WandaVision Episode 3: What We Learned This Week | Game Rant
The following article contains spoilers for episode 3 of WandaVision.
This week's episode of WandaVision saw the meta Marvel universe intrude on the Westview reality in a major way. While the show once again managed to make the most of its uncanny sitcom stylings to elicit some wonderfully tense moments, episode 3 provided more instances that felt in tune with the MCU for hardcore fans to latch onto.
While this episode gave fans a brand new sitcom style more in line with the shows of the mid to late 60s, it also delivered some powerful moments that further hinted at the sinister nature of the reality the show's central couple is living in. Here's what we learned from 'Now in Color.'
If there were any lingering doubts after episode 2, they were quickly dispelled after an unsettling scene where Vision questions what’s happening in Westview. As he recounts the bizarre occurrences that have befallen their neighbors, Vision surmises there’s something more sinister at play than the two concealing their superpowers. At which point reality seems to glitch, returning to moments before Vision expressed his concerns. His attention instead turns to Wanda’s pregnancy, with his suspicions seemingly erased. Much like when the beekeeper appeared in episode 2, any hint of the Westview bubble being challenged prompts Wanda to course-correct events towards a direction she’s happy with.
Similarly, after Wanda refers to her twin brother Pietro, Geraldine mentions that he was killed by Ultron in an attempt to test her response. Wanda sees this as another threat to her Westview bubble and it’s implied that she evicts Geraldine from this reality. Fans have speculated that Wanda is responsible for conjuring this reality and episode 3 has all but confirmed it. For what purpose? It remains unclear, but it seems likely that Vision’s death at the hands of Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War will bear some responsibility, though there may yet be something more sinister at play.
For most people, delivering twins would be the most stressful part of their day. For Geraldine, it was merely the prelude to being hurled from one reality to another. As Wanda interrogates Geraldine in the wake of her Pietro comment, she notices that her necklace features the SWORD emblem. It triggers an aggressive response from Wanda as she demands to know Geraldine's true identity. If she does answer, it's never shown to the audience. Though it hasn’t been confirmed in the show yet, it’s widely acknowledged that “Geraldine” is actually Monica Rambeau, first seen in Captain Marvel. It's likely that she was piloting the SWORD helicopter that Wanda finds in episode 2, as she only makes her first appearance after Wanda discovers it.
At the episode’s climax, she’s ejected from what appears to be a shimmering bubble surrounding the town of Westview in the real world. It’s possible to interpret Wanda’s suggestion that Geraldine “had to rush home,” as an indication she was both responsible and knows Geraldine’s not a resident of Westview. Elizabeth Olsen's deliberate nonchalance during this scene masterfully keeps the audience guessing. Hopefully, the next episode will reveal SWORD’s activities and intentions, how Monica came to be involved.
Whether the other inhabitants of Westview are figments of Wanda’s subconscious or imprisoned in the Westview universe remains up for debate, but they are at least aware that something is seriously wrong. Having attended to the twins after their birth, Vision accompanies the Doctor to the driveway. He asks whether the Doctor will manage to make it on his trip to Barbados and the Doctor responds that it seems unlikely, “small towns, you know, so hard to escape.” His response hints that the town's inhabitants are indeed real people who are trapped in this reality.
Having waved the Doctor off, Vision catches Agnes and Herb gossiping. The two reluctantly reveal that Geraldine doesn't have a home in this universe and Herb tries to reveal the reason, "She came here because we're all..." but as Agnes pleads with him not to, he can't get the final word out. Then he and Agnes return to their normal jovial selves, presumably as this is the moment Geraldine is removed from Westview. It's a tantalizing conversation, leaving audiences on the verge of uncovering a huge secret. However, the nature of their existence in this town will have to wait for a future episode.
The final scene of the episode confirms that Westview does exist in the real world. As SWORD rush to recover Geraldine, the camera pulls back to reveal floodlights illuminating the shimmering bubble constructed around Westview. Fans had questioned whether the idyllic town was imagined into existence by Wanda. However, this is concrete proof that there is a real world equivalent. In fact, written underneath the giant ‘Welcome to Westview’ sign is the moniker, “Home! It’s where you make it.” It seems like another subtle hint to the fact that Wanda appears to have conjured an alternate reality for herself in Westview. Beyond the sign, lights are visible inside several houses, which further suggests that the inhabitants do exist in the real world.
Episode 3 of WandaVision offered fans some answers, but conjured many more questions in the process. Did Geraldine deliberately enter Westview? What was up with Agnes’ grim reaper necklace and will we ever meet her husband Ralph? Unlike Vision, the show isn't revealing all of its cards just yet. One thing's for sure, though, it's serving up plenty for fans to chew over until the next episode.
WandaVision is streaming now, on Disney Plus
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