Murphy's Multiverse

Category: Features

  • ‘WandaVision’ Episode 7 Recap: The Woman Behind It All

    ‘WandaVision’ Episode 7 Recap: The Woman Behind It All

    If Episode 7 was any indication, we are arriving at the heights and very best of what WandaVision has to offer. The chess pieces have moved and the stakes are high. Monica Rambeau does what heroes do, Vision sorts through his feelings while Wanda loses it, and Agnes is exactly who we thought she was. Let’s examine where we are.

     

    Vision gets caught up on everything.

     

    Vision wakes up after the hex expands to being right in the middle of the circus. He recognizes Darcy from the previous night in the confrontation with S.W.O.R.D. and Hayward. Inside the hex, Darcy has become an escape artist who thinks Vision is a creep. Kat Dennings continues to be really awesome in all of her appearances and this is no exception.

    Vision catches up to bring her mind back to reality. Darcy then catches  Vision up on everything that’s happened prior to Westview, AKA Infinity War. He’s frustrated with Wanda but Darcy assures him that Wanda and Vision belong together. They later find out that Wanda is keeping Vision from getting back home, or perhaps someone else is? The seeds of doubt have been sewn so it will be interesting to see how these two reconcile.

     

    Monica Rambeau at her very best.

    Monica and Jimmy Woo are driving towards the hex so Monica can get back in there. We still don’t know the identity of the aerospace engineer but I’m sure when we find out it will be quite the surprise. Jimmy receives the info Darcy hacked from Hayward’s firewall. The intel shows that Vision is the focus of their operation, as they plan to bring him back online as their own sentient weapon. More on this later. As they arrive Monica meets with her contact, Major Goodner who brings a small unit to Westview with the vehicle Monica requested.

     

    Outside of the Hex, Monica suits up to cross over the CMBR-filled static on the rescue mission. As she drives the vehicle in the barrier turns out to be too powerful and transforms the vehicle halfway into a truck. As Monica gets out, that hero factor or whatever motivated her to keep going kicks in. She forces her way through the barrier and while struggling through we see four different versions of her split. As she holds it together we hear dialogue from Captain Marvel including Carol Danvers and Nick Fury. As she breaks through the barrier we see her eye color change to purple and a new hero is born. Is it Spectrum, Pulsar, or Photon? We have plenty of time to find out but this show has done an exemplary job of giving us Monica Rambeau’s back story the necessary treatment. Even before the series ends, we know who Monica is, her motivations and what she’s capable of without her powers. With the powers? One can only wonder.

     

    Monica then confronts Wanda at her house and Wanda immediately becomes very angry. The prior interferences from Hayward are referenced and she can’t trust anyone. Wanda then yeets Monica outside again but this isn’t the same Monica that got thrown like a rag doll in episode 3. She gathers herself and lands in a pose that only a superhero can pull off. Monica pleads with Wanda to not make herself the villain of the story. They argue and Wanda threatens to end Monica and when Monica replies, “Do it then.” you felt the tension go up another notch. Monica attempts to calm Wanda down and it feels like she’s getting somewhere until Agnes shows up and whisks Wanda away. That Agnes is something else.

     

    Wanda is losing her mind, and she might be losing more.

    Wanda starts her day waking up in bed confused about what happened the night before. We get a replay of the hex as she narrates in a Modern Family-style as she seems a bit overwhelmed. Billy and Tommy then come up as they complain that their games are changing form. Their controllers turn into older models, and finally Uno Cards. Billy hears voices in his head but Wanda is having none of it. She wants to be left alone. As the kids are arguing about the video games, Wanda comes downstairs and her powers are on the fritz. Before she gets cereal she seems content with Vision being out of the house for now, and calls Pietro an impostor. It was a nice touch for the cereal to be Sugar Snaps, referring to Thanos’ snap at the end of Infinity War.

     

    Eventually, Agnes shows up and insists on taking the kids off of Wanda’s hands for a bit. Wanda is more than happy to and as she thinks she’s going to have a simple time watching tv her powers go out of whack again. Everything around the house switches time periods and she continues to be confused. A voice offscreen then asks, “Do you think maybe this is what you deserve?” Wanda is losing it.

     

    We cut to a commercial advertising Nexus, an anti-depressant that’s “a unique anti-depressant that works to anchor you back to your reality or the reality of your choice.” That’s another big easter egg. In Marvel Lore the Nexus is a cross-dimensional gateway which provides a pathway to any and all possible realities, this also includes realities between realities. The Multiverse! Wanda Maximoff in the comics is a nexus being, one that is always a constant in all universes.

     

    We get to Agnes’ house which looks really nice on the inside by the way! Billy notices that Agnes is “quiet on the inside.” which is a heck of a red herring for what’s to come. After Wanda’s confrontation with Monica, Agnes brings her into her home presumably to see the kids. As Wanda sits she senses something eerie. She goes to the basement where Agnes says to check for the children. As she goes down a very dark hallway she reaches a room with a cabinet full of bones and a glowing book. Once she reaches this room Agnes shows up and locks the door. We then learn that Agnes is actually Agatha Harkness, the witch from Marvel comics Lore. As Wanda seemingly is under Agnes’ control the episode closes with a brilliant montage with the song “Agatha All Along”. We see how Agatha has been influencing Wanda and Vision the entire time concluding with us finding out that Agatha killed Sparky. Roll credits! Man, that was a lot. Let’s take a look at the theory board with some questions.

     

    Theory Board

    1. We only see Hayward briefly at the beginning of the episode talking about a launch of something as he’s outside the hex. A secret operation to retrieve Vision? Who’s he working for and who is he actually? Is he a Kree taking part in trying to get a weapon online for a war against earth? Is he Hydra or Aim? We will find out soon enough.
    2. With the mention of the Nexus and that glowing book and that really funky, dark room in Agatha’s basement, is this the door to the Nexus Of All Realities? What is the nature of that book? That holds the key to everything, including potentially who Agatha is working for. There’s no way that she’s doing this on her own. Did she use the Wundagore Everbloom flowers and that’s why she killed Sparky? The Everbloom flowers allow a person to have visions to the future by lying a petal of an Everbloom on their tongue. This requires the person to consume the flower twice, once after hunger and second after murder. This may have allowed Agatha to be one step ahead this entire time.
    3. We’re left with our first mid-credits scene! Monica arrives at Agatha’s house and as she heads to the basement, Pietro makes his first appearance of the episode with, “Snoopers are gonna snoop.” and we fade to black. We saw that Agatha influenced Pietro showing up, but is that Fox’s Pietro, or is that our villain of the story? We’re getting tantalizingly close to the answers to that.
    4.  Are Billy and Tommy ok? We don’t see them as Wanda is taken back under Agatha’s control. They are crucial to the story going forward especially the type of power that Billy has as a telepath.
    5. Mephisto, or Nightmare? The devil references have been rampant throughout the series to this point, but has that been a throw-off to the rumored villain in the upcoming Dr. Strange film? Will we find out who Ralph is? Sounds like with Ralph our answers will be found.

    WandaVision has been a delight through seven episodes, and the weekly releases has allowed us to digest this differently than if we were binging. With two left we have so many questions still to be answered, and it’s shaping up to be a wild ride down the stretch.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • ‘WANDAVISION’: Back to Your Regular Programming

    ‘WANDAVISION’: Back to Your Regular Programming

    After Episode 7 we are most likely done with the sitcom-based chapters of WandaVision. Even if we’re still getting an Agn.. Agatha Harkness-centric flashback that might shed some light on both her past and how Wanda retrieved Vision’s body (or did she?), the TV tropes that were so masterfully used to develop the show’s narrative so far should now take a backseat and, in the words of Paul Bettany:

    (…)in the end, you end up in full, MCU action movie.

    For many, this will be seen as a welcomed pacing shift as WandaVision begins to resemble the MCU theatrical releases more and more, as it approaches the series finale and propels some of its characters into future Phase 4 appearances. There is no way around it, as WandaVision proudly advertised for everyone to see: this is a show that meant to break from the MCU mold and everything about it, either purposeful or not, made it so that a segment of fans would have a bit of trouble adjusting to the way a Marvel Studios project is usually enjoyed.

     


    From the episodic format, something that inherently makes the narrative flow differently than in feature films, to the fact that it’s available on a streaming service, meaning it’s not bound by runtimes associated with shows of this magnitude, and not forgetting the obvious thematic approach that caught many off guard, WandaVision not only proved to not be your regular MCU property, it wasn’t even your regular TV show. But even though it might have been seen as a bit of a gamble by taking some obvious risks, it knew full well it had the MCU label as a safety net that would make audiences stick with it through thick and thin. And that is the right way to approach built-in fanbases, not by continuously giving them what they want, but by giving them what they might need once you have their full attention.

    What other way would we get to experience such incredible performances by the show’s amazing leads, as both Olsen and Bettany thrived when asked to move these characters outside of their comfort zones. We also got to recognize and pay tribute to what made the referenced sitcoms so timeless paving the way to the shows we enjoy today, how TV itself has evolved through the years to the point of it being such a meaningful part of everyone’s lives, both past, and present, making us the consumers (not in a bad way) we all are today. Pertaining specifically to the MCU fandom, we’ve seen an incredible increase of engagement throughout the community directly associated with the fact that we’re getting weekly MCU content. The number of theories developed by a single episode rivals the ones surfacing after a theatrical release and even though a week seems like a lot of time to wait before the next episode when you fill that time with all of this content, it’s hard to say it isn’t time well spent.

     


    We still have a couple more episodes until we reach the end of this season of WandaVision, but leaving the sitcoms behind feels like we’ll be indeed returning to our regular MCU programming, which will be followed by The Falcon and The Winter Soldier a month from now. That will also be a good thing, as it is the variety of approaches that’ll be helping the MCU move forward in the coming years. But may WandaVision‘s legacy be the one developed so far, that challenging audiences with interesting content, full of heart and respect towards the source material, is truly the way to go.

  • ‘WandaVision’: Something’s Not Right With “Agnes”

    ‘WandaVision’: Something’s Not Right With “Agnes”

    I know it’s not Thursday, but I just had to jump on this theory right after the latest episode. We are now creating an emergency theory of WandaVision‘s latest episode that just came out a few hours ago as I am writing this article. If you haven’t seen the new episode “Breaking the Fourth Wall”, turn away now. So, this is your last warning before we jump into the theory.

     

    There will be some massive spoilers for the latest episode of WandaVision. Only continue at your own risk if you want to avoid any major reveals from the new episode.

     

     

    The big secret is out. Agnes, the nosy neighbor, has revealed her identity as the sorceress Agatha Harkness. It finally confirms what Charles Murphy reported nearly more than a year ago. After a short montage, it seems as if Agatha has been behind everything all along. Yet, it could also be a misdirect, and maybe someone wants you to believe that she is. At first, it seemed like a fantastic revelation about how Agatha is the insidious villain whose behind the Westview anomaly. Yet I will play devil’s advocate and say that she might be innocent.

     

     

    In the comics, Agatha’s never had an antagonistic role. On the contrary, she’s been helping heroes. In Wanda’s case, she taught her how to use her abilities. She even was the babysitter of Franklin Richards, the son of Mister Fantastic and Invisible Woman. So having Agatha be the villain doesn’t make sense from a comic book standpoint. Not only that, but there’s some compelling evidence that convinces me that Agatha isn’t behind it all, but rather, someone is making it seem like it is. During the “It Was Agatha All Along” sequence, there’s a line where she says: “And you haven’t even noticed, and the pity is.” That line woke my brain up to look for clues in this opening sequence, and I found something. Take a close look at Agatha’s hands in the following image:

     

     

    You have Agatha sitting outside on the patio, using her purple magic to conjure up whatever “Pietro” is. If you take a closer look, there’s something off with Agatha. It just seems like something is out of place. I’ll give you a hint: It’s red, and it’s a wiggly woo. You’ll notice that there are small red static lines around Agatha’s that are emanating from her hands. They show up again later on in the infamous Sparky scene as highlighted here:

     

    That small blink-and-you’ll-miss detail doesn’t seem to sit right with me, and it leads me to think that something may be controlling Agatha in this sequence. And at the moment, there are two prevalent theories:

    Theory #1: It’s Wanda

     

    My buddy and fellow contributor Joseph Aberl came up with this theory. It looks like Wanda is the prime suspect for everything going on in Westview. She even admitted to it in her “interview” that this world was fake. So, it would be easy to assume that Wanda is behind it all. Perhaps she is painting Agatha Harkness as the villain at the end of this episode so Wanda can make herself not look like one. She might even be doing it subconsciously without realizing it, which would feed into the theory that Wanda might truly be losing her mind. That isn’t our only theory though.

     

    Theory #2: This Strange Book

     

    There’s a somewhat similar red magic emanating from this strange book that’s in Agatha’s basement. The audio description of the episode confirms that it is red, which could draw its power the same way Wanda does. Now whatever this book is, it’s clearly malicious and could contain some very dark secrets for what’s going to happen later on in future episodes of WandaVision. Hopefully, we might get some kind of information or reveal the origin of this book.

  • How Marvel Studios Can (Re)introduce The Defenders Into the MCU

    How Marvel Studios Can (Re)introduce The Defenders Into the MCU

    Marvel’s Netflix venture gave fans some of the most interesting programmings for Marvel TV. From the gritty, suspense, and dark themes of Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and The Punisher to the Superhero Street vibes in Luke Cage & Iron Fist, Marvel’s Netflix had something for everyone. On top of it all, the casting in these shows was phenomenal. They embodied these characters, and it was the interactions that sold us on their chemistry. Charlie Cox‘s Daredevil with Jon Bernthal‘s Punisher gave life to a very memorable showdown in Daredevil‘s second season. Krysten Ritter‘s Jessica Jones and Mike Colter‘s Luke Cage shared some incredible chemistry during their time together. In their attempt to recreate the Marvel Cinematic Universe formula on a smaller scale, these Netflix shows created a tiny world set within a larger universe.

    Since their respective cancellations in 2018, people have been waiting for Marvel Studios to bring them back. So now, after years of waiting, all of Marvel’s Netflix rights have reverted to Disney and Marvel. Now, we have to wonder what will follow now that Marvel has all of these characters at their disposal. So, Kevin Feige has a slew of choices ahead of him. How do you introduce these characters into the MCU? Do you recast them or try a soft reboot? Can you continue their stories from their time on Netflix, or would they require new backstories? These are all essential questions moving forward. If only we had a precedent as to what we can expect. Luckily, we can.

     

    Daredevil

     

    Daredevil is a perfect candidate to stick with long-form storytelling. I do believe that he needs to have his first appearance in the MCU in another franchise. We know that Charlie Cox will reprise his role as Matt Murdock in the upcoming Spider-Man threequel, which will release at the end of this year. How exactly that will play out remains to be seen, but given how Spider-Man: Far From Home ended in 2019, chances are Peter Parker is going to need one hell of a lawyer. The dynamic duo of Nelson and Murdock are perfect candidates to tackle this case.

    If you ask me what I’d adapt for this series, I believe Daredevil: Gang War by Frank Miller and Tom DeFalco would be a fantastic story for a future show. You would already have Matt Murdock established in the MCU as Daredevil, and it would also be a brilliant way to reintroduce Wilson Fisk. In this particular run, he retired in Japan with his wife, Vanessa. She had grown sick of Fisk’s life of crime, but they are forced back due to his wife getting kidnapped by a former rival gang. It could explain Kingpin’s absence in the MCU, and I have an excuse to say that I want Vincent D’Onofrio back as Kingpin.

     

    Jessica Jones

     

    Following a similar introduction pattern of Daredevil, there are rumors that Jessica Jones could make her appearance in the upcoming She-Hulk series. Like before, we have no idea how she might play into the story. I am working on a theory of what role she might have in She-Hulk, but that still needs some time in the oven as a potential Theory Thursday piece.

    Story-wise, I liked Jessica Jones: Blind Spot by Kelly Thompson, and it is a story that would be the perfect choice for her MCU introduction. It is a murder mystery thriller, where Jessica Jones is the prime suspect in a murder. Her regret haunts her, as she failed to help her years ago. Not only would it showcase Jessica’s investigative abilities, but also uniquely retell her origin. The murderer could tease her alongside the audience with bits and pieces of her past. The viewers get immersed in the murder mystery and allow them to piece together Jessica’s origin.  

     

    Heroes for Hire (Luke Cage/Iron Fist)

    The fact that we never got the chance to see Mike Colter and Finn Jones truly embrace the dynamic Heroes for Hire duo is criminal. A buddy cop series similar to the styles of Bad Boys, Lethal Weapon, Rush Hour, and 21 Jump Street is how I could see these two pull appear in the MCU. And I would keep their origins the same way and have it play out like in the comics. Luke Cage was exonerated, so both of them meet at a party and get into a fistfight. Afterward, they both become great friends by the end of it. It also would allow viewers to truly explore Iron Fist’s vast history from the comics with Cage as the straight man trying to figure out all the craziness that starts to haunt them.

     

    The Punisher

    Say what you want about The Punisher, but Jon Bernthal‘s portrayal of the character was incredible in Daredevil and his spinoff show. In the comics, Frank Castle always appeared as a secondary character or even as an antagonist. He got into fights with the likes of Spider-Man and, of course, Daredevil before being given his comic run. Netflix replicated the formula by making him appear in the second season of Daredevil. He had a recurring role before being given a spinoff. My money’s on Marvel Studios doing the same thing. Castle will appear in another franchise before being given his show. And there are several places he could appear in if you consider Castle’s military background.

    He could be a former ally to Col. James Rhodes and have a brief cameo appearance in the upcoming Armor Wars series. There is also the chance that he could make his MCU debut in the Moon Knight series. Their interactions in the comics have been iconic. I am not sure what story to give Punisher’s new MCU series because I’m unfamiliar with his comic runs. What I do know is that the show should be similar to the Netflix counterpart. We will explore Castle’s motives before he becomes the Punisher. It shouldn’t shy away from the dark and gritty, which would still be possible to showcase on Disney+.

  • A New Batwoman, A New Story

    A New Batwoman, A New Story

    “Black, male, foster kid, juvie. In case you’re wondering why GCPD isn’t looking for him, those five words.”

    Those are Ryan Wilder’s words to Mary Hamilton in the fourth episode of Batwoman’s second season on the CW. Batwoman, still early in its inception, already has had to deal with a major transition. Javicia Leslie, who plays the caped superheroine replaced Ruby Rose’s Kate Kane after Season 1. There’s always a challenge when it comes to changing the lead specifically so early in television. It also requires a redirect in story. Season 1 focused primarily on Kate’s rivalry with the show’s villain, her sister Alice. Season 2 feels like an entirely different show, and it’s been for the better.

    Often, representation for black people on network television has been about getting the faces seen but not heard. A pleasant surprise on this season of Batwoman has been the nature of the stories being told. They represent the real-life issues that not only black people face, but mainly black women as Ryan’s character is a homeless ex-con. Nothing quite articulates the experience like an exchange in episode 1 between Ryan and her parole officer. Officer Stevens tells Ryan, “They are your choices, Ryan. You have the power to turn this around.” Ryan responds in kind, “You want to know why I haven’t paid my fines? Because I can’t find a job. Because I don’t have a home. Because no landlord wants to rent to an ex-con who’s post-release. You see how this works? No one cares that the dope wasn’t mine or that the Crows were dirty or that I’m actually a decent human. I am a file in your cabinet. That is not having power. That is the very definition of powerless.”

    Lines like those are so important in storytelling. We are reminded every day in society that it’s all about the bottom line. Your circumstances don’t matter to the powers that be, nor does context. This is Ryan’s reality in trying to find a job. Leslie and the writers deserve a lot of credit for the nuance in their storytelling. Ryan Wilder is not only trying to make sense of her life after prison but also trying to fill the shoes of Gotham’s missing hero.

    “That suit. It’s bigger than me. It’s one thing to put it on and it’s another thing to wear it.” That line is symbolism for not only what Ryan carries but exemplifies the constant juggling act of expectations versus reality that is the life of a black woman.

    In Batwoman’s latest installment nothing hits home more as she finds the boy she was looking for. Jacob Kane asks, “How did you know he was here?” Batwoman replies, “Easy. I looked.” It’s the simplicity of the words and the delivery of them that punctuates the meaning of the story. That meaning? It’s not enough to just be seen, people need to be heard.

    Batwoman airs every Sunday evening on the CW at 8pm EST

     

  • ‘WandaVision’ Episode 7 Primer

    ‘WandaVision’ Episode 7 Primer

    Note:  Arlyn Murphy will be back on the job next week!

    Last week’s episode of WandaVision, The All-New Halloween Spooktacular, was highly anticipated by fans and it didn’t disappoint. From the great looks at characters in their classic costumes to the interesting and informative chat between Wanda and “Pietro”, to the twins beginning to use their powers, to the crazy last few minutes that saw Vision get “House of M’d” and hex expand to include S.W.O.R.D. headquarters and turn it into a circus, fans got a lot packed into a short time. Fans were also left, as usual, with more questions than answers but with only 3 episodes left, we know the answers are coming soon!

    Image result for wandavision episode 7

    One of the biggest questions still out there is who exactly is doing this. In last week’s primer, Arlyn speculated that while we are being led to believe that Wanda is in charge, she might be under someone else’s control similar to how Doctor Doom manipulated her in The Children’s Crusade. There are no shortage of fan theories out there as to who that someone could be, but after Episode 6, Agnes seems to be the prime suspect. As we discussed on the podcast, Episode 6 seemed to confirm that while everyone in Westview is being controlled, only the residents who are part of the main plot of each of Wanda’s “episodes” seem to be active. It’s sort of like a video game where there’s a whole world out there, but the game only renders what needs to be on screen. During Vision’s exploration of Westview, Agnes was the only “non-active resident”  of Wanda’s fantasy who seemed to be able to speak and be aware of what was happening. With only 3 episodes left, it’s growing increasingly unlikely that there’s enough time to introduce an entirely new antagonist and get their story told in a reasonable amount of time, so Agnes stands out as the best choice for the one pulling the strings. Of course, there’s still the growing threat of Tyler Hayward’s stubborn ignorance and after Wanda’s hexpansion, it’s almost certain that he’s bound to overreact.

    Assumptions

    Image result for wandavision episode 7

    Episode 7 is rumored to be another shorter episode, with a runtime of 38 minutes. That means the last 2 episodes would be a little bit longer, so 7 is likely to serve as our last “setup” episode before we really get down to that big Marvel Studios action film Kevin Feige promised us when he introduced WandaVision at SDCC ’19. With that in mind, we have to think about what would get us from “here” to “there” in a short episode. It’s grown apparent to me that the twins are much more integral to the plot of the series than I originally thought, so it seems like a safe bet that something is going to happen to them very soon that will push us down the path towards resolution. We’re also likely going to see Monica finally come into her powers, Hayward make one, last desperate attempt and then the realization that this is a threat that can’t be handled by the clowns at S.W.O.R.D. With Wanda’s hex threatening reality, there’s only one guy for the job: the Sorcerer Supreme of Earth!

    Episode 7 of WandaVision will stream tomorrow!

     

     

  • ‘WandaVision’: Brought to You By HYDRA

    ‘WandaVision’: Brought to You By HYDRA

    At this point, I think everyone had a theory about something when it comes to WandaVision. We have only three more episodes to go and no idea what is going on. Hopefully, next week will signal the beginning of the end as all the mysteries surrounding this mini-series are unraveled. We’ve been theorizing ever since the first episode, which resulted in various ideas like a build-up to Secret Wars, Dottie’s role in the story, and Agnes’ involvement with the hex. At this point, it feels like everything got theorized, and nothing is left. There is still some time until the next episode drops, so why not just throw one more theory in for good measure. I believe that the story might not be as magical as we first thought it was. What if it is a plot by HYDRA to restore the Infinity Stones?

    The main reason for this theory lies in Hayward’s strange behavior as of late. He seems rather angry towards powered individuals, which was a far departure from his first introduction. Once he took over, SWORD had a new focus on artificial intelligence. That was something that HYDRA put a lot of focus on when they developed for Project Insight. The Direct’s Liam Crowley had an interesting theory that the SWORD acting director may be Ultron in human disguise. It is possible, but the way the new Marvel Cinematic Universe organization seems to be echoing SHIELD’s Phase 2 plans could be a good hint something is afoot. After SHIELD fell in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, SWORD may have been overlooked in the chaos.

     

     

    There is also the fact that Wanda’s origins got linked to the organization within this universe. Baron Wolfgang von Strucker had a big hand in activating her abilities through the Mind Stone. After its destruction at the hands of Thanos, they have been trying for a way to harness its power. Vision’s remnants were the perfect opportunity now that Wanda was snapped and couldn’t stop them. As there were no remnants left, they might’ve realized the best way to access the stone’s abilities was through Wanda. Once she returned, they had a golden opportunity. Why else was he laid out on a table like that after all this time?

    There is also the loose connection that Agathe Harkness has with HYDRA. We still believe that Agnes turns out to be the iconic witch from Marvel Comics. There was a version in the Ultimate universe that was once part of a seven-headed Hydra. They could’ve taken inspiration from that aspect and made her part of the organization’s mythology that has gotten explored on Agents of SHIELD. It’s a bit of a longshot, but at this point, almost anything is possible with WandaVision. I couldn’t resist throwing in one more crazy theory into the batch.

    Source: The Direct

  • Review: ‘FLORA AND ULYSSES’

    Review: ‘FLORA AND ULYSSES’

    When Disney Plus launched in November 2019, it did so with surprisingly little original content to offer, relying on the strength of the company’s impressive catalog of films and the hope that fans would subscribe for The Mandalorian and stick around as content caught up. That plan took a big hit when the COVID-19 pandemic halted production on all of Disney’s 2020 projects and complicated the post-production work on those that had been filmed. However, the studio was able to find innovative ways to complete their projects and 2021 looks to be the year that Disney Plus makes its biggest move yet in the streaming wars. With over 90M subscribers already on board, Disney Plus has surpassed its 4-year goal in 14 months just in time to roll out an impressive release slate or original content. This coming weekend, the service will debut its first original feature film of 2021, Flora and Ulysses, an adaptation of the 2014 Newberry Award-winning book of the same name by Kate DiCamillo. Aimed at younger viewers, Flora and Ulysses offers enough laughs to keep parents along for the ride as it effectively conveys the book’s messages of hope, love, friendship and family through the perspective of star Matilda Lawler’s Flora. While it might not have opened to huge numbers in theaters, Flora and Ulysses serves as a reminder that Disney Plus has more to offer subscribers than Lucasfilm and Marvel Studios projects and should do very well on the service.

    Directed by Lena Khan,Flora and Ulysses follows self-proclaimed cynic Flora as she navigates through the world amid the separation of her parents, played by Alyson Hannigan and Ben Schwartz. Both Flora’s parents are artists struggling with their work (mom is a romance novelist and dad is comic book creator) and in their struggles have gone their separate ways, leaving Flora feeling rather hopeless and alone. A fateful and relatively ridiculous accident caused by an out-of-control vacuum and an unfortunate squirrel set the course for the main plot of the film. After resuscitating the squirrel, Flora soon comes to find out that her newfound pal isn’t your garden variety squirrel: somehow the accident imbued Ulysses (named for the vacuum that took him out) with superpowers…and the gift of poetry. As Ulysses and Flora discover exactly what the super squirrel is capable of, his presence threatens to widen the rift between her parents and, once he accidentally outs himself to the world, invites an even greater threat into Flora’s life: animal control!

    While you might initially find the idea of a super-powered squirrel to be an entirely absurd premise, the film honestly underutilizes it, sometimes relying on Flora to remind Ulysses to “flare up like a flame” in order to unleash his awesome powers. Though Lawler brings Flora to life wonderfully, Benjamin Evan Ainsworth’s William Spiver steals most of the scenes on the human side of things. If there’s a true weakness to the film, it’s honestly the overdependence on the adults. Schwartz and Hannigan often overdo it, but if anything it highlights the importance of Flora. While the adults certainly serve their purpose (I always wondered what kind of parents let Dora and Diego on adventures with wild animals), 90 minutes of Flora, William and Ulysses might just be perfect recipe.

    While the film’s reminder of Flora’s motto, “Do not hope: instead, observe”, from what appears to be her life’s handbook, Terrible Things Can Happen To You, seems a little heavy-handed at times, it’s so integral to the core of her character and her journey that its repetition is understandable. As the story develops, Flora finds it more and more difficult to keep hope buried at the expense of her cynicism and the true heart of the film is learning that there’s room for a healthy balance between the two. Of course, as is always the case with superheroes, it isn’t Ulysses superstrength or ability to fly that makes the biggest impact on the story: it’s his ability to teach a family that’s lost its way that it’s ok to hope and that it’s never too late to turn back to the ones you love.

     

    Flora and Ulysses streams this Friday, February 19th, on Disney Plus.

  • Pitching a New Endgame for ‘Marvel’s Avengers’

    Pitching a New Endgame for ‘Marvel’s Avengers’

    Finally,  Marvel’s Avengers latest War Table has arrived to showcase the next major DLC, Clint Barton. Sadly, it seems we still have a month to go until it finally releases. So, I tried to give the game another few rounds but was having a hard time getting into it as I did a few months ago. It also helped me realize that the game’s biggest challenge has been the Avengers Initiative. It’s the hub for any multiplayer-driven content in the game. The content mainly recycles what we see in the story missions, especially the campaign operation Reassemble. In the first DLC, we learned that some of them are only accessible in their specific story. Not only does it make the game’s content feel scattered, but it also highlights the issue. The hub that serves as our primary source for replayability recycles existing content in a limited way. It makes it repetitive fast. As such, here is my pitch on how they could redesign the endgame.

    Let’s start with how it affects the overall game’s structure between the Initiative and its endgame. The stories are available as they are now through different operations. You can access the storylines in this menu to continue where you left off. As they are working on a replay function, it could also offer you the possibility to restart it, so you don’t miss out on any cinematics Crystal Dynamics worked hard on. The current Kate Bishop missions do, in fact, not give you all cutscenes, which is a waste. Any cutscene that isn’t related to a specific mission cannot be accessed. The story is one of the best parts of the game. Plus, once we have various operations and characters, it will get difficult to access a lot of content for the game’s full context.

     

     

    So, why would I create this distinction between the operations and the Initiative? Well, I don’t think they need to change the game drastically. They have all the pieces n place. It would only require a restructuring of how it is accessed. Instead of selecting story missions, you have starting areas or specific environments that you can access. Each biome could include different locations that are surrounding AIM facilities. The original scripted events are accessed once you get near an area. JARVIS will point out if you are near a mission area, so you can accept while exploring. To add variety, they switch up every week to include unique aspects. It gives you an incentive to visit specific biomes, such as to access various gear types. I decide I need cryo-based gear, so I select a starting point that leads me to a cryo-research lab. You jump into a mission similar to how you do now. It just isn’t as restricted to a story mission you probably have played multiple times by this point. Once they add other villain factors, they could start turf wars throughout different biomes, so the enemies you face switch up in the rotation as well.

    In addition to finding gearboxes, elite enemies, or captured allies as you can now, you can also uncover random mission types. AIM has spread out throughout the world, so there are enough opportunities to find a new secret location hidden in these levels. Your incentive to visit them connects to the unique rewards they offer. So, you may find a launch platform that only activates if you finish a puzzle. Now, you have a chance to access the space station for cosmic gear. The best part is that it will change regularly, as the space station has moved on in the obit. So, you might access a new underground area that got added secretly in a recent patch. We already explored this concept with the SHIELD bases, so why not make it a natural progression of the environments instead of restricting it to specific missions? At this point, it is too easy to find them, as they are always in the same missions at the same spot. This new direction allows CD to add small additions that still keep it fresh without relying on massive content drops every time.

     

     

    Now, imagine you are about to access the location for the cryo lab. All of a sudden, you realize that the entire forest area got frozen over. It seems that the AIM Lab you were going to infiltrate had a malfunction, and now you have the option to solve the issue causing the environmental change. Not only does it make the map feel fresh, but it could also cause your characters to slide around, which would make the combat more difficult. People want to share their experiences. As such, by adding randomized events, they could offer just that. What if Taskmaster is on a training field trip in the Eastern Seabord? So, while exploring New York City, he would randomly attack you as an excuse for a combat showcase to his trainees. After the addition of new villains, we could see an AIM Hive getting overrun by HYDRA agents. We uncover a massive lost SHIELD base, where wildlife took over after it got abandoned. They can even add some secrets that tease future content, such as Monica testing out miniature time travel bridges. So, if you don’t pay close attention, you’ll take the wrong detour and land in Hawkeye’s Wasteland.

    What would I do with the existing Faction, Priority, and Tachyon Rift missions? Well, Tachyons can be randomized events that happen at any time. You find yourself running through the frozen forest when suddenly you are pushed back in time, and everything is on fire all of a sudden. It adds to the feeling of excitement as anything seems possible as the game expands. Faction missions could replace the current Priority missions with the unique gear you can only get from them. So, if you help the Inhuman Alliance, you can have a higher chance to get your hands on Pym-powered gear. So, you tie the gear branding to correlating missions. These would act as unique mission types that are only available in the Initiative with unique challenges. The reward could also mainly serve to help develop your ally factions. The Mega Hive would be a unique mission type that works separately from the rest and offers a higher drop rate for exotic gear, as is the case now.

     

     

    What about the Villain Sectors? I think most of us are a little sick of fighting Taskmaster and Abomination in the same location over and over again. As things are now, we are going through three levels with a similar structure that tends to end in the repetitive boss fight. Even if it switches between different locations and villains, the overall experience with Villains Sectors is basically the same right now.  So, why not allow them to show up in random environments, as mentioned previously, but also give us a randomized gauntlet fr each character. They don’t have to be overly complicated but act as mini-dungeons. Let’s imagine you infiltrate a former SHIELD base that was taken over by Taskmaster. There, he is training goons from various fractions. So, to get through it, you have to survive the same brutal training his goons have to. Each villain has the potential to be an Omega Level-Threat that can be adapted with the seasonal changes. What if the cryo base also spread to Taskmaster’s fort? Now, you are dodging environmental hazards while slipping around. Of course, if he has a week where he is training only HYDRA goons, he might have a completely different set of traps and puzzles. That way, they can be slightly altered and randomized without changing much of the original set-up.

    You can tackle the various environments alone or with a friend. Now, players can coordinate the locations based on the rewards they are looking for rather than replaying the same mission for a luck on cryo-based gear. It feels like they are earning and experiencing something together rather than going through the motions. Plus, players won’t get frustrated that the mission they want to tackle isn’t selected. You aren’t restricted to a specific mission for specific gears anymore. The small or large randomized elements offer something new to share and an incentive to look for more. Small additions can go a long way, especially if you add easter eggs that make the world feel alive. It would highlight that each operation affects the world you are in. Each new operation adds something to the Initiative, may it be a new environment type, a unique biome, or an Omega Level-Threat. It is just a concept and I can’t claim this could take endless hours to realize. I want to see the game’s full potential realized and for it to stick around longer.

  • How ‘WandaVision’ Lays the Groundwork for a Hexagonal ‘Secret Wars’ Battleworld

    How ‘WandaVision’ Lays the Groundwork for a Hexagonal ‘Secret Wars’ Battleworld

    It’s a hexagonal multiverse, and we are living in it. The latest episode of WandaVision has started to expand. Interestingly enough, even as it grew, it kept its original shape. As such, the hexagon represents something more than just a wordplay on Wanda’s hex abilities. We are still waiting for an official confirmation why such a focus is given to this shape. We know that this Disney+ series will act as a set-up for future multiversal storylines of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Spider-Man 3. If we are about to enter other parts of the multiverse, we may see this structure return in the future. We have seen something similar to how Marvel has approached a connected multiverse in the comics. It made me wonder if we might get Secret Wars‘ famous Battleworld consisting of multiple hexagonal shapes.

    Originally, Secret Wars was a storyline that ran from 1984 until 1985. A strange entity, who goes by the Beyonder, decided it would be fun to throw various heroes and villains into a world known as Battleworld. There they have a selection of alien weapons and technology. It was Marvel’s first attempt at a Battle Royale storyline that got two sequels. However, the latest incarnation of 2015 introduces us to a concept where multiple dimensions started to converge. As the map below showcases, different sections originally belonged to a part of the multiverse. It included the HYDRA Empire from the Secret Empire run, Old Man Logan‘s Wastelands, and so many more.

     

     

    In the comics, the third version of Battleworld, the one shown above, was created after Doctor Doom and Doctor Strange defeated the Beyonder. Their universe got threatened by incursions of others colliding with each other. After Doom took the Beyonder’s powers as his own, he put together Battleworld from the remnants. If WandaVision is setting up the multiverse, it may be setting the ground rules for how the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s version of Battleworld may be structured. Instead of going the route of multiverses colliding, they introduce us to the concept of pocket dimensions jumping into existence. They take the shape of a hexagon when introduced or created within a new world. It also isn’t the first time we’ve seen this shape in the MCU. What also supports this theory is the way space travel works in the MCU. In Guardian of the Galaxy Vol. 2, we learn that Hyperdrive travels through different dimensions. The gateway between them is in a hexagonal portal. The Kree even built their entire architecture around that shape.

     

     

    As such, it could be the structure for a future Battleworld or the entirety of the multiverse. The different universes that Doctor Strange will visit in the upcoming Multiverse of Madness may get connected through this shape. He uses the sling ring in a round shape to travel from one location to another in the mainline dimension. So, once he tries to travels in the multiverse, it may change into the hexagon we first witnessed in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Marvel Studios has always been very good at creating rules to keep everything together, which we saw with their time travel antics in Avengers: Endgame. They may be slowly setting the foundation that will connect all future multiversal stories in the coming years. Once the building blocks are set, it wouldn’t be too surprising to see a Secret Wars storyline in a few years as the next major crossover event that could replicate Endgame‘s success. I think we are just at the beginning of a major storyline that is about to unfold.