Today is the day. Disney and Marvel who are thirsty for something new, the drought ends today. The Disney+ exclusive series WandaVision which premieres Friday, January 15, 2021 is here.
A new trailer was released on Twitter to whet appetites one last time. While careful not to give too much away, but we do get a few brief glimpses of superhero action towards the end, along with a first look at the returning Kat Dennings as Thor’s Darcy Lewis, who once referred to Thor’s hammer Mjölnir as “Miu miu”.
Now before we get into Marvel Studios’ brand new exclusive series WandaVision, and learn how the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s charming newlyweds ended up in Westview, it’s important to look back on Wanda Maximoff’s (Elizabeth Olsen) role within the MCU and how she became involved with Vision (Paul Bettany).
Wondering about Wanda
Wanda, also known as the Scarlet Witch, has fought both with and against the Avengers, as she learned to hone her abilities and do what she believes is right to help the world. Wanda and her twin brother found themselves fighting alongside HYDRA after agreeing to undergo experiments, where she gained her powers.
She actually made her brief initial appearance in the MCU during a mid-credits scene at the end of Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
Avengers: Age of Ultron
Wanda believed Tony Stark was responsible for her parents’ death where she and her twin brother Pietro were the sole survivors of an explosion, caused by a Stark missile, in their Sokovian apartment building.
In Avengers: Age of Ultron, Wanda initially chose to work with Ultron because they shared a mutual disdain for Stark, however Wanda and Pietro eventually switched sides after discovering the true nefarious nature of Ultron’s plans, and his manipulation of the twins. Sadly, grief and rage continue to haunt Wanda as Pietro was killed battling Ultron.
Wanda took out her revenge on the mechanical monster by tearing his robotic heart from his body. This time, she would not have to grieve alone as she is taken in by The Avengers. Wanda finds inspiration from Clint Barton, also known as Hawkeye, who sees potential in her and becomes a mentor to her. Wanda joined new recruits Vision, Falcon, and War Machine in upstate New York at the new Avengers Headquarters.
Captain America: Civil War
In Captain America: Civil War we see that Wanda and Vision have grown closer, developing an intense romance between the two. During a mission in Lagos, in an effort to save Captain America from dying at the hands of Crossbones, Wanda accidentally caused the deaths of innocent civilians. Unfortunately, this incident led to the United States government to enact the Sokovia Accords, which would put the Avengers under the oversight of the United Nations.
This proposal caused a strain within the Avengers as Iron Man and his supporters agreed to the terms and signing, while Captain America and his side refused. Troubled by the inability to make amends while confined in Stark’s Avengers Compound, Wanda escaped and chose Cap’s side while Vision sided with Iron Man.
When the Civil War between members of The Avengers culminated in a battle between the two sides in Germany, Wanda proved herself a highly effective addition to Cap’s rogue team as they battled against Iron Man and those who sided with him, notably not holding back while others did against their friends.
When she became injured during the fight, Vision rushed to her aid at the detriment of his own teammates. Wanda, along with her teammates, were captured and imprisoned in the Raft underwater prison, but eventually freed by Captain America who broke them out.
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Avengers: Infinity War
In Avengers: Infinity War, it was revealed that for the past 2 years, Wanda would sneak off to spend time with Vision, who was still working alongside Stark, for secret romantic getaways. During a rendezvous in Scotland, as the couple debated staying together on the run and abandoning their lives behind, they were interrupted by the arrival of Thanos’ forces who sought to retrieve Vision’s Mind Stone for their leader.
In an attempt to prevent Thanos from obtaining the Mind Stone, Vision suggested that Wanda use her powers to destroy the Stone at the cost of his own life. Both Wanda and Cap rejected the idea, however, during the battle in Wakanda, she was forced to destroy Vision’s Mind Stone to keep it from Thanos, while using her powers to simultaneously hold the enemy off.
However, Wanda was not able to stop Thanos from using the Time Stone to instantly bring Vision back to life to instantly tear the Mind Stone from his head leaving him a lifeless husk in front of her. While grieving over the loss of her loved one, Wanda slowly disintegrated when Thanos, in possession of all the Stones, snapped the Infinity Gauntlet, destroying half of all life in the Universe.
Avengers: Endgame
Five years later, in Avengers: End Game, the Avengers were able to reverse Thanos’ snap and decimation of human life thanks to Ant Man, who was trapped in the Quantum Realm. Wanda joined the heroes on the battlefield and unleashed her fury on the Titan. At the cost of his own life, Tony Stark was able to remove Thanos and his minions from the board. Unfortunately, despite the return of those lost in the snap, the Avengers were unable to undo Vision’s death prior to the catastrophic event.
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Don’t miss the premiere of Marvel Studios’ WandaVision on Friday, January 15, streaming exclusivly on Disney+!
Joia DaVida reports on the entertainment industry in both Chicago and Los Angeles.
