2021's WandaVision kicked off Marvel's exploration of its heroes on Disney+. They served as a continuation and expansion of the universe from the big screen. This era has been defined by big swings that didn't always connect - both on TV and in movie theaters. It produced teases of more too come that will sadly never fully be realized. The Maximoff family has had the benefit of being central to a trilogy of shows - with VisionQuest serving as the conclusion of this journey following 2024's Agatha All Along. This family has been in pursuit of identity in a world that fails to understand them. They've made some horribly destructive decisions along the way. They've survived to find peace and acceptance. They've also been corroded to the point where they felt they no longer deserved redemption. In Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, Wanda was crushed by a mountain upon realizing she could never have her family again. She didn't know that Billy's consciousness escaped the Westview hex and found refuge in the body of a newly deceased boy. Vision's body was recovered following Thanos' destruction. In Avengers: Infinity Wars, it was suggested a whole lot of Vision would be left if the Mind Stone was removed. Shuri attempted to do so surgically. Thanos crushed it out of Vision's head instead.
Now, Vision carries all the memories of his past. They just don't have the corresponding emotions. He doesn't know if he even has feelings. These recollections are present. He constantly replays them. He doesn't wish to linger on what happened in Westview. That's when the new iteration of this character debuted. He was allowed to be more than a killing machine resurrected by S.W.O.R.D. Wanda's hex recreation of Vision opened these memories to him. They were two separate entities. They share a connection through Wanda. Life meant something because they were together. Vision wants to understand that. Previously, she was his guide. She accepted him. He lived amongst humans. He was a hero. He no longer feels that way. He's searching for his identity. No one came searching for him. The Avengers stopped looking and believed him to be dead. S.W.O.R.D. never sought to reacquire their property. Vision has been allowed to make his way through life once more. He does so by hiding out in the last place Wanda and Vision were happy together: Edinburgh.
Wanda and Vision were found before in Scotland. The Avengers came to collect them. They were grateful for that camaraderie. Now, nothing awaits Vision. He retreats to the confines of a retro-futuristic home where he has salvaged other A.I.s created by Tony Stark. He demands they appear as human avatars in the hopes of better understanding how humans interact. He struggles to see the correlations between his past and what currently plagues him. The other A.I.s are happy to be of service. They once had purpose. Now, they only have jobs for Vision. J.A.R.V.I.S. is seen as an older brother. He's concerned about security because all of this could come crashing down if Vision isn't careful. F.R.I.D.A.Y. is similarly cautious. She doesn't want anything to disrupt the peace that Vision needs to complete his examination. E.D.I.T.H. embarks on fun. Vision can't understand humans without grasping this particular concept. And then, there's Ultron. Vision thought he was being gracious in reviving the A.I. that tried to end the world. Even now, it's 50/50 over whether Ultron will marvel at humanity's beauty or try to kill them all. He's perfectly upfront about that. Vision rescuing these A.I.s was to satisfy his own ego. He no longer has to be alone. He relies on a team. Yet he's the one calling the shots. Everyone has to placate him while he wallows in inaction. Ultron provides the spark that sets the story into motion.
Someone wants to find Vision. The bounty hunter Paladin has been hired to do it. He's successful even though destroying the pub is only to gather information. Paladin seeks to understand his target. He needs to know why he's running. That leads right back to Westview. Paladin doesn't know what he'll find. He doesn't particularly care either. This job requires him to dig deeper. In doing so, he finds Tommy. Billy placed his brother's consciousness into another body. Everything that happened in Westview was real. Vision couldn't face that possibility. It's better to believe none of it mattered. It's even more removed because it wasn't this body experiencing those events. And yet, it all becomes relevant once more. Thomas Shepherd is a grifter. He delights in the art of deceiving people. He's fast. He's also struggling with his own identity. It's better to assume a new persona every day. That allows for basic facts to provide clarity of purpose. He doesn't need more than that. He's also haunted by memories he doesn't understand upon seeing Vision in the news. He doesn't know why he has been targeted. A message is still delivered concisely. Vision's mind palace can be infiltrated. Vision wants to know what's being said. He lets his guard down out of curiosity. Even when he punishes Ultron with boredom, he seeks out the devious A.I. to experience the events shattering his worldview. That's codependency in a twisted way. That's how this family has survived. Going back to the beginning allows for a more in-depth perspective now. It also reveals how the past never truly stays buried. It must be confronted head-on.
