Contains Spoilers
The endgame for ‘WandaVision’ is starting to come to the fore, as more is revealed around the nature of reality in The Hex. The show has built itself up lately on playing out the two halves of its narrative side by side with the sitcom world inside The Hex and the more standard MCU drama going on outside of it. Episode seven plays out in much the same fashion, and while it almost starts to feel frustrating, the show continues to have tricks up its sleeve to keep you hooked, with another (admiteddally predictable) reveal injecting some campy fun into the proceedings.
With Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) having extended the perimeter of The Hex, and engulfing Darcy (Kat Dennings) along with a number of SWORD employees, Monica (Teyonah Parris) needs to act fast before SWORD strikes to take out Wanda. Meanwhile in The Hex, Vision (Paul Bettany) teams with Darcy to try and finally figure out what is happening, all the while Wanda seems to be losing control of the little details in her surroundings.
The sitcom stylings of this episode evoke the likes of Modern Family and The Office, as characters directly address the camera to discuss moments that have just happened, along with Jim Halpert-esque sideway glances. As was the case last week, the sitcom recreation is starting to feel like a less crucial component of the whole thing, with the touches to recreate the style feeling less inspired than the earlier episodes. It is as a consequence of the fact that everything is starting to fall away, as the only function it now serves is entirely as distraction from the plot which now certainly takes more precedence.
The plot itself continues to intrigue, if mainly for elements that reference the comics and are creating paths for certain characters going forward in the MCU. That is particularly the case when it comes to Monica Rambeau, as her travelling through The Hex for a third time changes her on a cellular level once more, paving the way for her to become her comic-book counterpart, Photon. With Parris confirmed to be a part of the Captain Marvel 2 cast, it’s going to be exciting to see her grapple with her powers in future installments. But moreso, I’m happy Parris is going to be sticking around, as she’s been a true highlight of this series. A scene she has with Olsen here where she attempts to connect with Wanda over a shared sense of grief is very well played, with Moncia trying to convince Wanda that accepting grief as part of the truth of who she is is the only way she can truly move on. Olsen is very good in the episode once again, giving a very sympathetic portrayal of a woman who is struggling to manage her grief. Monica comes close to reaching out to Wanda, but before she can connect someone comes in and takes her away, and we finally get to see who has been pulling the strings in Westview.
I doubt it is no surprise to anybody watching this show that Kathryn Hahn as Agnes had more to do with everything going on then simply being another resident of Westview under Wanda’s control. She enters too many moments with all too convenient timing, and there have been nods and clues within costuming that pointed towards a certain witchy nature. And lo behold, it is revealed (in a very funny montage I might add) that she is the character Agatha Harkness, a powerful witch from the Marvel Comics whose origins date right back to the Salem witch trials, and who has clearly been keeping Wanda under a certain spell this whole time. It’s going to be a lot of fun to finally see Hahn let rip in villainously campy form over the last two episodes, as well as bear witness to exactly how the MCU ‘s Agatha will compare to her not always so nefarious character in the comic books. Could there still yet be another villainous reveal waiting in the wings?
There have been some pieces online in the last week questioning whether the show has peaked too early, and whether its week by week release strategy has been to its detriment. For this writer, the week by week nature has been a great way to engage with the show, giving everyone time to fuss over the details and develop theories in fun conversation with like minded comic book and MCU fans. To have released it in the binge strategy (a strategy which I personally think damages more shows than it benefits), generates a more palpable sense of excitement, particularly when the show itself is structured in such a way that likes to drop big reveals and cliffhangers. Sure, it is also a strategy to ensure Disney+ subscribers don’t cancel after binging their new favourite show in one weekend, but it also keeps things fun on a speculative level, and generates that ‘water cooler’ esque style of discussion that you simply don’t get with binging a show in one go. .
This is the first episode that has felt the most like padding to me, one that offers a couple of nice beats and a sweet reveal, but otherwise is pretty unremarkable, particularly when considering the sitcom approach. But it does enough to tantalise for the final two episodes, with more direct nods to alternate universe theories (there’s references to the Nexus, the Marvel comics name for the gateway between alternate realities), and the promise of Hahn taking more of the spotlight.
