WandaVision had an awkward start, but this second episode could have been a better beginning without losing anything! The second episode is written by Gretchen Enders. She wrote episodes of Queen America. There is a recap of last episode, but most of the information is also seen in this episode. A little sitcom music when we get the bedroom of Wanda and Vision, there is a startling noise that wakes up Wanda. In typical sitcom fashion, their tiny beds are spaced apart, Vision is asleep with a night mask. Wanda uses her hex powers to flick on the light next to Vision. He wakes up and checks out the window. Vision only sees Wanda’s rose bushes. She asks him, “Are you using your night vision, Vision?” Funny. There is another banging on the house that has Vision jump into his bed. Of course, both characters are super heroes, but this is sitcom funny. He notes at work there were some “unsavory characters” that moved into the neighborhood.
Frightened again, Wanda uses her powers to bring their beds together. She hexes the curtain open and sees tree leaves hitting the window. Wanda zaps a large bed sheet and Vision has them under cover! The noise seems to be reality breaking through whatever is controlling Wanda, she is the key to this strange world. Now, we get the sitcom cartoon opening, Wanda and Vision flying to a billboard of Westview so we finally get a setting. Shopping, Wanda sees her new neighbor. At work, Vision is with his co-worker Norm by the water cooler. Then, we get Vision practicing magic with a black coat and top hat. He tries to bring in the Cabinet of Mysteries that is finally rolled out by Wanda. It has the Vision symbol of the Mind Stone with rays. They are performing for the talent show. Vision introduces himself as Illusion and his assistant is Glamor. Illusion and Glamor are the name of characters, Ilya and Glynis Zarkov, magicians with super powers, in Vision and Scarlet Witch #4 (1986).
Elizabeth Olsen has fun reacting to going into the cabinet as Illusion talks about the disappearing trick. Wanda claps as the wall flips back. She replies to Vision’s question about the act, “In a real magic act, everything is fake.” He takes out her assistant costume. Vision is going to a security meeting at the library. Wanda is fluffing up a pillow and hears the banging again. She goes outside and sees a very colorful, red and yellow helicopter toy in the rose bush. It has the S.W.O.R.D. logo that we glimpsed at the end of last episode. In the comics, S.W.O.R.D. is Sentient World Observation and Response Department, that deals with extraterrestrial threats. It was introduced in Astonishing X-Men #6 (2004) written by Joss Whedon. Wanda is surprised by her neighbor, Agnes, and drops the toy. She has brought over a pet rabbit in a cage for the magic act. Agnes greets the post office worker, Dennis (Amos Glick), while Wanda drops off the rabbit.
Wanda rejoins Agnes and she is taken to “Queen Cul-de-Sac”, Dottie, who controls everything in the town. Dottie (Emma Caufield Ford) walks out with the other ladies for a poolside party. She is a well known genre actress known for Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Wanda imitates Dottie stirring her drink. Bev (Jolene Purdy) is giving a presentation about her store’s donation to the talent show. She has forgotten chairs to the displeasement of Dottie. Another lady, Geraldine (Teyonah Parris) compliments Wanda’s pants. Parris was in the drama If Beale Street Could Talk (2018). We know she has a different identity, but she is a bit confused in this reality. Dottie brings up that the talent show is “For the children”, a strange, cultish phrase repeated by all of the ladies. Strangely, none of them seem to be parents, there is no young kids in Westview. Wanda and Geraldine introduce themselves which doesn’t make Dottie happy. At the Westview Public Library, Vision rushes in, he sees a group of men and asks if they are the Neighborhood Watch Meeting.
He sees Norm there who tries to tell him it’s a “members only meeting.” Vision slips in anyway and makes the others uncomfortable when he says he doesn’t eat. Then, he says that Norm is a Communist, which makes everyone laugh. Herb (David Payton) gives Vision a stick of gum, Big Red, and Vision takes it to fit in. Herb laughs and hits Vision on the back which leads to a cartoon of the gum going down Vision’s throat and messing with the machine work in his stomach. Later, Wanda is taking away the dishes for Dottie who is suspicious about the new couple. The radio is acting strangely, the Beach Boys song is changed to “Help Me Wanda”, they hear a voice asking, “Who is doing this to you Wanda?” The radio explodes and Dottie shatters the glass she is holding. Her hand is covered with very red blood. Wanda gets a napkin to wipe away the blood, but Dottie just wants to wash the napkin. Then, we get a commercial of a man in a tuxedo with a lady and he shows off his Strucker watch, Baron von Strucker was the supervillain who experimented on Wanda and her brother, Pietro, in The Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015). The watch clearly has the HYDRA symbol. A hint that he still has power over Wanda?
Geraldine is behind the curtain as the talent show goes on in a gazebo. Wanda is nervous in her magician’s assistant outfit. Vision stumbles in with his coat and top hat. Bettany has some funny playing a gummed up Vision. Dottie introduces the final act for the children, again this is chanted by everyone. Vision stumbles out, confused, and starts to float off the ground! The townspeople are stunned until Wanda hexes up a rope pulley system behind him. Vision’s attempt at magic gets applause until finally the Cabinet of Mysteries. He has Wanda outside when Herb starts the chant, “What’s in the box?” Wanda hexes Geraldine inside of the cabinet. Wanda then uses her power to remove the gum. Dottie announces that they have won the Comedy Performance of the Year. Vision and Wanda return home and find that she is pregnant! They hear the banging again and go out into the night. Out of a grate in the middle of the street comes a beekeeper with a dark face! Wanda rewinds back to their announcement and they kiss. Wanda finds that Vision’s face now is purple and then the rest of the house transforms into color! WandaVision has some mystery, a little comedy, and a secret!
Four Mind Stones out of Five!
#WandaVision, #DontTouchThatDial, #EmmaCaufieldFord, #TeyonahParris
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