Episode 4 of Marvel's WandaVision opened with Monica Rambeau rematerializing after the events of Avengers: Endgame, only to learn the heartbreaking news that her mother, Maria, had passed away from cancer at some point over the five years since "The Blip."
Of course, fans had gotten to know Maria Rambeau (No Time To Die's Lashana Lynch) as Carol Danvers' friend and fellow pilot in Captain Marvel, and while the character's return for more MCU adventures always seemed like a long-shot, the decision to kill her off so unceremoniously still came as a surprise.
While speaking to ET, showrunner Jac Schaeffer explained the thinking behind the off-screen death.
"it was a big decision. We had a lot of conversations and Maria and Lashana, the actor, were so important in Captain Marvel and such a tremendous character. We did not make that decision lightly. [It] really worked for Monica's character and what it meant for her," she continued. "We also really loved the idea that Maria had built S.W.O.R.D. from the ground up."
Friday's episode strongly hinted that Maria's passing will factor into her daughter's ongoing story and her role in Captain Marvel 2, and the fact that she bristled at the mention of Carol's name certainly suggests that they have a few issues to work through.
Does Monica somehow blame Captain Marvel for her mother's death?
Did you guys have a problem with Maria Rambeau being killed off in WandaVision? Drop us a comment down below, and tune in this Friday for what promises to be an eventful sixth episode.
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