WandaVision Episode 5, "On a Very Special Episode..." Recap and Review
Realities Blur and World’s Collide as WandaVision Episode 5 Ushers In the Potential Future of the MCU
WARNING: Contains Spoilers
“On a Very Special Episode…” indeed. There are a few moments scattered through the MCU where the entire universe is fundamentally changed and its ripples are felt through everything that followed. We’re not referring to the MCU legacy with iconic moments such as Tony announcing that he’s Iron Man, Steve taking down a Hydra infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D., or Sokovia’s destruction. It’s the small moments that have huge consequences. The unlimited potential of a single infinity stone, the introduction of magic, the creation of alternate dimensions. Each of those moments unlocked a whole new realm of possibilities and if you can believe it, we’ve witnessed yet another. Episode 5 of WandaVision not only kicks off the second half of the exceptional series but also opens the door to the future of the MCU.
Our episode begins with the happy couple desperately trying to soothe their new twin boys, Billy and Tommy, but nothing seems to work, not even a bit of witchcraft. The couple needs help and who should come to their aid but the uncomfortably prompt Agnes. However, Vision has second thoughts about their nosey neighbor. She turns to Wanda asking for another take almost aware of Wanda’s charade. Vision immediately notices the absurdity of what just happened but Wanda flat out ignores it. Distracted by family matters, their attention turns to the twins who have suddenly matured from infants to 5-year-olds. It’s here we are given a Family Ties styled show opener to fit with this week’s 80s aesthetic. Cut to Captain Monica Rambeau being examined by S.W.O.R.D doctors following her ejection from the Hex, Darcy’s new name for the energy field surrounding Westview. Joined by Agent Jimmy Woo, the two attend a briefing led by S.W.O.R.D Director Tyler Hayward (Josh Stamberg) who makes a point of reducing Wanda to a Weapon of Mass Destruction. Director Hayward also reveals that Wanda had previously broken into a secure facility and stole Vision’s body. Back in the Hex, Wanda and Vision catch the twins with a stray puppy. Vision, who is starting to catch on to Agnes, accurately predicts her arrival with the dog house in hand. To make it official, Wanda conjures a dog tag right in front of Agnes, who either doesn’t notice or pretends not to. Vision is unnerved by Wanda’s callous use of magic in front of others and finally asks her “what aren’t you telling me?” The twins interject about keeping the dog and Wanda explains that they were not old enough for the responsibility, the twins grow into 10-year-olds as a response. Back on base, Monica, Darcy, and Jimmy theorize about the Hex leading them to the conclusion that Wanda is changing the reality of whatever enters the Hex as opposed to just it being an illusion. They decide to send in a drone from the 80s to prevent the Hex from changing it to fit that reality. In the Hex, Vision is setting up his office with a new set of cutting edge computers, the Commodore 64, with his work pal Norm (Asif Ali). While setting them up, Vision discovers a S.W.O.R.D communication. Norm dismisses it, so Vision helps Norm speak his mind by temporarily freeing him from Wanda’s control. Norm panics, begs Vision for help, pleading with Vision about returning to his family, and her voice reverberating inside his head. Wanda and the twins are enjoying playtime with their furry friend when suddenly an outside disturbance diverts their attention.
The drone piloted by Captain Rambeau attempts to communicate with Wanda. As Wanda destroys the drone, Emergency sensors are triggered signaling a breach in the Hex. They all rush to the perimeter of the Hex as Wanda herself emerges. She warns S.W.O.R.D to stay away. Monica tries to reason with Wanda, but Wanda won’t have it. She directs the armed S.W.O.R.D. Agents to point their weapons at Director Hayward in a gripping stand-off before returning to her fantasy. Thankfully, she doesn’t have them pull the trigger. Cut to commercial for Lagos paper towels, “for when you make a mess you don’t mean to.” Another clever allusion to Wanda’s past trauma. Back in the Hex, Wanda and the twins search for Sparky who’s tragically discovered by Agnes to be dead. The twins beg Wanda to fix death, which even surprises Agnes, but Wanda ironically explains the need to deal with grief in a healthy way. This signifies that while more than capable and even at her most grief-stricken, Wanda refuses to tamper with natural law. The irony is, she rationalizes resurrecting Vision because he’s synthetic. It doesn’t matter that the android himself has more humanity inside of him than most characters in the Universe. We even learn he even left a will ordering that he not be brought back to life. At home, Vision confronts Wanda about what happened with Norm. Wanda, seemingly in complete control of her narrative and reality, dismisses it by ending the episode and rolling the credits. However, Vision refuses to be shut out pressing for answers until a climactic levitating yelling match occurs where we learn the extent to which Wanda has tampered with Vision’s mind. He has no recollection, knowledge, or memory of his past life as Wanda’s stripped him of his very identity for the purpose of coping with her grief. The two are interrupted by a knock at the door. Is it Agnes? No! It’s Pietro back from the dead! Well, kind of. Darcy watches this unfold and exclaims, “she re-cast Pietro?” Fan-favorite Quicksilver, Evan Peters, has replaced Aaron Taylor-Johnson and we have our cliffhanger for the episode.
Wanda is by far the strongest character in the MCU. The Hex is an extension of Wanda and a testiamte to her abilities. There’s likely some looming puppet master pulling the strings, but it’s from Wanda. By creating the Hex, Wanda is able to manipulate and control thousands of small-town residents, re-animate the corpse of Vision, will children into existence, and possibly, most likely, open up the multiverse. Monica confirmed hearing Wanda’s voice in her head but Wanda alluded towards the end of the episode that she genuinely might not be aware of that aspect of the Hex. And who, if not her, could be doing that? Agnes, it’s Agnes (or should we say, Agatha Harkness). She is the only resident that doesn’t seem to be in mental anguish and always shows up exactly when she needs to in order to distract Wanda from any questioning of the Hex or breach from the outside world. Even Vision, who’s possibly connected to Wanda’s sub-conscious, is suspicious of her. And when Vision freaks out about holding the twins, she asks Wanda if she wants to do it again, like an actor to a director. She is the only resident to show that kind of awareness and is entirely too calm to be trusted.
Billy and Tommy are also important. They are now the only thing in the MCU that she cannot control with her abilities. That, and the fact that they can age up at will. With abilities like that, and If they are in fact real, then their presence in the future of the MCU will be undeniably impactful. Speaking of impactful, Fox’s X-Men make their first official appearance in the MCU with Evan Peters' version of Quicksilver. This is not just a “re-cast” as Darcy put it, as in they are not just swapping Aaron Taylor-Johnson with Evan Peters. Darcy’s reaction to his look, Pietro’s mannerisms, all indicate that this could be the Fox version of the character brought into this dimension by Wanda. Not only does this open the door for the X-Men’s entrance into the MCU but it also could set up the rumored Multi-verse centric storyline of Marvel’s Spider-man 3.
After the underwhelming Episode 4, Episode 5 needed to get the story back on track. The first three episodes were driven by eerie surrealism and a compelling mystery. Now, with much of those earlier questions just about answered, the show needed a new engine. Thankfully, head writer and showrunner Jac Schaeffer was three steps ahead shifting focus to interpersonal conflict and drama. The tension is just starting to ramp up and with four episodes left, WandaVision has plenty of story left to tell. Sadly, we’ll have to table this discussion until next week.