If last week's episode of "WandaVision" resembled a vibrant coloring session following three installments filled with groundwork laying and subtle hints, then this week's marks the inception of a narrative that stands with one foot firmly planted in Westview and the other teetering on the precipice of SWORD's stronghold. We have ventured into a realm akin to "Roseanne's" territory, where Wanda embodies the essence of Cindy Lauper, Vision sports an impeccably chic Simon Le Bon-inspired wavy mane, and Katherine Hahn's Agnes rocks legwarmers and a monstrous perm, embodying the quintessence of retro chic. Meanwhile, Tommy and Billy, still babies one moment, transform in the blink of an eye into budding toddlers—children indeed grow up in the blink of an eye these days.
Auntie Agnes, however, begins to sense that something isn't quite right. "Shall we start from scratch?" she inquiries, her intuition tinged with concern. Wanda endeavors to maintain the semblance of a joyful family unit, but Vision is increasingly perturbed by the sudden instability of their artificial world: "Couldn't you see what I witnessed?" he implores.
Elsewhere, Monica Rambeau awakens in the field hospital perimeter, having been forcibly ejected from Westview by Wanda's mystical prowess. The SWORD team fragments into two opposing camps. Jimmy Woo, Darcy Lewis, and Monica perceive Wanda's grief and anguish as a legitimate response to her loss; whereas Hayward, a hawkish member of SWORD, harbors a far more confrontational stance towards her.
Indeed, the most chilling fan theory that had garnered traction among enthusiasts turned out to be a factual revelation: sometime after the events of "Endgame," Wanda stealthily infiltrated SWORD headquarters and absconded with Vision's dissected corpse, which was being meticulously analyzed by a team of scientists. "What will transpire," Darcy ponders, "when he comes to know the truth?" It's difficult to fathom that a sentient robotic genius would relish the notion of being a mere walking carcass.
Moreover, the other pivotal query that has ignited debates among fans—a question Jimmy jotted down on a whiteboard last week concerning the significance of the hexagons—received a subtle acknowledgment. Darcy has coined the term "The Hex" to refer to "The Maximoff Anomaly," noting that the moniker is beginning to gain traction.
A botched attempt to infiltrate Westview with a Trojan drone launches Wanda out of hiding for the first time, albeit not in a conciliatory mood. "I possess what I desire," Wanda hisses in her distinct Sokovian accent, "and no one shall ever deprive me of it again."
That assertion is highly contestable. The appearance and tragic, abrupt demise of Sparky the dog—who immediately attempted self-electrocution and whose apparent passing via a poisoned leaf feast we didn't witness ourselves—ties all the narrative threads of the episode into a cohesive whole. "The impulse to flee from this emotion is overwhelming. I understand," she tells Billy and Tommy, whose appearances hinted at the brink of puberty's tumultuous storm. "I'm endeavoring to impart to you that life has its own regulations. We cannot hasten aging merely for our convenience, nor can we reverse death, no matter how deeply it saddens us. Certain things are eternal."
Regrettably, Vision has pierced through Wanda's manipulations. "You cannot wield control over me as you do over them," he declares to her. "You do not possess the authority to make that decision for me." She attempts to dismiss his assertions, rolling the credits as he persists in his accusations, but to no success. "I cannot recall my life prior to Westview," he confesses. "I'm uncertain of my identity. I'm terrified."
And then, the quintessential sitcom bombshell drops: the long-lost brother returns! Yet, this Pietro is a sleazy, Noo Yoik scumbag! But even in this revelation, something feels even more askance than resurrecting someone from the grave. "She recast Pietro?" Darcy wonders aloud. Who stands at the door, and who orchestrated this development? Hmm, indeed.
