The latest episode of WandaVision kicked off with Monica Rambeau's return during The Blip, and she soon learned that her mother, Maria, died of cancer two years after Thanos' attack.
We first met Maria in Captain Marvel where she was played by Lashana Lynch. Monica was just a child at the time, of course, but that movie was set during the 90s, and a lot has changed since then (Maria, for example, ended up founding S.W.O.R.D. in the years which followed).
During a recent interview with ComicBook.com, WandaVision showrunner Jac Schaeffer shared some insight into the decision to kill Maria off-screen. Admitting it was "tough," she added: "I feel very strongly about Maria and her relationship with Monica. It's so much of a part of her character. But we really wanted to set Monica up, with a rough road really."
"And we wanted to dig into her character as best we can," Scaeffer continued, "and be sort of concise with dropping the audience into like where we are in the MCU timeline and letting them know what the tone of this episode is gonna be, that we're not messing around."
While it was a shame to see Maria's story end like this, it's clearly going to factor into Monica's arc in a big way. Considering the fact she's expected to undergo a superhero transformation at some point, it was arguably far more important to set the stage for that rather than bringing Maria back.
Were you disappointed by how Maria's death was handled in WandaVision?
Click on the "Next" button below for our theories
about where WandaVision will go next!
10. Ultron Has Returned
We're all assuming that whatever's happening in Westview is tied into the Multiverse or demonic and magical villains like Mephisto and Nightmare, but there's something technological about what's happening in the town. As a result, we're left to wonder whether it's Ultron pulling the strings.
We never saw Vision kill his last remaining drone, and even if he did, the villain could have still escaped. Hell, he could have spent all this time hiding in the recesses of Vision's programming, only for what Shuri did before Thanos tore the Mind Stone from the hero being what finally freed him.
It's possible Ultron is just playing at being Vision, or that both he and Wanda are being manipulated by him. Why a sitcom? Well, Ultron's abilities could be limited after his destruction, so he may have found a way to trap them in Westview, siphoning off the Scarlet Witch's powers to create a new body.
9. Agnes Is Nightmare
On the surface, it seems pretty obvious that Agnes is, in fact, Agatha Harkness. The nosy neighbour dresses as a witch during Halloween, and we've even seen set photos of what looked like Kathryn Hahn's character present at the Salem Witch Trials (or at least during that period of history).
However, when you stop and think about it, does this reveal not fell a little too...obvious?
With that in mind, we'd be willing to put money on Agnes being Nightmare. That villain is rumoured to be part of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, and while there have been hints Agnes is also trapped in Westview, those could quite easily be red herrings. Nightmare likes creating realities, so perhaps he/she has made this sitcom for his own entertainment...and to help Mephisto get his hands on Tommy and Billy. That villain could very easily be Nightmare's master.
8. Quicksilver "Returns"
We know there are rumours and potential leaks out there which have pointed to the return of Quicksilver, and we do indeed believe the speedster is returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
However, don't expect Aaron Taylor-Johnson to race into town. Instead, we're banking on Evan Peters playing the character...but not the one from Fox's X-Men movies. You know how in older sitcoms (The Fresh Prince of Bel Air and Aunt Viv, for example), a lead is recast and no one says anything? Well, that's probably going to be the same here, with Peters playing Wanda's brother.
He'll no doubt come to visit, causing chaos in the house, and further confusing Vision. As time passes, Wanda will realise all is not right with her "brother," but who could he really be? We'll get to that.
7. Vision Can't Leave Westview
If Wanda is simply using her powers to bring Vision back from the dead, then why are they stuck in Westview? And why are they living out a sitcom? Those are two huge questions, and while we can't answer them just yet, we're pretty sure it's going to be revealed that the android can't leave this bubble.
Wanda may have made a deal with a demonic entity like Mephisto or is being manipulated with the promise she can have the man she loves back. Either way, one of the most likely reasons for that bubble around the town is that it not only keeps people inside, but stops two specific inhabitants leaving.
What this means for Vision's future remains to be seen, but his fate appears to be tied to Westview.
6. "Ralph"
Agnes was one of only a handful of townspeople who weren't identified by S.W.O.R.D. in the latest episode of WandaVision, hence why we can't help but wonder if she's Nightmare; Dottie could be Mephisto, but don't be surprised if she's just another regular person trapped in this reality, though.
Agnes' rabbit being called "Scratchy" could be a nod to Agatha's son, Nick Scratch, or more likely a reference to the devil (who is sometimes referred to as Old Scratch). There are a lot of theories about her mysterious husband, Ralph, as well, and we're banking on him coming to play at some point.
It's possible Agnes is married to Mephisto or Nightmare, and that she needs Wanda's powers to resurrect her fallen love and bring him back to life on Earth. Alternatively, one of those villains could be forcing the witch to play along in this sitcom setting in order to free her kidnapped son or husband.
5. Evan Peters' Mystery Character Is The True Big Bad
So, Evan Peters shows up as "Quicksilver," but who is he really? It's possible he's that mystery man in Westview in the witness protection programme that Jimmy Woo was looking for, and he's another local resident being forced to play along with whoever is pulling the strings in the town.
That's a little dull, though. Instead, we think Peters will ultimately be revealed as the show's true villain, and that he only poses as Quicksilver to continue his manipulations of the Scarlet Witch.
After all, even Mephisto's powers are likely to be limited, and raising the dead is very different to breathing life into an android. That's why he pretends to be Pietro, only for it to ultimately be revealed that he's so much more than just an actor playing the role of the Scarlet Witch's dead brother. If you've seen American Horror Story, you'll know the actor will nail a demonic role like this.
4. Doctor Strange Arrives In Westview
This has to be inevitable, right? We already know that the Scarlet Witch will be in Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, so it makes perfect sense for the Sorcerer Supreme to show up here first.
It could be as simple as him arriving to take Wanda Maximoff into his care, or S.W.O.R.D. bringing Strange in to finally breach the bubble around Westview and find out what's really going on in the town.
A Benedict Cumberbatch cameo makes sense for this Disney+ series, and he can easily shed some light on who or what is behind these strange goings on. We obviously hope and anticipate Strange being more than a vehicle for exposition, but there's a lot he can bring to the table in that respect.
3. A Mutant Reveal
It would be a huge mistake for WandaVision to gloss over Wanda's powers, and we're fully expecting the theory that the Mind Stone only activated her dormant powers to pay off in the series.
Marvel Studios can use this to introduce viewers to the concept of mutants, teasing that the Avenger's powers have been there since birth, and potentially tying her losing control (if that's what has happened) into the Snap...a cosmic event which could have created even more mutants back in 2018.
Time will tell whether this leads to Magneto being revealed as her father, but it would be one hell of a reveal for Agnes to be outed as Wanda's real mom, mentioning that her father was called "Erik."
2. A Tear In The Multiverse
The reveal that her reality in Westview isn't real - and the potential loss of her children - could push Wanda over the edge. When Pietro was killed by Ultron, the Scarlet Witch let out a burst of energy which decimated his drones. If she does the same here, then a hole could be torn in reality itself.
This would explain J. Jonah Jameson's appearance in Spider-Man: Far From Home, and helps make sense of what little we know about the likes of Loki, Spider-Man 3, and even What If? to an extent.
Realising what she's done, Wanda will no doubt try to help make things right alongside Strange by delving into the "madness" of the Multiverse. Well, that or the one-time Avenger will be the lead villain there.
1. It's All Vision's Fault
During the first four episodes of WandaVision, Marvel Studios has really tried hard to give us the impression that Vision is questioning his surroundings and an unwilling participant. Wanda clearly has some control over events, but what if she's the one who is playing along in the Vision's reality?
Perhaps Tony Stark watched old sitcoms as a kid, and that's what put them in the android's mind. Wanda may have tried to use her powers to resurrect her fallen lover, only for those (they're tied to the Mind Stone as well, remember) to trap them both in a reality created by his mind and her powers.
He might not even remember that's what happened, while Wanda is trying to protect the reality he's made. This might also help explain why the hero doesn't appear to recall dying...twice.