Recasting! WandaVision Episode 5 Rundown:

After taking the time to explain what has being going on with S.W.O.R.D. outside the ‘hex’; episode 5 returns us to Westview while also sticking with the S.W.O.R.D. narrative on the outside as the show balances what is happening in the 2 realities. The new style for the latest episode allows for the plot to thicken while also providing us with the humour of the sitcom that the first 3 episodes gave us. Viewers were also left gobsmacked by the 1st real bombshell in the show which has left questions shooting across the fan base.

The Secrets of Westview begin to unravel:

Episode 5 begins in the 80s style of Westview, where Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany) are trying to put their twin babies, Billy & Tommy, to sleep. We get to see the on screen chemistry of Olsen and Bettany once again as the two discuss how to put the twins to sleep. In the end, Wanda takes it upon herself to use her powers to put them to sleep, but this ends in failure. This surprises Wanda and all of the viewers as it is not often the powers of Wanda do not work. Not being able to control her twins like she has been able to others people begs the question of why she couldn’t.

Before we get any answers, Agnes (Kathryn Hahn) arrives just on queue. Seemingly perfect timing, Agnes offers to help Wanda put the twins to sleep. Being the protective father, Vision is unsure of this. Agnes seems taken aback by this and ignores Vision before asking Wanda if they should “take it from the top”. Shockingly, Agnes breaks the fourth wall which surprises Wanda and especially Vision. Wanda manages to play this off as a joke to Vision, but clearly Wanda is hiding something because Agnes breaking the fourth wall tells us she knows about the sitcom and must have a clear grasp on the reality she is in, unlike everyone else in Westview. Further highlighting this is the fact Agnes is unaffected by the rapid growth of the twins in the episode.

Throughout the episode Agnes provides comic relief, but as we have been doing throughout the series we question everything she does. Episode 5 is the clearest hint that Agnes is not who she says she is. Entering with a dog house a few minutes after being discovered by the twins is bizarre and makes no sense; unless she knew about the dog and where it came from. Later in the episode we also see Agnes retrieve the dog that has somehow died in her bushes. Her involvement with the dog is odd, especially as she was the one who found it dead on the same day the dog was discovered. Vision looks like he is right when he is suspicious of Agnes.

Star of WandaVision, Paul Bettany teased before the episode dropped that “couple’s aren’t necessarily that fond of each other.” For the first time in the MCU, episode 5 showed conflict between Wanda and Vision, as Vision begins to question everything in Westview. Vision says to Wanda after she makes the decision to keep the dog without him that they are, “usually so much of the same mind”. Taking away the mind stone Easter egg, the dialogue begins to show how Vision is starting to drift away from Wanda and is thinking more for himself rather than what Wanda wants.

At his place of work on a Saturday, Vision continues to learn about what is happening inside Westview. Being a synthezoid, Vision is a wiz with technology and introduces Norm to a brand new 80s computer. He helps Norm open an email, which turns out to be from S.W.O.R.D. The email talks about the Maximoff anomaly. Eerily, everyone in the office laughs this off as a joke, but the ever evolving Vision is confused. Using his powers, Vision turns Norm back into his normal self which sets off panic in Norm as he tells Vision that “she” is in his head. Interestingly, no name is used, suggesting that it isn’t the obvious suggestion of Wanda, which is supported when Wanda tells Vision she isn’t controlling everyone in Westview. Many theories have suggested someone else may be behind what is happening in Westview and this episode definitely supports the theory.

Tyler Haywood v Monica Rambeau:

While we witness developments in Westview; developments in S.W.O.R.D’s knowledge of the town continues. Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Paris) is at the heart of the developments S.W.O.R.D make. Inside knowledge of Westview which Monica provides allows for her to explain the feeling of being controlled. During the episode Monica also discovers that everything isn’t an illusion. After shooting her 70s outfit, we learn that when something enters the town it is re written to fit the era the town is in.

Suspicious acting Director Taylor Haywood (Josh Stamberg) also reveals some key information which provides context to how Westview came to be. After clashing with Jimmy Woo (Randall Park) over the history of Wanda, Haywood shares footage of Wanda breaking into S.W.O.R.D. headquarters and stealing the corpse of the Vision. Interestingly Jimmy Woo says this broke section 36B of the Sokovia accords while also going against the wishes of the Vision that he didn’t want to be used as a weapon if he died. If Vision discovers this we could see a bigger clash between the staring couple of Westview.

Throughout the briefing, Haywood describes Wanda as a terrorist. Worried of the threat Haywood doesn’t act in unison with Monica. When Monica discovers entering Westview rewrites everything to fit the reality rather than everything being an illusion; an 80s style drone is sent into Westview being controlled by Monica. However when Wanda begins to look aggressive towards it, Haywood overrides Monica and orders his agents to shoot. This causes the drone footage to be lost as well as the coverage of the sitcom. Once again Marvel has given us an untrustworthy leader of an organisation, this time being Taylor Haywood.

Don’t mess with the Scarlet Witch:

As we reach the final act, the episode goes up a gear. After the drone footage is lost a breach occurs, the breach being Wanda Maximoff. Wanda leaves Westview with the drone and tells the surrounding S.W.O.R.D. agents that they will only get one warning. Remembering the timeline, we know the series takes place around 3 weeks after the blip, which is also 3 weeks after Wanda witnessed the death of Vision. We see a different side of Wanda which we got a glimpse of when she took on Thanos in Avengers: Endgame. Angered by her grief Wanda says she has what she wants in Westview. After Haywood tries to get Wanda to cooperate she possesses the agents so that they aim their guns at Haywood and the she returns to Westview.

Finally we got to see both sides clash for the first time and this scene will only serve to escalate tensions. Haywood will be even more determined to get into Westview while Wanda will want to keep him out. The wildcard at play is Monica, whom was the calming voice on Wanda saying she wants to help. Also when the results came back from Monica’s scans something was wrong. Potentially this could lead to Monica gaining her comic book powers. If Monica does gain her powers then she will be just as powerful as Wanda; but whose side will she help?

After the intense encounter another ‘Wanda add’ is shown. This time it is Lagos wipes, which has the cute tag line of, “When you make a mess you didn’t mean to”. Whether these adverts mean anything or are just clever Easter eggs is still unknown, but it does provide a good break in tension after Wanda disposes of the drone sent into Westview.

Biggest Bombshell so far:

Thus far there haven’t been any major bombshells in the series; we have just been learning about what is happening slowly. However, when tension escalates between Wanda and Vision our jaws finally hit the floor. Firstly, the argument Wanda and Vision have highlights the fact there is no other children in Westview other than their twins. Also Vision reveals he is scared and has no memory of his life before Westview. This is a dramatic scene as we finally start to see a separation of the couple. Before the argument gets fully out of control, a doorbell is heard which Wanda seemingly doesn’t know anything about, even though Vision assumes the worst.

Shockingly the person that was knocking was Wanda’s brother, Pietro Maximoff. However Pietro has been ‘re-cast’. Instead of being Aaron Taylor-Johnson; we are introduced to Evan Pieters, the quicksilver from Fox’s X-Men franchise which Marvel Studios now have the rights to use. Similar to the audible crowd cheers, every marvel fan watching would have seen their jaw hit the floor. Clearly the biggest bombshell and cliff hanger to the series thus far, the introduction of an alternate version of Pietro brings up many questions. Are the X-Men coming to the MCU and if so, how?

Verdict:

What’s next for WandaVision is a question that not many have the answers for. The newest episode did seem to create a rather simpler dynamic in regards to S.W.O.R.D. versus Wanda. However, after the introduction of Evan Peters’ Pietro a completely new dynamic has been opened. Add this to the dynamics already in play, like Vision’s suspicions and how Agnes’ behaviour, then we are in store for one hell of a finale. Episode 5 has created an even more complex story than before and it will set the series apart from anything we have seen before in the MCU. I don’t want to do it but I have to utter the words of the MULTIVERSE.

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