WandaVision was a psychological journey into the mind of Wanda Maximoff, as writer Jac Schaeffer took viewers for a 9-episode sitcom ride that led to that heartbreaking finale. However, even in the world of endless possibilities enabled by What If…?, this MCU power couple still can’t catch a break.
Marvel Studios is a bit reluctant when it comes to showing superhero romance on-screen and it seems like Phase Four will be missing a lot of the couples that made up that aspect of the MCU. Perhaps that’s what made WandaVision such a refreshing show, because it shone a light on a side of these heroes that needed further exploring, albeit that light being constructed by the Scarlet Witch’s made-up world invaded by Agatha Harkness.
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All this is what makes Vision very “logical” attempt keep the zombified Scarlet Witch away from the rest of the decaying population more amusing, because in the end What If…?’s fifth episode proves that even in different universes these two simply seem destined to love each other. The clever twist even takes the original comic book source material from Marvel Zombies to turn Hank Pym’s T’Challa food source into Wanda’s preferred superpowered dish.
Naturally, it helps to have Paul Bettany come back to play Vision to drive home the idea that this is the same story fans have lived before, because ever since the couple gained more importance in Avengers: Infinity War it always felt like there was a lot more to say about their relationship. Even despite the drastically shortened format, What If…? explores what one would do without the other, in this case from Vision’s scarily pragmatic way of looking at things.
While Wanda’s Westview escapade is nothing but the byproduct of a sudden burst of emotion, Vision retreats to his zombie safe haven to prevent the Scarlet Witch from harming others, even if feeding her does turn into a matter of choosing the lesser evil. That is because, no matter all the wisdom and power granted to him by the mind stone, Vision’s human qualities and his love for Wanda prevent him from irreversibly fixing things by killing the zombie Scarlet Witch.
Just like Wanda, eventually, Vision sees past his own mistake (rather quickly in this case) and sacrifices himself so that the few remaining Avengers can stand a chance at saving the world, because deep down he knows that the Wanda he loved was already gone. Of course, it’s rather different when the Scarlet Witch’s powers are running a Matrix Resurrections type of simulation in the suburbs but the message remains the same.
What If…? is all about showing how any of Marvel’s heroes can become misguided villains with world-threatening potential, or how villains can walk a straight path too, just like Wanda is briefly the villain in the eyes of the SWORD agency. This is a premise that could soon materialize again soon with so many rumors pointing to the Scarlet Witch being one of the villains in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, or possibly sooner depending on Strange’s role in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
With Black Widow now gone, Elizabeth Olsen’s Scarlet Witch is arguably Marvel Studios’ biggest female character, or at least that’s the case until The Marvels gives Carol Danvers more personal ties by diving into her relationship with Maria and Monica Rambeau. This is huge considering the Scarlet Witch probably ranks quite high in the power rankings for the current Avengers’ lineup, maybe only outclassed by Thor and Captain Marvel.
Instead of responsibility, that power comes packed with tons of emotional baggage stemming from the loss of the man she loved and now the would-be children they could have raised together. The latter is likely to be the main driver of the Scarlet Witch becoming an antihero in the future but all this backstory is what even makes What If…?’s take on the couple believable in the first place.
What If…?’s producers spoke about the importance of having the animated series only play alternate takes of events that had already happened in the MCU rather than introducing new ones. This is a masterstroke because it is much different to have the zombie Scarlet Witch revealed as another What If…? easter egg as opposed to seeing her in this juxtaposed love tragedy after watching WandaVision.
The Watcher didn’t have much to say on What If…?’s fifth episode, yet his few words mostly contemplated the undying hope behind the efforts from what was left of the Avengers to save this run rundown Earth. No matter how sad Wanda and Vision’s story seems at times, their love is also a reminder of hope, because at their hardest hours their bond allows them to rise for the occasion, so be sure to watch out for the Scarlet Witch having some Vision flashbacks in the future whenever things get tough.
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