VisionQuest – Forever Review

Well, that was a wholly satisfying – if not particularly earth-shattering – finale for a pretty great MCU series in VisionQuest. While this will likely remain my least favorite of the three pieces of the WandaVision trilogy, it was still a fun ride with some interesting emotional beats and a set-up for future appearances from Billy, Tommy, Vision, Ultron, and – although she did not officially appear on screen – Agatha. So, let’s dive into what we learned in this series finale.

First, VisionQuest suffered from the same third act dullness that has plagued pretty much every single MCU story to date – a villain whose plan is just, well, boring. Did I think for even a second that Ultron was going to unleash his fury over London by infecting everyone with nanobots? No, of course not. And, I suppose, if you look at that choice – for Ultron to act out and try to burn out his grief with violence – as more of a cry for help than an actual attack, it works a lot better within the themes of the series*. Bringing back the sitcom idea to try to teach Ultron a lesson was fun – especially as he repeatedly attempted and succeeded at deconstructing the fabric of the virtual world**. And having Vision get the chance to offer a twist on the famous “What is grief if not love persevering?” line with his breakdown of the costs that come with love – that every choice to love is also a choice to lose, as you are destined to lose the one you love one way or another in the end – was pretty spectacular. Out of everything that happened within the series, that was easily the best piece of writing for me. Smart, sharp, honest, and clear that we make the choice to love knowing it won’t last, but that we’re willing to accept that loss in the future for the joy the love brings us whilst we have it. Brilliant.

*Personally, I think that’s the reading I’ll go with, although I suspect the actual plan was to have Ultron pose a real threat and need Vision to talk him down. Having it be a tantrum and cry for help and compassion would flesh out Ultron a bit more – and I think he’s earned that at this point in his life within the story. Plus, since he was more than smart enough to recognize that Vision was manipulating him, he would also likely be smart enough to try to call for help in the form of acting out on a grand scale.

**One thing the sped up version of the sitcom credits – which were excellent and hilarious – brought to mind was the YouTube video for the fake sitcom Too Many Cooks that was super popular a decade or so ago. If you haven’t seen it, give it a look. I would be shocked if Terry Matalas hadn’t seen it and it wasn’t at least a bit of the inspiration for that sequence.

Outside of the wrapping up of the Horton, Jocasta, and Ultron triangle – which was perfectly fine, if uninspired – we got the major reunion we were all hoping for, with Billy coming at the last minute (through the portal he had earlier told Agatha – appearing off screen – that he wasn’t in control of yet) to combine his powers with Tommy’s to save Vision. Seeing Vision tearfully reunite with his boys was something special and something those of us who made it through both WandaVision and Agatha All Along had wanted to witness. I am a bit bummed that we didn’t get to see any of that family dinner in Jersey with Tommy, Billy, Vision, and ghost Agatha, because my god, that would have been a hoot. I cannot imagine Vision would be thrilled that Billy was hanging out with Agatha after everything that went down in Westview, but I would have loved the chance to see that particular interaction. And while recent images from Avengers: Doomsday have pretty much confirmed that Wanda will be making an appearance, it was nice to once again have a character hedge their bets when it comes to her actual fate – I think we can all agree that a reunion with the entire family is in the cards at some point.

The best part of this three part series was that, unlike so many superhero stories that focus on the cost of power or the concept of identity, this was a trilogy that was about love. Wanda’s love for Vision and despair over his loss warped a town but also ended up creating three new lives. Agatha’s love for her son and her despair at his loss warped her sense of self and she stole magic for hundreds of years before finding someone in Billy that she could love and help once more. And Vision’s refusal to acknowledge his past and the love he lost hampered his ability to become himself, fully and truly. It was only with acknowledging that loss, accepting the pain and grief, and then trying to reach out and love once more that he became the being he was meant to be. Love will always end in a loss, but having the courage to accept it, to embrace another, to experience the joy and light that arrives prior to the ultimate grief – which is simply that love, persevering – is what makes us human. It’s the greatest gift we have to give and receive. And in a world that is so often dark and cynical, it was nice to have a superhero show that reminded us, once again, that love is what we need more than anything.