WandaVision: Episode 7 - Breaking the Fourth Wall
We’re here to start getting some answers as the world starts crashing around Wanda. We’re going to have just two more episodes left before we get to the end. I keep forgetting to mention that I have created a Masterlist for this series!
This Episode was Inspired By - Modern Family & other sitcoms in the last 10 years.
Cast of Characters
Wanda Maxmioff
Vision
Tommy & Billy
Agnes
Monica Rambeau
Darcy Lewis
Episode Summary
The episode starts with Wanda waking up the next morning after Halloween. It’s obvious that Vision hasn’t returned home. She’s having trouble getting out of bed. There’s cuts to her sitting in a living room chair talking to the camera ala Modern Family. Billy and Tommy run into her room telling her that something is wrong with their game. We see that Billy and Tommy are playing video games, but the controllers will randomly change to earlier versions to even non-electronic toys in a sporadic fashion. Billy also explains his head is feeling strange, likely because of his newly developing telepathic abilities. Wanda comments how because of her use of powers the previous night, she feels she needs alone time for herself. She lacks the past interest in being a parent like the previous episodes.
We later see the boys arguing until they see their mom finally come down the stairs. She goes into the kitchen to make herself cereal for breakfast. Random things like the milk randomly starts transforming from modern day almond to whole milk in a variety of packaging at random. Wanda talks to the camera stating she’s not sure why that’s happening, but doesn’t seem to be bothered only saying “It’s probably just a case of the Mondays.”
The opening credit sequence is based on the US version of The Office.
A new SWORD base camp is being built as they observe the expanded “Hex.” Hayward comments that today is the day should launch.
Back in the Hex, we see Vision waking up from nearly being killed the night before from trying to leave the Hex. Vision is srurprised to see the previously empty field now has the setup of a circus there. He’s greeted by one of the S.W.O.R.D. agents who was skeptical of Darcy is dressed as a strongman in the circus. He tells Vision that he is late to rehearsals with the escape artist, revealed to be Darcy. She had been handcuffed to a jeep when she was pulled into the Hex, which has now turned into her being tied up with a chain to a old fashion circus parade car.
Darcy has turned into another Circus cast member as she speaks to the camera for her interview talking about how she wanted to be a bearded lady, but wasn’t qualified. Vision recognized Darcy as the woman who was trying to help him, but Darcy clearly doesn’t remember from the Hex transformation and doesn’t seem to be interested in talking to him.
Back the house, Wanda asks the boys if they have seen their Dad. The boys tell her know and are interested in going out to find him. Wanda is blase and decides it doesn’t matter if their dad choose not to come home. Billy asks about the thing their uncle said about “re-killing” their Dad. Wanda warns them that Pietro isn’t really their uncle. They’re understandably confused and Wanda indicates how she doesn’t know all the answers and perhaps everything is meaningless. The boys are both visibly worried and confused.
Agnes arrives and sees the situation. She speaks to the camera for her own interview stating it was probably good timing she arrived to help get a handle on the situation. She volunteers to babysit the boys so Wanda can have “me time.” Agnes and the boys leaves. Wanda sees more glitches and tries to fix them still uncertain what’s going on.
Meanwhile we catch up with Jimmy and Monica. Jimmy checks his e-mail and he notes that Darcy was able to finish her hacking before being pulled into the Hex. He explains Project Cataract appears to be Hayward’s attempt to reactivate Vision. It’s failed thus far until Wanda apparently did it. Monica says Hayward probably wants his sentient weapon back. Jimmy says someone needs to go in and tell Wanda what’s going on. They arrive at the meeting spot where they get needed equipment from other S.W.O.R.D. staff with closer ties to Monica and her mother than to Hayward.
Vision keeps following Darcy who isn’t interest in talking to him. Eventually through a bit of trickery, Vision is able to use his powers on Darcy to wake her up. She reveals her real name and Vision remembers her name from the strange e-mail he saw at work in Episode 5. She agrees to explain more info to him. They both grab a van and quickly escape the circus back to his and Wanda’s house.
Wanda continues to see glitches and she’s still frustrated with not knowing what’s going on and why they’re happening.
At Agnes’s house, the boys are playing with Senor Scratchy. Billy says he likes being in her house because “you’re quiet on the inside.” Agnes looks concerned about this. The boys are understandably concerned about their mom, while Agnes tries to reassure them their mom will be okay.
Monica attempts to enter the Hex, but the equipment fails as they are partially transmuted. She goes in directly where she hears echoes of her childhood as seen in Captain Marvel. She emerges in Westview and her eyes are glowing while demonstrating an ability to see energy in the Hex. She hurries to Wanda’s house.
Darcy and Vision slowly make their way towards the house as well where Darcy is answering Vision’s questions and explaining the truth of his past and origins. They keep being diverted from getting to the house faster. Vision is convinced Wanda is preventing from getting home for some reason. Despite the terrible past, Darcy does reassure him that their love for each other is real.
Monica arrives and tries to warn Wanda, but Wanda forces her out of the house. Monica shows signs of her new abilities as she’s able to resist injury from Wanda’s attack. Monica confronts Wanda to force her to listen and recognize that you have to face your sorrows and pain instead of hiding the truth from yourself. Agnes sees what’s going on outside and interrupts the conversation. She pulls Wanda inside her house.
Vision and Darcy are still being blocked. Vision has processed everything Darcy told him and he realizes he needs to hurry back home to reconcile with his emotionally vulnerable wife. He flies off without Darcy.
At Agnes’s house, Wanda notices signs the boys were there but she doesn’t see them. Agnes tells her they probably went into the basement. She goes to find them and soon sees a strange tunnel that leads into a strange chamber filled with bones and a strange, glowing book. Agnes emerges looking different where she reveals Wanda wasn’t the only magic user in the town. She introduces herself by he real name: Agatha Harkness.
The episode ends with an amusing musical montage of scenes from past episodes. They demonstrate examples of Agatha using her powers to interfere with some of the events in the story. They include Herb’s behavior in episode 3, the sudden appearance of Pietro in episode 5, and her odd behavior in episode 6.
For the first time, we get bonus scene in the end credits. Monica is trying to get into Agnes’s house to talk to Wanda again. She manages to get into a cellar door. She sees glowing purple vines that correspond to Agatha’s apparent magic. She looks like she’s planning to go in that way when she’s confronted by Pietro. “Snoopers are gonna snoop.”
Commercial Break - Nexus anti-depressant pills “Because the world doesn’t revolve around you. Or does it?”
Observations & Questions
We finally get some answers as we race towards the final two episodes of this series. There been lots of fan theories that Kathryn Hahn’s “nosy neighbor” role description was rather suspicious considering she seems to be listed as being more prominent in the casting than just a nosy neighbor. Also taking into account some of the most well known storylines for Wanda and Vision, it seemed to comic book fans Kathryn might be playing a version of Agatha Harkness, who was Wanda’s mentor in magic and had some gray area roles throughout the comics.
It’s now clear that Monica is going to Photon in the MCU now that she’s gotten her powers similar to the ones she has in the comics. It remains to be seen how she’s going to try to use the newly developed powers in the final two episodes. It’ll be interesting what happens to the character after the show since Teyonah Parris is set to play the character again in the upcoming Captain Marvel sequel.
The other fascinating thing is the commercial break in this episode. Out of all the commercial breaks in this TV series, this one is most clearly pointing and referring to Wanda. The commercial is a spoof of a depression medication commercial, which tonally matches Wanda’s mood in this episode. The pointed references to “the world doesn’t revolve around you” is both a rebuke of Wanda creating an artificial world for her own comfort regardless of everyone else trapped in Westview not having a choice in the matter and also emphasizing how she does have this frightful power.
Another notable thing is the mention of the symptoms of the drug, which includes: feeling your feelings, confronting your truth, seizing your destiny and possibly more depression. These “symptoms” are poignant because Wanda’s confrontation with Monica later in the episode echoes this. We’re getting a clear reminder of how this whole Hex is Wanda not dealing with her painful traumatic life in a more healthy way.
The final thing to point out is that the name chosen for this made up drug is called Nexus. This is likely a reference to the comics where there is the Nexus of All Realities, which is the gateway to all possible realities. In other words, this is another reference to the comic book multiverse that we’re about to see over the course of Phase 4.
Final Thoughts
It’s still not clear what Agatha is up to. Hopefully we’ll get the answers soon.