Warning! Spoilers ahead for Episode 4 of Marvel's WandaVision
In Episode 4 of Marvel's WandaVision, the curtain has begun to lift on what's really happening in the town of Westview, as well as all of the information SWORD has gathered thus far. While the Sentient Weapon Observation and Response Division was initially just as much in the dark as viewers, they soon brought in a vast array of experts to determine as to why there's a large field of energy trapping the entire town, as well as the events within.
Thanks to the efforts of the Thor franchise's Darcy Lewis, broadcasts of sitcom episodes were discovered embedded in the energy signatures coming from the town, which was comprised of, according to Darcy, "cosmic microwave background radiation," or CMBR. The episodes themselves star Wanda Maximoff along with the thought-to-be-dead Vision in Westview, co-starring its various (and very real) townspeople. As such, investigations and attempts to make contact were implemented, with much of it being lead by FBI agent Jimmy Woo (last seen in Marvel's Ant-Man & The Wasp).
Agent Woo was one of the first officials to discover that something very strange had been going on in the New Jersey town. Likewise, as soon as SWORD arrived to offer its resources and support, Woo filled a whiteboard full of all the known information, questions, and working theories they had. Here's everything that was seen on Jimmy Woo's whiteboard in Episode 4, which he split up into 5 main sections.
According to Agent Woo, there are three things SWORD knows for certain, which he's written down on his whiteboard. Firstly, they've learned that everyone living within a five-mile radius of Westview has selective amnesia, no longer having any knowledge of the town's existence. This is evidenced when SWORD agent Monica Rambeau first met Agent Woo, and the pair interrogated local law enforcement who believed Westview doesn't exist, despite the fact it was right behind them, town sign and all. This seems to be a security measure on Wanda's part, in order to deter any kind of direct interference from those nearby.
Secondly, they've also determined the energy signatures and cosmic radiation they've detected have all been triangulated on Westview itself, thankfully giving them only one location to monitor. However, the final item listed is somewhat hard to make out, as part of it is on the fringes of what is seen on-screen. It could be "Origin Location Unknown", perhaps signifying that they have yet to find the source of the energy field surrounding the town? (though Monica confirms at the ending of episode 4 that "It's all Wanda").
As far as what SWORD doesn't know, Jimmy Woo has written on the whiteboard four big questions they're hoping to answer.
"Why hexagonal shape?"
This question is in reference to the fact the SWORD has found that the energy field around the town is in the shape of a perfect hexagon, presumably the parameters of Wanda's power and control over Westview.
"Why sitcoms?"
It's still not clear to SWORD why the town has been cast in a sitcom show starring two Avengers. What is the purpose of the narratives and episodic lives they're all living?
"Same time and space?"
Considering what little SWORD knows at his point, this is a very valid question. All they have to go on are the episodes themselves, which jumped from the 1950s to the 60s and now 70s. Considering the Avengers saved the world most recently using the MCU's version of time travel in Avengers: Endgame, it makes sense this would be on Woo's mind. Is Westview literally traveling through time, or is it existing in the same space as the real world, with the reality within changing to replicate the time periods? (The answer seems to be the latter thanks to Wanda's powers.)
"Is Vision alive?"
Lastly, one of the biggest questions Agent Woo and SWORD have is whether or not Wanda's husband in the sitcoms, Vision, is indeed alive. To their knowledge, Vision was reported to have been killed by Thanos in the Battle of Wakanda during Avengers: Infinity War. If that's the case, how is he alive now?
Woo has also written down all of SWORD's failed attempts at making contact with Wanda and anyone else in Westview. Thus far, they've tried multiple avenues to no avail. Apparently, calling the phone lines and trying to contact by digital means have both failed. Likewise, they've also sent SWORD drones into the town, which turned into toy helicopters upon passing through Westview's strange energy field.
Despite Monica inadvertently going in and becoming assimilated into Wanda's fantasy as Geraldine, SWORD later sent a second agent to try and enter the town from underground, wearing a hazmat suit for extra precaution. However, he was likewise transformed and turned into the beekeeper seen at the end of WandaVision's second episode. It's still unclear what happened to him after his brief interaction with Wanda and Vision.
One of the more interesting additions to the whiteboard is a section Woo's created that posits and wonders who might actually be behind Westview's strange predicament. While he does have one option listed as an "Unknown Threat" to indicate his concern that some new mysterious threat could be responsible, he also has "Extraterrestrials" on the board with "Skrulls" written in parentheses next to it.
Seeing as how Monica's mother Maria Rambeau was the best friend of Captain Marvel and founded SWORD, it does make sense that the shape-shifting Skrulls would be on their minds. However, it seems clear they're going to find out that Wanda is the one responsible once they debrief Monica after her being forcibly banished from Westview by Wanda.
Near the bottom of the whiteboard, Agent Woo has listed even more questions regarding the sitcom nature of Westview's new existence. Is there an audience viewing these episodes somewhere? What is the purpose of the commercials intercutting the show and the lives of the people in the town? Both questions are potentially integral to figuring out why Wanda's happy ending fantasy has taken on this particular form and medium.
Agent Woo also questions whether or not the people of Westview are awake. Are they aware of what's happening to them? Are they able to resist Wanda's control and the episode narratives? Unbeknownst to SWORD, two townspeople (Westview's Agnes and Herb) have indeed expressed some sort of awareness of what's happening, though it's unclear if they're always awake, or only during lapses in Wanda's power and control.
In any case, Agent Woo and SWORD seem determined to get to the bottom of what's happening in Westview. Now that Monica has infiltrated Westview and returned, hopefully, they'll be able to answer a number of these questions soon, allowing them to come up with a plan of action as Marvel's WandaVision continues on Disney+.
from ScreenRant - Feed https://ift.tt/39vqhRR
No comments: