Marvel Studios’ “WandaVision” Season Finale: Maggie’s Review
Note: This post contains significant spoilers for the final episode of “WandaVision.”
Streaming now on Disney+ is the much anticipated season finale of “WandaVision.” After last week’s emotional journey through Wanda’s past with Agatha Harkness as a guide, “The Series Finale” has a lot of loose ends to tie up. The last we saw Vision, he was flying across Westview to confront Wanda, while Monica Rambeau was last seen in the mid-credit’s scene of Episode 7, seemingly abducted by Pietro. This episode also brings the Vision vs White Vision showdown, teased in the Episode 8 mid-credit scene showing the reanimation of Vision’s synthezoid body by S.W.O.R.D.’s Director Hayward. The final episode sees Wanda face off with Agatha as they vie for the powers of the Scarlett Witch, confront the people of Westview after possessing them in the Hexagon, and come to terms with what her life can be outside of the Hexagon. Stick around after the episode’s end for a mid-credits scene and a post-credits scene teasing future MCU television and theatric releases.
“WandaVision”‘s conclusion was satisfying in many ways, but disappointing in others. Agatha and Wanda’s psychological and magical face off was an adequate boss battle given that the front half of the series was completely devoid of the superhero mayhem usually found in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The confrontation between Vision and White Vision also made for an enjoyable match up of two equals, including philosophical musings. While seeing Wanda finally step into her power (and her awesome costume) as the Scarlett Witch was very satisfying after the perilous journey she’s had through the MCU, she still doesn’t get to be happy. As corny as it sounds, it is a dispiriting pattern that Marvel doesn’t know how to let characters leave the view of the audience without either having them meet a sacrificial death or soldier on, destined for toil. Particularly given that “WandaVision” was so uniquely female driven, to the point that no male character in the series had any real agency, it’s a bit disappointing that Wanda can’t be Scarlett Witch and have a single shred of personal happiness without being saddled with the guilt of torturing hundreds (or thousands? It’s unclear) of people. But, given the post-credits scene, this is not the last we will see of Scarlet Witch, and perhaps her teased role in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” will finally see a Marvel woman get a happy ending.
