At long last, the MCU's much-anticipated 'Phase 4' is officially underway! It's been over a year and a half since the events of both 'Avengers: Endgame' and 'Spider-Man: Far From Home' and it was awesome just to see that Marvel Studios intro appear on our screens once again, even if it's from our homes, rather than a theater. Originally, Phase 4 was supposed to begin last May with 'Black Widow,' but due to the circumstances stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, both that movie and 'The Eternals' were pushed back to this year.
Instead, we've kicked off Phase 4 with the brand new exclusive Disney Plus series 'WandaVision.' The first two episodes dropped this past Friday and new episodes will drop each Friday up until March 6th. The events of the show take place after Endgame and will lead directly into 'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,' which is set to drop in 2022. There are a ton of unanswered questions and theories regarding what exactly is happening in 'WandaVision' after its first two episodes. There are a ton of Marvel fans inside our FTF Media crew and we'll be recapping these Disney Plus programs weekly. Today, Corey, Mark and Kristian answer some of your questions and pinpoint what exactly this show is about.
*Warning: Spoilers ahead for WandaVision Episodes 1 & 2*
Episode 1
Corey: It's been a while since we've seen Wanda and Vision both in the same setting. Vision, of course, was killed in 'Avengers: Infinity War' when Thanos ripped the mind stone from his forehead. The last time we saw Wanda was at Tony Stark's funeral at the conclusion of Endgame. Now, we're seeing them both living in a 1950's/60's style sitcom entitled 'WandaVision' (important to point out -- WandaVision is like a show within a show, like Show-ception). We are introduced to the couple via a corny 50's/60's style show intro, with Vision walking through the front door (like literally through it) without Wanda. The two are now married in this seemingly alternate universe and living in a small Americanized town.
Mark: We open up with assumed newlyweds Wanda and Vision driving to a random town (like Corey said, seemingly in America) and magically buying a house by virtue of Wanda snapping her fingers. I took this to be a metaphor for the new start Wanda desires in her self-created reality for Vision and herself. The presentation of their reality as an actual 1950's style sitcom starring Wanda and Vision implies that it's not real right off the bat. We see Wanda using her powers to clean the dishes, along with no accent, again implying that this is some sort of utopia that Wanda desires for herself (the live studio audience also helps).
I found the line "My husband and his indestructible head" kind of ironic because, as we found out at the end of Infinity War, his head was NOT actually indestructible. Wanda states that she's "doing her best to blend in" and we see Vision change his appearance to look human before leaving the house (we see him do this at the start of Infinity War as well). Is it possible that, even in an alternate reality, the two are trying to hide from someone...or something?
Kristian: After the long, long, long -- almost supernaturally long -- wait that we've had for 'WandaVision,' I want to start off by saying that the first two episodes have me in suspense about the future of the show and looking forward to every moment it has to offer us. In the first episode, we finally meet back up with Wanda and Vision in a town with a nostalgic 1950's feel to it. I loved the setting for this episode because it took me back to being 6 years old, staying up either way too late or way too early with my Nanny, sharing a bowl of Breyers vanilla bean ice cream with sugar sprinkles on top and watching 'I love Lucy.' Yes, my Nanny knew how to spoil her grandkids. The humor and canned laughter throughout both episodes of the show were nostalgic and continued to transport me to a place that was both familiar and also made new by the inclusion of our two main characters. Although the setting, the humor and even the roles that we find Wanda and Vision occupying took me back to TV of a different era, I still found myself expecting the unexpected while watching.
Corey: The plot of episode 1 is centered around a dinner between Wanda, Vision and Vision's boss, Mr. Hart (along with Mrs. Hart). A cool Easter Egg contained within the scene where Wanda and Vision are trying to figure out what event the heart on their calendar signifies: the date of this episode (and where the heart is drawn) is August 23rd. This is a nice callback to the comics, specifically Avengers #238, where Captain Marvel and Wanda create a team to take down the supervillain Moonstone. In this comic, Vision is brought back to life by the creation of an energy field. Vision then attempts to break the energy field, as its creation threatened Earth. Could this be a sign that Wanda created her own universe? Or even a sign that perhaps Vision isn't dead? It's a big clue that could come into play in later episodes.
The audience is then introduced to the very naggy and nosy neighbor, Agnes. Because it truly wouldn't be a 50's/60's era sitcom without that neighbor who sticks his or her nose into everyone's business, right?!? As of right now, Agnes doesn't play a huge role in the show's plot, but her husband, Ralph, may play a bigger role later in the show. Agnes brings up Ralph's name quite a bit, but he hasn't been seen on camera just yet. Could Ralph be a part of why Wanda's world isn't normal? Or is this just a coincidence?
Mark: The "nosy neighbor," as Corey perfectly describes her, introduces herself to Wanda as Agnes before asking lots of probing questions. We know this character's identity within Marvel Comics to be Agatha Harkness, a powerful witch. We don't know what she's up to just yet, but the fact that she's constantly butting into Wanda's business could be a sign that she's attempting to insert herself into Wanda's reality or manipulate her. We see Wanda slam the door on Agnes multiple times during the show -- is this for comedic effect or is it a metaphor for Wanda trying to ward her off outside of this reality?
Kristian: Knowing that Agnes, who we see helping Wanda at every turn, between offering her friendly advice and even groceries, plays a major role in the conception of Wanda and Vision's twins in the comics, it didn't slip my mind that she seems to be shown displaying some interesting reactions throughout the talent show. This has also caused me to question if Agnes is an antagonistic force, manipulating the situation to possibly to take advantage of Wanda's children? Although I find the notion that she may actually be on Wanda and Vision's side to be even more interesting. Perhaps Agnes is more aware of the workings of the world around them and could be supportive of the pair as they move forward in what I'm guessing will be an increasingly lucid way. Based on what we've seen in trailers, I believe Agnes may also be a key in Vision realizing the truth of the situation he/they are in. This may cause a divide between Wanda and Vision, who seems very likely a captive of this TV show fantasy. I'll be watching Agnes closely, waiting to see what and who she'll be to both Wanda and Vision.
Corey: Another big question is...who (or what) does Vision exactly work for? He questions his job and role in the office by continuously asking "what do we do here, exactly?" His co-worker, Norm, deflects the question by stating that he can't keep up with Vision's high productivity. Vision asks more questions about what they are selling or what kind of service they're providing and Norm again doesn't have a definitive answer. This mystery of why Vision works for a company that doesn't have a purpose should have an interesting answer eventually.
Mark: Vision's inability to understand his job or the purpose of the company in general is a great running gag, but I'm unsure what the symbolism is yet behind this. Vision needing to host a dinner for his boss, Mr. Hart, is almost framed as some sort of new employee initiation. Seems like Mr. Hart is trying to probe into his employees lives or something; he even asks if Vision has any skeletons in his closet. Vision's reply of "I don't have a skeleton, sir" made me chuckle a bit -- nice deflection, Vision. Back at home, Wanda answers the phone by stating "Vision residence," implying that the townspeople know that her husband goes by one name. Maybe they don't find that weird in her pocket reality? Then again, there's no Cher, Prince or Beyoncé around yet at this time period, so maybe they should...
Kristian: Having heard that this show should have some elements of a psychological thriller, I waited for the moments of tension and intrigue that would hold me in suspense from the first seconds I began watching...and I think the show delivered. I watched eagerly, anticipating what might happen when we have moments like Vision questioning what his company actually does, or Wanda and Vision finding themselves unable to recall their love story or where they came from, knowing they would fuel mysteries to come. I was not only interested in the twists that might emerge throughout the show, but also in how those twists would be resolved. At each moment when an unanswerable question arrived, the tension seemed to rise, only to quickly dissipate, blown away like smoke by the next moment of comedic relief or adorable couple moment from our leading stars.
Corey: We then get a commercial break during the show, an ad for the 'Toast Mate 2000,' created by Stark Industries. There's a somewhat cryptic slogan at the end of the commercial: "Forget the past, this is your future." This could be a reference to 'Avengers: Age of Ultron,' when Wanda and her brother explain their parents' tragic death in a bombing. The two had been terrified of Tony Stark, as the bomb was made by Stark's company. The toaster has a long beeping noise, much like the bomb, which could mean something big is unfolding soon.
Mark: Yeah, a TON to unpack from the commercial. The 'Toast Mate 2000' by Stark Industries drops a few different hints. This was the first time we saw any sort of color, as the toaster has a flashing red light, while the rest of the commercial takes place in black and white, just like the show has. This can't be a coincidence and, as we find out later, the use of the color red will become a constant theme in episodes 1&2. Like Corey mentioned, the toaster also sounds like an explosive device beeping ominously. The woman in the commercial seems to look nervous as this is happening, almost like she's breaking character.
The tag line, "Forget the past, this is your future," interests me, almost as if whoever is presumably manipulating Wanda's mind is trying to erase her memories (where her mate was, in fact, toasted). The Stark industries reference plus the red light and the creepy beeping could be a reference to the bomb that killed Wanda's parents (as originally referenced in Age of Ultron). This commercial, along with the one we see later, also serve as references to Wanda and Vision's origins (Tony Stark was ultimately responsible for Vision's creation, while Strucker's experiments were what gave Wanda her powers).
Corey: The scenes where Wanda believed that Vision had something romantic planned for their evening because of the heart on the calendar were awesome. Wanda dressing up in a sexy outfit with candles around the house as Vision and the Harts walk through the door was hysterical. After Vision explains to Wanda why his boss is over for dinner, Wanda whips up a home cooked meal, where pretty much nothing goes right in the process. After settling on breakfast for dinner, the four sit around the table, where Mr. Hart asks Wanda and Vision if they're married and why they moved into this town. The two don't have any answers, which frustrates Mr. Hart, causing him to choke on his food. As Mr. Hart is choking on the floor, Mrs. Hart repeatedly says "stop it" before Wanda stops time and tells Vision to save him. Vision reaches through Mr. Hart's throat by using his powers and pulls the food out, saving his life.
We get an indication from this scene that Wanda does indeed control her own world and can ensure that nothing bad can happen to negatively affect it. The closing scene displays Mr. Hart being impressed with Vision, ultimately earning the latter a promotion. Wanda and Vision then go sit on the couch, where Wanda states "We are an unusual couple." Vision creates wedding rings for the two of them, "officially" marrying the pair. As the camera pans away, we see a figure watching the TV monitor with a pen and notebook by his side.
What this tells me is that there's some organization watching over Wanda, as she poses a real threat to them. If you remember from 'Avengers: Age of Ultron,' when we are first introduced to Wanda, she's described as a person who uses her powers to create mental trauma and live in her own reality. We now know that Wanda is the one creating her own world at the moment. We'll get an almost definitive answer in episode 2 as to what organization this is that's observing her, too. Overall, episode 1 left a lot of people wondering as to what Marvel is trying to accomplish here. Nevertheless, this episode was fun and exciting, as it left me and many others hooked as to what was going to happen next.
Mark: Imagine my surprise finding out that Kitty Forman is Mr. Hart's wife (That '70s Show rules)! Vision references Wanda's Sokovian roots when trying to explain to Mr. Hart why she covered his eyes when they walked in, so it's clear that, even in this alternate reality, Sokovia indeed exists and the couple is not hiding the fact that she hails from there. Wanda gives off some serious 'Bewitched' vibes during this sequence, especially when she snaps her fingers to instantly change her outfit. Vision still doesn't understand his job after Mr. Hart explains it to him; again, the meaning behind this running gag is lost on me thus far, but I also know that there is no such thing as a throwaway line when it comes to Marvel, so this bears watching.
Mr. and Mrs. Hart then start to somewhat interrogate Wanda and Vision during dinner, up until Mr. Hart begins to choke on his food. Was this possibly Wanda's own doing, perhaps a defense mechanism as she feels her privacy in this alternate reality being threatened? Mrs. Hart seems to look in Wanda's direction when repeating "stop it," almost to imply that she's aware that Wanda's somehow causing her husband to choke. Wanda, calmly and almost cryptically, tells Vision to help Mr. Hart; he stops him from choking by magically pulling the food out of Mr. Hart's throat. At first, I wondered whether or not anyone noticed that use of his powers; upon further review, like Corey pointed out, it looked like Wanda paused time so that Vision could use his powers freely. The Harts abruptly leave after that, which is dismissed in comedic fashion but is perhaps a sign that whatever interrogation was taking place in reality went poorly for them? Maybe the Harts are more than they appear to be.
Before leaving, Mr. Hart says Vision has made him proud and that they will speak about a promotion. Again, it seems like Mr. Hart is trying to keep Vision around for a particular reason, perhaps to learn more about him and his wife. "We are an unusual couple, you know;" this line could suggest that Wanda wanted normalcy for herself and Vision and created this reality to provide that. As the show concludes, we pan out to someone watching it in what appears to be a lab, taking notes with a S.W.O.R.D. logo on the notebook. Does this mean that S.W.O.R.D. is observing Wanda or experimenting on her? How did they get access to or control over her mind, if so? Are they trying to help her, making these illusions voluntary? All that we know for sure is that S.W.O.R.D. (S.H.I.E.L.D.'s replacement) is watching from the shadows.
Kristian: I'm of the belief that most of what we will see in the show may be happening within Wanda's own mind; these situations make me think of someone facing instances of cognitive dissonance, trying to avoid the truth. These moments serve as a ratcheting mechanism for tension throughout the episode, culminating in the incident at the dinner table, Where Mr. Hart becomes enraged while questioning Wanda and Vision about their background. He then begins to choke and his wife asks him to stop, laughing in a playful manner at first.
Her laughter begins to twist along with her smile as he continues to choke, no one raising a hand to help him. Mrs. Hart even seems to look pointedly at Wanda, her voice becoming tight and fearful as she continues to say "Stop this." I believe this setup could either be taking place because Wanda's specifically the cause of what's happening, or perhaps because we're being led to believe that she is. It's possible that the Harts are at Wanda's mercy and Mr. Hart's sudden outburst is a way to try to get through to her, or perhaps someone is pushing the Harts to prod at Wanda -- perhaps to instigate her -- and she simply retaliates. Or maybe I'm completely off base and there will be some other interesting twist(s) to follow.
Episode 2
Corey: The opening to episode 2 is still set in black and white, with Wanda and Vision sleeping in separate twin beds. They both hear something outside banging on the window, but it turns out to be just tree branches reacting to the wind. We then get a new 'WandaVision' intro, almost similar to that of 'Bewitched,' now in cartoon form with elevator music. Notice how the opening credits now say 'Starring Wanda Maximoff.'
Mark: I found Wanda and Vision sleeping in twin beds (for some reason) to be kind of funny. When the two of them hear noises outside, I wondered if this was actual reality trying to break through again to Wanda's pocket reality, or if it was just a coincidence. I have a feeling that it was the former, as we wind up hearing similar loud crashing noises later in the episode. Maybe this is nothing, but we also find out that the town in which Wanda and Vision are now living, per the intro, is named Westview (WandaVision, Westview, WV...again, maybe nothing).
Corey: The episode opens with Wanda and Vision preparing for the town talent show. The two are planning to put on a magic act and make a big impression on the townspeople. Vision heads over to the local neighborhood watch meeting at the library while, back at the house, something big happens. After Wanda hears something outside, she walks out to the bushes and notices a helicopter that is displayed in full color. The logo on the helicopter is actually that of S.W.O.R.D. -- we see how frightened Wanda is before Agnes shows up and asks if she'll be attending the committee meeting. Could this mean there's a chance that the shadowy figure watching the 'show' at the end of episode 1 is, in fact, a S.W.O.R.D agent?
Mark: The "Disappearing booth" that Wanda and Vision were using for their community talent show magic act has a symbol on it that kind of looks like the mind stone. Not sure if this is a coincidence or not, but I noticed it right away. Wanda makes another reference to this town being their home now and how she wants to "fit in." Again, it seems like this reality was a manifestation of Wanda's self conscious to give herself the happy ending she desired for her and Vision. She then hears another sound similar to the one from the start of the episode, almost like a crash of some sort. As Wanda goes outside to investigate the noise, she sees a yellow and red toy helicopter that has landed in her bushes. Like before in the toaster commercial, this is one of the only instances so far of color, as everything else is in black and white. Again, I think this is an example of the outside reality trying to poke through the illusion.
There's also a beeping noise that gets louder as Wanda continues to look at the copter and, again, we see the S.W.O.R.D. logo. Just as Wanda gets a look on her face that suggests that she's trying to put two and two together, she's Interrupted by the "nosy neighbor," Agnes. This cannot be a coincidence; what role is she playing in all of this? Agnes appearing just as Wanda might be realizing that all isn't what it seems suggests that she wants Wanda to remain distracted by this alternate reality. And again, if we are to go off of Agnes' comic background, she could be flat out manipulating Wanda as well. We then see the neighborhood Mailman walk by and state to Agnes "Don't shoot, I'm just the messenger." I'm not sure if this is meant to be a throwaway line or not, but I'm leaning towards the latter.
Corey: Wanda tries her best to fit in with the other women at the committee meeting; of course, in typical sitcom fashion, the head of the committee, Dottie, is...less than pleasant. Wanda does make a new friend at the meeting, Geraldine. If you noticed, she's actually Monica Rambeau, the little girl from 'Captain Marvel.' It's odd how she used a completely different name; could she be a spy that S.W.O.R.D sent to watch over Wanda's behavior?
Mark: Wanda meets "Geraldine," who (as Corey pointed out) we know from casting news to actually be Monica Rambeau, the little girl from Captain Marvel. She is all grown up now, but why is she in what we assume to be an illusion inside Wanda's head? She says that she "doesn't know why she's here," to which Wanda states the same. Again, could these two be trying to break out of whatever illusion they're in to get back to their reality? Or, could Monica be completely aware of why she's there and simply trying to preserve her S.W.O.R.D. cover?
Kristian: Another character I'll be watching with great interest is "Geraldine," a.k.a. Monica Rambeau, who's the daughter of Carol Danvers' best friend Maria and a superhero herself. I believe at the point we're meeting Monica in this show, she won't yet be in her superhero role and will instead be a S.W.O.R.D. agent. She may have been assigned to investigate what's going on with Wanda and was pulled into her reality. I'll be intrigued by her role as the show continues and am also interested to see if she and Agnes are ever at odds with each other.
Corey: After the meeting ends, Wanda does her best to explain to Dottie that she and Vision don't mean any harm, to which Dottie replies "I don't believe you." Time stops again, as Wanda hears a voice calling her name over the radio. It's actually the voice of Jimmy Woo, a former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who had since moved into a role with the FBI. You may recall that he was assigned to monitor Scott Lang in 'Ant-Man and the Wasp.' He repeatedly says "Wanda! Wanda! Wanda!" before Dottie's glass breaks, leaving her hand a bloody mess. Jimmy Woo is a confirmed character for later episodes, so it'll be interesting to find out if he's watching over Wanda's reality, or if he doesn't know exactly what's going on just yet. Is he possibly working for S.W.O.R.D. now? Lots of unanswered questions here.
Mark: Dottie, the snooty head of some sort of planning committee, tells Wanda she's "heard things about you and your husband," perhaps an indication that people have been looking into Wanda and Vision's backgrounds? Again though, this is a simulation of some sort, so do they...want her to think this? Very confusing. Wanda, almost breaking character, tells Dottie "I don't mean anyone any harm." Wanda is trying to escape from something, even in her own alternate reality. The radio suddenly stops playing music to emit a voice that sounds like Jimmy Woo from 'Ant-Man & The Wasp,' asking "who's doing this to you, Wanda?" This is our biggest piece of evidence yet that someone is at least trying to influence Wanda somehow, we just don't know how yet. Is Woo still with the FBI? Is he working with S.W.O.R.D. now (he did used to work for S.H.I.E.L.D., after all)? Many questions to be answered here. Dottie breaks a glass out of surprise at this voice coming from the radio and we see red blood on her hands. This makes three times where we've seen color, with red being featured in each occurrence.
Suddenly, though, everything is fine, as Dottie just jokes about the fact that her hand was just gushing blood and walks off. Who is she? Was she just trying to preserve her cover if she's someone other than who she appears to be? We then get another commercial, this time for a 'Strucker Watch' - "he'll make time for you." There's a HYDRA logo in the center of the watch; does this imply that HYDRA is still around, even after the events of The Winter Soldier? Have they once again infiltrated a larger, well-intentioned agency, perhaps S.W.O.R.D.? Or is this simply a reference to the people who gave Wanda her powers? I'm skeptical that we'd see a HYDRA reference as a one-off, this organization will rear its ugly head(s) again somehow.
Kristian: There are several moments of increasing unease throughout this episode where we clearly see that things are not right in this world that we're watching. We see things like the neighborhood planning committee meeting, where Dottie becomes noticeably agitated with Wanda, even taking an accusatory tone with her. We yet again see the tension increase until it culminates in Wanda hearing a voice coming through the radio calling her name, causing Dottie to break a glass in her hand. Just as with the Harts in the first episode, this moment of dissonance in the otherwise charming sitcom style of the show seems to be immediately dismissed and forgotten by everyone but Wanda, who also eventually puts it behind her. The popular belief seems to be that the radio voice belongs to S.W.O.R.D. agent Jimmy Woo (played by Randall Park), who we can hear asking Wanda "who is doing this" to her.
Corey: At the neighborhood watch meeting, Vision has trouble fitting in with the group until he cracks a couple of funny jokes. One of the men slaps Vision on the back, causing him to swallow a piece of gum he'd just started chewing, slowing down his motors in the process. Vision, in a seemingly drunken state, falls all over the place, causing Wanda to bail him out, using her powers to preserve their cover and make their magic show look like an amateur performance. Also, wasn't it weird when the townspeople would say "For the Children?" More on this later. The pair wins Comedy Performance of the year and heads home happy.
Mark: Vision attends what he believes to be a neighborhood watch meeting at the library, but turns out to just be men gossipping about their neighbors, goofing around and eating danish. I've never been to one of those meetings, though, so maybe that's what they usually consist of? Vision again mentions that he doesn't eat food but jokes his way out of that revelation before the group got too confused or suspicious. Vision accidentally swallowing that piece of gum, like Corey alluded to, seemed to be the equivalent of a normal person throwing back about 5 shots of tequila. It literally gummed up his works!
The line that 'drunk Vision' makes at the start of the talent show stuck with me a bit: "Today, we will lie to you and you will believe our little deceptions!" He obviously means their magic trick, but this is also a reference to the fact that the two of them are "hiding" out in Westview and lying about who they are. Vision accidentally begins to fly to open up their show, prompting Wanda to covers that use of his powers up by magically making it look like he was attached to a rope and pulley the whole time. Next, Vision holds up a heavy piano with just one hand. Again, Wanda makes this appear to be an illusion by turning the piano into a cardboard cutout. As Vision prepares to pull a rabbit out of his hat, it runs off, causing him to blurt out "Stop that rabbit!" This may be unintentional, but it's also a direct reference to the Asgardians soldiers chasing after Rocket during the time heist in 'Avengers: Endgame.'
Vision's next trick, since the rabbit indeed gets away, is to put the hat through himself (you know, because he can walk through walls and stuff). He does this and Wanda again covers it up by revealing a trick mirror behind the curtain. For the grand finale, the vanishing booth is brought out for the pair's disappearing act, but Vision forgets to have Wanda go inside. Wanda has Geraldine appear inside the box instead, once again distracting and entertaining the audience. Wanda and Vision win an award for their performance, but Geraldine is still puzzled as to how she appeared in the box (or maybe she just pretends to be puzzled; again, we don't know how much she's aware of). Either way, she doesn't push for an answer.
Corey: When they arrive back at the house, Wanda is suddenly pregnant, which could be a reference to the "For the Children" line. We know Wanda was abducted as a child, so maybe she's using the townspeople to care for her children...or, will her own children be abducted as well? Wanda and Vision hear another noise outside, revealed to be a beekeeper climbing out of the sewer with what looks to be the S.W.O.R.D. logo. Wanda replies "No" and we rewind back to the moment where Wanda and Vision find out she's pregnant. The world around them begins to become colorful, meaning we could now be jumping into the 70's next.
Mark: Wanda suddenly appearing to be pregnant wasn't a huge shock, as we did know that her children Speed and Wiccan were supposed to make an appearance. Another crash is then heard outside that sounds identical to the ones from earlier; I cannot shake the feeling that each of these crashes are instances of the outside reality trying to break Wanda from whatever trance she's in. As Wanda and Vision head outside to investigate, we see the beekeeper crawling out of a manhole. Now, although we've seen multiple hints already that not all is what it seems, this seems to be the biggest one yet. Just like with the notebook and the toy helicopter, we see the S.W.O.R.D. logo on the beekeeper's back. What is this group trying to accomplish other than butting in? We'll soon find out what their intentions are.
Wanda, again seemingly breaking character, says "NO" in a very stern manner, which causes us to rewind to right before when she discovered she was pregnant. I assume this is Wanda manipulating this reality in order to give herself a better ending; if we're to believe that she also caused Mr. Hart to choke and Dottie to cut her hand, this would be the third instance of such manipulation. Suddenly, Vision's face turns red and the rest of the room appears in color as well. No more black and white look whatsoever -- like Corey said, perhaps this is a sign that we're moving from the 50's and 60's to the 1970's for episode 3. As the show ends, we once again we hear Jimmy Woo's voice ask "who's doing this to you, Wanda?" Wanda may be manipulating this reality, but is someone else also manipulating her?
Kristian: We see a S.W.O.R.D. agent climb out of the sewer after earlier seeing Wanda find a mysteriously technicolored toy helicopter in her front yard. This agent is wearing a beekeeper suit and is even being swarmed by bees. There's speculation that this may actually be an agent from AIM, another organization within Marvel (first introduced to the MCU during 'Iron Man 3'), but I had a different thought. What if this is someone trying to find Wanda within whatever construct she's living, perhaps to even rescue her? Someone aware that Wanda, or whoever has placed Wanda in this fantasy world, may try to keep them out, so he has come prepared with armor that we see as a beekeeper suit (and being attacked by some kind of safeguard or firewall, represented by the bees). This is perhaps where we also get our biggest insight into the impact Wanda has on this world she is living in, as she see this mysterious figure and regrets what's happening, saying simply "NO." The world instantly rewinds, playing a happier ending where she and Vision embrace, only to reveal Wanda's pregnant belly.
And oh, the things I have to say about that pregnant belly! First of all, I didn't think that they would introduce Wanda and Vision's children (or even Wanda's pregnancy) within the first two episodes of the show. Second, throughout the talent show hosted by the neighborhood association, we hear the creepy chant of "for the children." Knowing that Wanda and Vision's two children, Wiccan and Speed, will likely be seen and potentially be a huge driving force for the show, it feels obvious that "for the children" could be speaking about the twins. Saying that now, I realize maybe I should have seen her implied pregnancy coming.
Corey: Overall, episode 2 definitely answered a lot of lingering questions from episode 1. We know that Wanda has created her own reality and that S.W.O.R.D. is monitoring her behavior in some way. The group AIM was formed as a branch of HYDRA in the comics to destroy and overthrow all world governments. Is AIM now trying to overthrow S.W.O.R.D. (and by extension, Wanda) in her own world? Also, Wanda being pregnant is going to have a big impact on the show. We know she gives birth from teaser photos, but what exactly will happen? Episode 2 leaves us on another cliffhanger and episode 3 will surely contain more clues as to what this 'reality show' is really about. Find out what happens next this Friday on Disney Plus!
Mark: I feel like episode 2 definitely broke the fourth wall a bit when you consider that 'WandaVision' is a show within a show. At the end of episode 1, we get the impression that S.W.O.R.D. is observing the 'WandaVision' program that Wanda has created (either in her mind or in an actual alternate reality), but we don't get any indication that they're interfering. In episode 2, however, they're clearly trying to get inside. Why is that? Do they feel that what Wanda's doing is dangerous to the outside reality and that it needs to be stopped? Are they interfering because there's a more sinister threat lurking that could corrupt or weaponize Wanda? Whatever is going on behind the scenes, episode 3 will certainly reveal more of it. This show has me hooked right now and I look forward to seeing what twists lie ahead.
Kristian: There were so many other things that I enjoyed during these first two episodes, such as the "commercial breaks" we saw, like the Stark toaster and the nods to HYDRA. I wasn't really trying to focus that hard on Easter Eggs in my first watch of the episodes, but of course things like the S.W.O.R.D. logo on the side of the helicopter, as well as on the beekeeper suit of the mystery figure, were not lost on me. We were even able to get the interesting perspective as if someone was watching these events transpire on a TV screen, as we see a modern background and a S.W.O.R.D. notebook. Other aspects of the show that I really enjoyed were our ability to see Wanda and Vision leading a happy, romantic life as newlyweds, watching them learn lessons together like we're used to seeing in sitcom-style shows and the cheesy but authentic humor. Overall, I greatly enjoyed the first two episodes of 'WandaVision' and look forward to watching the next installment on Friday.
- Corey (@celticshive), Mark (@MarkPiselli13) & Kristian (@itsmeKristianG)