Why WandaVision was Necessary for the MCU to Move Forward

Aside from the outlandish fan theories and disappointing twist that lead to a boner joke, WandaVision was a great series to start off Marvel's new collection of Disney+ shows. Having the first few episodes be in sitcom style with barely any clues as to how they got there in the first place was genius in order to increase viewership. Marvel's shows are made intentionally so that someone who can't afford Disney+ wouldn't need to watch them to understand the context of later films, the content provided in WandaVision will contribute to the overall viewing experience and will enhance the audience's perception of the characters.

Summary of the show that will be relevant to later points

After the events of Avengers: Endgame, Wanda Maximoff (played by Elizabeth Olsen) was left alone with no family and no friends to support her. She goes to S.W.O.R.D. headquarters, a new facility that was created during the 5 years half of life was gone, because that is where Vision's body was being kept.

When she arrives, she is shown that they have been using the vibranium from Vision's body to create a new Vision (played by Paul Bettany) that would be easily controlled and used as a military grade weapon. Upset, she leaves without Vision's body and drives to a plot of land that they had planned on growing old together in.

In her grief, Wanda's power bursts from her body and turns the entire town (the people and the scenery) into a sitcom show. There, the audience later finds out that everybody is forced to play roles and the people on the edge of town have no mobility. In short, she enslaved an entire town to cope with her grief. In this process, she creates a new version of Vision that is not real. She also has two kids with him named Billy and Tommy (who are twins and played by Julian Hilliard and Jett Klyne). Both Vision and the twins rely on The Hex, the magic boundary between Wanda's sitcom reality separate from the outside world, to survive.

At the end of the show, Agnes (a nosy neighbor played by Kathryn Hahn) reveals herself to be Agatha Harkness, a witch from the Salem Witch Trial era. After discovering (with the help of a magical book called the Darkhold) that Wanda is the Scarlet Witch, a witch that controls chaos magic, Agatha attempts to take all of Wanda's magic.

In the meantime, the new version of Vision that the S.W.O.R.D agency had built (aka White Vision) is fighting the Vision that Wanda created. Eventually, they end up having a discussion that causes White Vision to remember the memories of before The Hex and leaves the town where the audience doesn't see him again.

The head of S.W.O.R.D., Tyler Hayward (played by Josh Stamberg), attempts to kill Wanda's kids. Monica Rambeau, and agent that used to work for him played by Teyonah Parris, protects them. Monica Rambeau is the daughter of Maria Rambeau, Captain Marvel's best friend. Both Maria and Monica were introduced in Captain Marvel.

Monica had gone through The Hex barrier many times, causing her cell structure to change and ultimately giving her super abilities as well. Tommy and Billy have powers of their own and are able to save themselves from Hayward and the military.

At the end of the show, Wanda takes The Hex down. This causes her version of Vision and her kids to disappear. She then flees to study the Darkhold.

But why is any of this important to the progression of the Marvel Cinematic Universe?

WandaVision introduced new characters that will be relevant to later MCU films.

Billy and Tommy Maximoff, although temporarily gone, have only just begun their stories. In the comic books, they are known as Wiccan and Speed.

They are sure to make a comeback in Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness as Wanda is to be a prominent character in that film, as the end of her show shows her searching the Darkhold while astral projecting and hearing her children's screams.

Monica Rambeau has only just begun her new super journey, as this is also her first appearance with super abilities.

In the comic books, she goes by many names. Some include Captain Marvel, Photon, Pulsar, and Spectrum. Her final scene in WandaVision shows her speaking with a Skrull about going into space to see someone. Although the never specify who, they do specify that he's a male therefore making it seem like it's going to be Nick Fury, who is seen in space at the end of Spiderman: Far From Home. It could also be Talos, another Skrull that Monica met in Captain Marvel.

The introduction of White Vision will also be of relevance to the progression of the MCU.

Now that White Vision has the memories of the version of Vision from before he died in Avengers: Infinity War, yet has fled instead of staying with Wanda, his story will have to be explained in upcoming Marvel projects. Perhaps he finds Wanda and helps her get their kids back so they can live as a happy family.

By introducing characters in WandaVision that will later be heroes in upcoming projects, Marvel is slowly letting the audience in on what's in store for these characters. At the beginning of the MCU, Marvel released Iron Man, Captain America: The First Avenger, and Thor to introduce The Avengers. Now, they are introducing new characters in WandaVision that will hopefully one day be part of The Avengers (or perhaps, The New Avengers) as well.

WandaVision also gave us a look at Wanda's true power.

WandaVision was the first time we saw Wanda Maximoff being addressed as Scarlet Witch. Reading from The Darkhold, Agatha Harkness says:

"The Scarlet Witch is not born, she is forged. She has no coven, no need for incantation. Your power exceeds that of the Sorcerer Supreme. It’s your destiny to destroy the world."

The Sorcerer Supreme of this time is none other than Doctor Strange, a wizard who can turn black holes formed by Thanos with the space stone into a swarm of butterflies with the flick of his wrist.

Scarlet Witch is last seen studying The Darkhold with her magic while astral projecting. Next time we see her, she'd have practiced her magic more and basically be a pro.

For the MCU to progress, we needed to see Wanda handle her grief and use it as a motivator to become more acquainted with her powers. In Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness, she will be at her prime in controlling and using her powers to their full potential.

WandaVision introduced new characters that will be relevant to later Marvel projects, and Wanda's character development in this show will greatly improve her role in her future Marvel events.

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