Ryan Shoots First: WandaVision (S1 Ep3) “Now In Color”

WandaVision made waves last week with its unique trippy approach to MCU storytelling. This week we are back in the 70’s and in living color. First let me catch you up on some of the leading theories the MCU community has come up with over the last week. May be fun for those of you who don’t dive into the same rabbit holes I do…

Leading Theories

• Vision is in fact dead, evidence by the “Indestructible head” line from last week referencing visions death in Infinity War
• Wanda in an attempt to handle her grief has created a pocket universe she controls where she has her perfect life with VIsion, she is in control of everything seeming aware and unaware at the same time. FUN FACT check out the House of M storyline from the comics for a brief idea what they are going for here. 
• A Hydra cell has captured Wanda and Vision and has placed them in this false world to try and im pregnant Wanda to capture the powerful offspring she would have. 
• Everyone else in the town we see are real people trapped in Wanda’s world and seemingly want out. 
• Those are the prevailing theories now on with Episode 3!

Recap

We start this week with a homey 70’s Brady Bunch style opening. They are preparing for their coming baby, buying cribs and setting up swing sets. Vision is confused as to how they even got pregnant which leads to a comical sitcom moment with the doctor explaining how babies are made. The baby seems to be growing at an alarming rate which has the couple confused. There is an odd moment where their neighbor Herb is trimming his bushes and trims straight into the cement block between their houses seemingly unaware. Vision returns to the home and Wanda has gotten even bigger. Vision does some math and figures the baby will be here in 3 days. Contractions cause Wanda to kinda flip out and blow the power to the neighborhood. Vision begins to realize something is wrong here, connecting dots and then time jumps back and Vision goes back into his loop. Wanda’s water breaks and it begins to rain inside the house. 

We cut to another commercial with the same couple from the first 2 episodes. Fans believe these two are Wanda’s parents. The commercial is for Hydra soap. Back to the episode the rain stops and Wanda air dries the house. Vision runs to get help as the doctor is supposed to go on vacation. Wanda hears a noise coming from the nursery but before she can investigate the doorbell rings. It is Geraldine she needs to borrow a bucket as all the pipes in her house have burst. Before Geraldine can leave, a stork wanders into the house. Geraldine hears the stork and seems to break out of her character. Her voice changes and her facial expressions before Wanda explains it away and she snaps back in. Vision gets the doctor as the house goes bonkers and Geraldine tries to help. Wanda delivers the baby right as Vision and the doctor come home. They decide to name him Tommy, just then Wanda starts delivering another baby another boy. The doctor tells Vision they will not get to go on their vacation as it is so hard to escape these small towns. He seems to say it with a slightly scared tone. Just then Vision notices Agnes and Herb whispering over in the side yard. Agnes asks if Geraldine is inside with Wanda the two seem concerned. Wanda tells Geraldine about her brother and she momentarily breaks out of her loop, she asks Wanda “he was killed by Ultron wasn’t he?” Wanda asks her what she said and Geraldine tries to play it off she seems to still be out of her loop but is trying to play the part. Wanda asks her to leave as outside Herb is trying to tell Vision they are all trapped. Wanda confronts Geraldine and is looking very threatening. Vision comes back in and asks where Geraldine is but Wanda says she had to rush home. 

The look on Wanda’s face seems to imply she is in full control as the standard 4:3 old aspect ratio slowly grows to the modern 16:9. We cut to the modern day Westview and we see Geraldine thrown from a field around the town. She wakes up and is surrounded by vehicles and helicopters as a military base is set up at the outskirts of the town. The credits roll. 

A few more things to unpack, the villagers seem to be a little more aware of their predicament than originally thought and it is very clear Wanda is running the show. The big question now is the military just observing or are they involved. I’ll dive back into the rabbit hole and follow up next week with what the community is saying. 

Observations

• The more I think about the title I love it. The idea that she is controlling everything coupled with the TV era settings. It’s perfect.
• Vision’s line about “All the worlds a stage” is rather cryptic
• Again Olson and Bettany are having a ball. 
• Wanda hit that reset again.
• Rain in the house when her water breaks…cause Wanda is controlling this world!
• Well no young Marvel fans are gonna learn anything about where babies come from from this episode. 
• Nice moment from Geraldine their to break from her character for the moment, her voice and face changes sold that she was snapping out of it. 
• Poor Ralph
• Geraldine done messed up
• More SWORD references, maybe Geraldine was sent in as a spy? 
• Loved the switch to the 16:9 to transition us to the real world. 
• Really interested in if those babies are real or what.