Welcome back to our Sartorial Geek weekly recap where we discuss, breakdown and fangirl over all things WandaVision.
Today we’ll be talking about the show’s 5th installment, “On A Very Special Episode.”
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD
The name of the episode comes from a phrase that was used in ads during the ’80s and ’90s. Networks often used it to advertise a sitcom or dramedy episode that specifically explored controversial topics such as racism, drug abuse, sexual assault, etc. It was basically a warning to young viewers that there’s gonna be some dark points throughout the storyline.
Given the nature of WandaVision, this name is more than appropriate. Unlike previous episodes, this one truly delves into the psyche of Wanda Maximoff and the impact she has on the lives of the people around her.
So without any further ado, let’s see what’s been happening over at Westview.
The Story
In the previous episode, Billy and Tommy were barely newborn infants. Now, they’ve somehow developed the ability to age themselves up whenever they like. They age themselves 10 whole years in the first five minutes alone!
On the other side of the red holographic fence is the S.W.O.R.D. base, closely monitoring every move that Wanda makes.
During a mission briefing, S.W.O.R.D. Director Tyler Hayward declares that Wanda is a dangerous and unpredictable terrorist who must be taken down ASAP. Monica, on the other hand, heavily disagrees.
She argues that even though she was a victim of Wanda’s mind control, she does not believe that Wanda is a truly evil entity. S.W.O.R.D agents Jimmy Woo and Darcy Lewis back Monica up by reminding Hayward that Wanda was once a part of the Avengers and should therefore be treated as one.
Hayward, of course, ignores them and tries to take Wanda out by shooting a missile at her and her children. As you can imagine, it doesn’t go very well.
For the first time since the creation of Westview, Wanda walks through the boundary line to confront the team, in all her Scarlet Witch glory.
At this point Hayward’s main goal is to take Wanda prisoner, but Monica steps in to deescalate the situation. She reminds Wanda that she’s always been an ally as she was the one who helped Wanda deliver the twins. This isn’t enough for Wanda to trust Monica again, so she warns everyone to stay out of her home and leaves.
Vision isn’t doing so hot either. In fact, he’s starting to notice some strange things about Westview, like how there are never any children or that Agnes seems to pop up at exactly the right time.
What’s even stranger is the message his computer gets while at work. The message mentions the “Maximoff Anomaly” and warns any conscious person in Westview about Wanda’s telepathic powers.
Noticing that there’s a pattern in all of this, Vision finally confronts his wife who immediately gets defensive. An epic fight is about to break out between them but then . . . the bell rings. Enter Pietro, Wanda’s dead brother who apparently got a face transplant.
Wanda’s Vision
If you’re just now being introduced to the character of Wanda Maximoff, you’re probably wondering why she was so defensive during her rendezvous with S.W.O.R.D.
She’s one of the heroes so she shouldn’t be acting so aggressive, right?
Well let’s take a closer look at what’s really happening:
At the start of the series, it seems like Wanda has finally found her place in life. She’s married to the man she loves, she doesn’t have to fight off genocidal monsters anymore, and she’s living a full and happy life in the suburbs.
If you take her MCU journey into account, you’ll realize that this is all she ever wanted.
In Age of Ultron, she and her brother sacrificed themselves so their country could live in peace. She joined Captain America in Civil War so she and her fellow Avengers could keep their civil liberties. Needless to say, she’s spent her entire life defending the people she loves . . . only to end up losing them anyway.
There was even a time when she and Vision wrestled with the idea of leaving the Avengers altogether and starting over anew.
So it’s not so much of a surprise that Wanda is trying to keep this vision of her life alive.
Wanda and Monica
Believe it or not, Monica Rambeau had already been introduced into the MCU about two decades before the events of WandaVision. As mentioned in my last article, Monica’s mother was Maria Rambeau, the best friend of Carol Danvers a.k.a. Captain Marvel. Monica appeared as a child alongside her mother in the movie, Captain Marvel, which took place in the mid 1990s.
As Maria’s daughter, Monica got to see firsthand what happens to a person when they’re suffering from emotional trauma. Her mother for starters probably experienced PTSD after finding out that her best friend had been killed. It was probably hard for Monica to see her mom so emotional after Carol had returned.
But watching Maria and Carol reconnect after so many years probably had an impact on Monica’s psyche, considering the way she reacts with Wanda’s mind control.
Although they have only been friends for a couple of days, Monica can tell that Wanda is truly grieving. She understands that Wanda is trying to cope with all that she’s been through.
Final Thoughts
We tend to see these kind of relationships a lot in the MCU, especially between heroes and their non-powered best friends. We saw it in Winter Soldier when Cap refused to give up on a brainwashed Bucky, and we saw it in Captain Marvel.
I truly feel like this is one of the many reasons why people resonate with the MCU so much.
The term “superhero” is usually defined as an over-powered and impossibly perfect individual who always manages to save the day. But then we have superheroes like Wanda and Vision who deal with very human problems such as isolation, grief, and depression.
Gone is the romanticized idea that heroes are flawless. As society progresses, we’re starting to look for heroes in the most unexpected places, and I’m glad I’m alive to witness it.
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