Full spoilers follow for VisionQuest Episodes 3 and 4, now streaming on Disney+.
VisionQuest turns out to be a rather pleasant little surprise. What initially seemed like an obligatory but unnecessary sequel to a loose ending to WandaVision is quickly developing into a series with plenty of heart, soul, and depth of its own. It never pays to leave out Paul Bettany’s synthetic hero.
Mind you, as entertaining as the first two episodes were, my only real reservation with VisionQuest from the start was that it was a bit difficult to connect with this version of Bettany’s character. As he himself says, he has all the memories of the original Vision but none of his soul. Given how poignant and completely human Vision was in his past appearances in the MCU, seeing a cold, distant, emotionless copy of this character takes some getting used to.
But this problem quickly begins to fade in episodes 3 and 4. Already, White Vision is making great strides in terms of understanding his emotions and internal conflicts and embracing this side of himself that he doesn’t quite understand. Compared to the Loki series, which essentially relied on a quick-and-dirty speedrun to transform 2012-era Loki (Tom Hiddleston) into something more akin to his post-Thor: Ragnarok self, this seems like a more cohesive and focused way to bridge the gap between two wildly different versions of an MCU character.
Certainly, Bettany has a lot more to work with in these two episodes, both comedic and dramatic. Its faulty processors give the actor a welcome opportunity to deploy some physical comedy in Episode 3. And both episodes make the most of the rapidly deepening bond between Vision and Tommy (Ruaridh Mollica). Obviously, their relationship should feel rushed, but somehow it all works out anyway. By the time Vision persuades his son to reboot him in the hotel pool, he feels well on his way to reclaiming that lost humanity that was so vital to the original character. This process continues in Episode 4, where Vision clearly stops making such a harsh distinction between his past and his present.
I also appreciate how the show’s writers manage to not force viewing of Agatha All Along. It’s not a show you want to watch without at least having seen WandaVision, but it also does a great job of explaining everything you need to know about Tommy’s bizarre existence without making his brother Billy’s (Joe Locke) side journey seem like mandatory homework. This helps the series stand on its own two feet a little more, rather than just being the final act of a trilogy.
Another big plus in VisionQuest’s favor is that it features such an adorable supporting cast of AI idiots. James Spader’s Ultron doesn’t steal the show as much as he did in the first two episodes, but he remains one of the absolute highlights of the series. Ultron is great for both periodic comic relief and the kind of insightful observations about human nature that once fell within Vision’s purview. But we also see the character finally take a more determined step into the spotlight at the end of episode 4, as he fights his way to take the wheel (literally) and, predictably, betrays his family at the first opportunity. The prospect of a fully controlled Ultron returning to the physical world is very exciting heading into Episode 5.
Speaking of the Vision family, we have lots of great scenes involving FRIDAY (Orla Brady), EDITH (Emily Hampshire), and even DUM-E. (Henry Lewis) and U (Jonathan Sayer). The series does a fantastic job of fleshing out and enriching these characters who were once just disembodied voices or slapstick workshop tools. Episode 4 is particularly strong when it comes to exploring their own emotional journeys and how closely they match what Vision is experiencing.
None of this is to say that the series isn’t still experiencing some growing pains. Episodes 3 and 4 feel a little clunky in how they handle the transition from a conflict primarily built around Paladin (Todd Stashwick) to one centered around Jocasta (T’Nia Miller). The first character basically disappears from the picture after running into the second. Still, I’m enjoying the show’s take on Jocasta so far. She’s only likeable so far, and she has a lot of potential both as a villain and as an object of Ultron’s fascination. Overall, these two episodes go a long way toward creating compelling conflict for the second half of the series.
Gn entert
