when they can elicit real emotions from their fantastical premises. That scene did it for me. Would you be strong enough to drop that hex if it meant you lose your kids? I’d trap every one of those Westview chumps in my everlasting simulation if it meant keeping my daughter around. But I’m no hero. I’m just some asshole who writes shit on the internet.
The wrap-up
WandaVision was a fantastic ride and the most unique outing Marvel has produced thus far. The use of sitcom tropes was a fun and engaging plot device that allowed us to partake in a bizarre superhero mystery. In the end, we got a new superhero addition to the MCU in Monica Rambeau, Scarlet Witch is a fully realized character, Vision is back in a whole new form, and Darcy Lewis got to save the day with Funnel Cakes. There are still lingering questions that I can only assume will be answered throughout the rest of Marvel’s planned series. Despite those hanging threads, I thoroughly enjoyed my time with WandaVision. It leaves me excited for the rest of the MSU (Marvel Streaming Universe for the uninitiated). Thanks for joining me on this Five Thoughts journey. How did you like the series? Let me know in the comments. Until next time, folks.
Notables:
- Agatha’s boots under the car was definitely a Wicked Witch of the West homage
- I applaud this series for making Darcy and Agent Woo cool
- Is the fact that Vision and boys turn to digital dust a reference to Wanda getting dusted and her grief over said fact? Let’s say yes
- How did Wanda know what runes to cast in that climactic battle? How did she know any runes at all?
- Are we just going to ignore the fact that Wanda slaved Agatha’s mind and left her in NJ? I mean, everyone saw her do it. Hell, Monica watched it happen. I suppose that opens Agatha up to being a mentor down the road. Still, that’s torture.
- Nick Fury doesn’t even need to show up in the after-credits scenes anymore. He forms the Avengers with cronies now.
- Which was the projection, the Wanda sipping the tea, or the Wanda studying magic?
- That was a very Dr. Strange style moment for Wanda. Giving the Sorcerer Supreme a run for his money.
- I appreciate you. Be safe.
