Warning: Spoilers Ahead!
The first two episodes of WandaVision are streaming now on Disney+. At first glance, WandaVision is a simple tale of Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany) as they try to enjoy a quiet domestic life together in New Jersey. But it’s clear that not all is at it seems, and the show has already given us some interesting hints as to what’s going on.
The obvious issue is that Vision shouldn’t even be there. Audiences saw this fan-favorite character get destroyed by Thanos in 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War. While his computer brain could possibly be transferred to another body, the show doesn’t mention how he effectively came back from the dead.
What many fans imagine is happening is that we aren’t seeing the actual “reality” of the MCU. Instead, we are seeing some kind of alternative reality. Things might be completely in Wanda’s head, turning the show’s title into a pun: we are effectively seeing “Wanda’s vision.”
Now, Wanda has the power to alter reality. It’s possible that the entire show is her way of working through the grief of Vision’s death. But it could also be the result of an outside force: in the second episode, a character asks Wanda, “Who’s doing this to you?” This may mean she’s dealing with a villain who can alter reality or enter into her mind.
Aside from that character’s question, how do we know things are “off” for our Scarlet Witch? Sometimes, we see reality change before our eyes. This includes when her shared home with Vision changes from a ranch-style house to a two-story home.
We also have some moments that effectively break the fourth wall. For example, Wanda’s neighbor Agnes greets her at one point by saying, “Look, it’s the star of the show.” And there are MCU character names randomly sprinkled throughout, including H.Y.D.R.A. leader Baron Wolfgang von Strucker’s last name appearing on a watch. You might remember Strucker as the villain who oversaw Wanda’s training in Avengers: Age of Ultron (he was killed by Ultron in that film.)
There are also overt signs that someone is watching Wanda. An agent for S.W.O.R.D. is literally watching the show unfold and taking notes. In the comics, S.W.O.R.D. stands for Sentient World Observation and Response Department, which may mean the government considers her a major threat.
Later, Wanda sees the S.W.O.R.D. logo on a toy helicopter (the only color object in a black-and-white world). This may mean someone is trying to reach out to her. And that may be the same person who tries to contact Wanda by radio. It could even be the man in a weird beekeeper outfit that seemed to be watching her.
When she sees the beekeeper, Wanda reveals that she can turn back time and replay events differently. This would indicate she has more control over this reality than we thought.
Perhaps the biggest mystery of the show is that Wanda is suddenly pregnant with Vision’s child. This may be riffing on a comic storyline where she magically conjured twin children.
Ultimately, fans will need to watch the entire show to fully unravel this mystery. And we’re pretty sure some dark, heartbreaking moments are ahead for Wanda.