Oh, that’s right. Disney bought 21st Century Fox.
That fact somehow slipped my mind with the whole coronavirus pandemic, civil unrest, and all-around chaos that we’ve been living through since March 20, 2019, but “On a Very Special Episode…” sure did remind me.
I hate leaning on clichés, but in this case, it’s true: things will never be the same after the latest episode of WandaVision. The return/addition of Quicksilver… Evan Peters, not Aaron Taylor-Johnson… to the MCU is the obvious highlight of yet another fantastic episode, but let’s make like Wanda and rewind. There’s a lot to unpack here.
“On a Very Special Episode…” doesn’t pretend that viewers didn’t see last week’s show, opening with a traditional 1980’s sitcom setup that reads quite differently after the reveal that Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) is controlling everything in Westview. She tries and fails to put twins Tommy and Billy to sleep, pondering why they resist her powers when she tries to force them to rest. So much for being all-powerful! Just as she tells Vision (Paul Bettany) “Maybe we just need some help,” neighbor Agnes appears, and the convenience of it all doesn’t slip by him.
After Vision denies her request to rock the babies, Agnes stumbles over her words and looks to Wanda. She hesitantly asks, “Do you want me to take that again?” clearly aware of her role in this twisted sitcom. Kathryn Hahn has been delightful throughout the series, but the annoyance on her face when she grabs her jazzercise bag and prepares to restart the scene is the best Agnes moment yet. Randy Marsh Big Balls Award candidate here, folks.
Last week, I noted that WandaVision’s premise doesn’t logically jive with the existing MCU framework, but I should have known not to doubt Kevin Feige and the team at Marvel Studios. The scene masterfully merges the sitcom concept with the dread of the world’s reality. The laugh track comes and goes as Vision waffles between questioning his reality and enjoying the twins’ silence, and Agnes’ acknowledgment of her role in the show transforms each of the ensuing sitcom set pieces into full-on hostage situations that would feel at home in any Marvel cinematic production.
Wanda and Vision check out their children’s cribs and find them empty, only for two five-year-olds to be waiting for them at the stairs. Agnes says, “Ah, kids. Can’t control ‘em. No matter how hard you try,” and the parents roll with the punches as best they can, embracing their children as the sitcom transitions into another adorable intro.
After that, we’re right back outside the Westview Anomaly, where Captain Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) is being examined after her expulsion from the program. She confirms to the audience that grief is driving the events of the sitcom she once starred in, and savvily excuses herself from responsibility for the whole necklace debacle. Dr. Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings) and Agent Jimmy Woo (Randall Park), feeling much more natural this week, arrive and bring her to a briefing where S.W.O.R.D. Acting Director Hayward is feeling himself a little too much. He calls Wanda the “principle victimizer” in the anomaly, but Rambeau defends Wanda, adding fuel to the speculative fire that someone else has a hand in controlling Westview.
It should be noted that Acting Director Hayward, winner of last week’s Most Likely to Definitely be a Villain Award, is definitely a villain. He discards Rambeau’s sympathetic view of Wanda, revealing that Maximoff broke into S.W.O.R.D. headquarters to steal Vision’s corpse. If you put yourself into Hayward’s shoes, you can see his point. Wanda has definitely crossed some lines but calling her a terrorist feels a bit harsh. She’s still one of Earth’s mightiest heroes, as Rambeau notes, and she was arguably the MVP in the fight against Thanos (Sorry, Tony. I value the entire body of work over just the final seconds.) Regardless, Darcy questions what will happen when Vision catches onto Wanda’s game, and we’re transported back into the sitcom where it sure seems like he is.
Billy and Tommy are doing their damnedest to keep the illusion alive. They find a dog somewhere and clean him in the kitchen sink “so Mommy will wet us keep him.” The way they turn their “L’s” into “W’s” is a nice but perverse touch. Vision comes downstairs and delivers his “Good morning, wife,” with a little more sarcasm than we’ve seen thus far. He knows something’s up, clairvoyantly anticipating Agnes’ arrival with a doghouse. Wanda, no longer caring about maintaining whatever mystery remains around her powers with the people of Westview, crafts a collar for ole Sparky in plain sight. Vision calls her out on it, and it seems the marriage is headed for divorce. Tommy and Billy age themselves up to 10 when Wanda declares it as the required age to keep the dog, and Agnes doesn’t bat an eye.
Back in the real world, Monica explains that the twins are real, and they are Wanda’s. Wanda, she explains, is merely manipulating reality to change the way people see the world. Monica has an epiphany, realizing that if she creates an ‘80s drone, she’ll be able to send something into the anomaly that will allow for communication with Wanda. It’s one of many excellent Monica plans, and she’s already making me feel like a fool for calling her a dope in the previous episodes.
Back at Computational Services Inc., Vision explains email to Norm the Communist. Their first piece of mail is a copy of Dr. Lewis’ research on the Westview Anomaly, henceforth known as “The Hex,” and Vision is deeply disturbed. His co-workers all chant Darcy’s message at once, and it’s so unsettling to hear Norm playfully ask, “What are we going to write back?” Vision uses his powers to snap Norm out of his trance, and the supporting actor panics. He begs Vision to stop “her”… am I crazy for thinking he doesn’t mean Wanda?… before Vision puts him back into character.
Back at the Vision residence, reality is shattering. Even Tommy and Billy know something strange is happening with Wanda, questioning her when she tells them the day is Monday when they know damn well it’s Saturday. She delivers a classic “I learned something today” soliloquy, explaining that family is forever, and she tells the kids that she had a brother who is “far away from here.” The foreshadowing hits harder upon a second viewing.
Sparky barks at the sound of a helicopter approaching, the drone sent by Monica, and Wanda has had enough. Pissed off, she tells her twins to stay put, charging up her magic before destroying the secretly-armed drone and dramatically exiting Westview.
Elizabeth Olsen brings it in this scene. She tosses the trashed drone with the utter disregard it deserves, and I am in awe of how great her softened Sokovian accent sounds. She demands Hayward to stay out of her home and is surprised to see Monica amongst the S.W.O.R.D. soldiers. She tells Rambeau, who attempts to negotiate, that she already has what she wants and flippantly turns the soldiers against Hayward. They turn their guns on him, and he freaks out. Wanda spares him, confirming Rambeau’s suspicion that there’s still a hero somewhere in there, before disappearing back into The Hex.
Back in Westview, whatever magic Wanda is using on the residents doesn’t seem to be working. The mailman knowingly tells the twins that Wanda won’t let a now missing Sparky get far before the Maximoffs arrive at Agnes’ place. She holds a wrapped Sparky corpse, and Wanda shows off her parenting skills by preventing Tommy and Billy from growing up in order to dull their pain. They beg her to bring Sparky back to life, but Wanda, either painfully lacking in self-awareness or under someone else’s control, tells them “we can’t reverse death, no matter how sad it makes us. Somethings are forever.”
As is WandaVision tradition, the ending pops off and changes the course of the series. Vision enters the family home through the back door and starts absolutely grilling Wanda. Instead of showing sympathy for his alleged children, he tells Wanda, “It’s not often you get a dog and bury it in the same day.” She tries to ignore his new awareness, but he reveals the earlier incident with Norm. He insists on addressing the whole “you’re mind-controlling everyone in town” thing, and she literally rolls the credits on him. Vision talks over them, trying desperately to believe Wanda unwittingly created the sitcom nightmare he lives in, and Wanda claims she has no idea what he’s talking about.
The dispute almost comes to blows (…Wanda would trash him…) and she insists that everything she is doing is for Vision’s sake. He respectfully disagrees. Paul Bettany’s voice slightly quivers as he admits he’s scared, and Wanda asks if being her husband and their children’s father is enough. It’s honestly a great sales pitch, but Vision isn’t satisfied. Wanda insists that she isn’t fully in control and that she has no idea how this started, and then the doorbell rings.
Standing there is Pietro, but not the Pietro from Age of Ultron. This is 21st Century Fox’s Quicksilver. It’s Evan Peters, and forgive me for forgetting what he says after the live audience cheers because I freaked out.
Yep. Disney bought 21st Century Fox. The X-Men are here.
Episode Awards
MVP: Monica Rambeau. I admit it… I gave Monica a hard time the past few weeks. I was a hater, and I apologize. Monica was fantastic this week, her character masterfully portrayed by Teyonah Parris. Not only is she clearly correct in her assessment of Wanda, but she also leads the league in Hero Points, a stat I just made up. Monica is going to be one of the leading forces in the MCU going forward, and she deserves it. I love this character!
Least Likely to Actually Be a Villain Award: Wanda Maximoff. This whole episode is riddled with clues that tell viewers not to turn on Wanda. Her shock when the twins tell her they know she can revive Sparky is genuine, no matter how hard the calm sitcom music tries to indicate otherwise. Wanda’s grief may be driving this whole thing, but I think she’s still more hero than villain. Here’s hoping Pietro helps her reconnect with that part of herself.
Most Interesting Detail that No One Will Note: Okay, this may be the most ridiculously specific award yet, but pulling back the curtain, I have a word count to consider, and the recap was going long. Better to note it here than there! The look on Monica’s face when Captain Marvel’s name was mentioned wins the MIDNOWN Award. What happened between those two, and will we find out in WandaVision? I hope so!
Greatest Darcy Contribution: I love Darcy, and I expect many more excellent contributions from her as WandaVision progresses. As such, I award the inaugural GDC award to “The Hex.” Last week, Agent Woo asked us all the very important question of “why the hexagonal shape?” when considering the Westview Anomaly. Darcy pounced on it and created a nickname. Now reviewers everywhere will be able to forego typing “The Westview Anomaly” and just call it “The Hex.” Thanks, Darcy!
Best Acting: Asif Ali snaps back into his character after Vision restores his mind control in such convincing fashion. Elizabeth Olsen’s ability to break out an Eastern European accent when she emerges from Westview is incredible, but I’m giving the supporting actors some love here. Ali sells that scene so well, and he wins the Best Acting Award this week.
The Worst State Award: Mississippi. I’ve gotta figure folks who enjoyed last week’s Best State Award (New Jersey, congrats once again!) were wondering what the worst state was. It’s Mississippi. Alabama, you are off the hook.
