WandaVision is absolutely packed with MCU Easter eggs and references. When the MCU launched in 2008, Marvel's catchphrase was simple; "It's all connected." They weren't exaggerating, because soon eager viewers realized they were watching one continuous narrative - a story that built up to the Avengers, and ultimately to Thanos.
At last, after a forced hiatus of more than a year, Marvel Studios has launched Phase 4. It all begins with WandaVision, a 9-episode TV series airing exclusively on Disney+. Starring Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch and Paul Bettany's Vision, WandaVision is set just three weeks after the events of Avengers: Endgame. Scarlet Witch is fresh from the trauma of watching her beloved Vision die, and she's using her power over reality to create the "Happily Ever After" she was denied by Thanos.
The first few episodes of WandaVision are set entirely within the fictional, sitcom-esque world Wanda creates. As such, while they have a number of subtle callbacks, there are few explicit ties to the wider MCU. Everything changes from WandaVision episode 4, though, when Marvel introduces the world beyond Westview - and from that moment on, the show is absolutely packed with Easter eggs.
Vision Has An "Indestructible Head"
Scarlet Witch has created a fantasy world where she can live happily ever after, with the resurrected Vision at the center of it. She has restored Vision using her magic, and in WandaVision episode 1, viewers learn that - in Wanda's make-believe reality at least - Vision has an "indestructible head." This is an early sign to the trauma and grief Wanda is undergoing, because in Avengers: Infinity War she learned the real Vision's head was anything but indestructible - and watched helplessly as Thanos tore the Mind Stone from it. WandaVision episode 4 revisits this in a shocking moment in which Wanda sees Vision's broken head - reality as it really is.
The Stark Toaster References Wanda's Age Of Ultron Origin
The sitcom world of WandaVision features a range of adverts, but they're actually pretty sinister - all signposting moments of trauma in Wanda's life. The first advert is for a Stark Industries toaster, a callback to Scarlet Witch's origin story in Avengers: Age of Ultron. She and her brother Pietro were brought up in the war-torn nation of Sokovia, and Stark Industries had been selling weapons to the various factions throughout her childhood. When Wanda was just 10 years old, the apartment building her family lived in was struck by mortar fire. She and her brother Pietro were trapped in the rubble for two days, looking out at the blinking light of an unexploded bomb they feared could go off at any moment. There's even a blinking light on the toaster to complete the reference.
The "Traditional Sokovian Greeting"
WandaVision episode 1 features a gag that's another Avengers: Age of Ultron Easter egg - a "traditional Sokovian greeting." This is evocative of Scarlet Witch's mind control powers, displayed when she placed her hands around the heads of the Avengers in order to plunge them into illusory, visionary worlds. Notice that, in WandaVision episode 1, Wanda places her hands over Mr. Hart's eyes - perhaps signifying this time she is blinding people to the true nature of reality itself.
The Strucker Watch From WandaVision Episode 2
The advert in WandaVision episode 2 is for a Strucker watch. Baron Von Strucker, of course, was a high-ranking Hydra agent who supervised experiments with the Mind-Stone; Wanda and Pietro both volunteered for these experiments, and they were the only ones to survive. The Strucker watch even has the brand and logo of Hydra emblazoned upon it.
Hydra Soak May Be A Major Retcon
Hydra return in WandaVision season 3's advert, evidently having made quite an impression on Scarlet Witch. This time the advert is for "Hydra Soak," a luxury bath powder that allows you to "find the goddess within" and may suggest Wanda's initial acts of terrorism in Avengers: Age of Ultron were in part a result of Hydra brainwashing. The strapline s a retcon that could transform Wanda into a mutant or a sorceress in the MCU, first seeded in the Marvel Studios Visual Dictionary. "She may be called Scarlet Witch," the book noted, "but Wanda's powers aren't derived from the occult. Whether it altered her or merely unlocked something latent inside Wanda, the Infinity Stone on Loki's scepter bestowed incredible powers of the mind." It is possible the Mind Stone did not grant Wanda powers, but rather unlocked something latent within her - finding the goddess within.
Scarlet Witch Re Quicksilver's Fate
Scarlet Witch's life has been marked by trauma, and in Avengers: Age of Ultron she lost her twin brother Pietro during the battle with Ultron. Wanda is forced to that particular tragedy in WandaVision episode 3, when Monica Rambeau begins to "awaken" and reminds her about Ultron. It's interesting to note Scarlet Witch trusted Monica in her make-believe world up until that moment - and then forcibly ejects her.
Monica Rambeau Is "Snapped" Back Into Existence
WandaVision episode 4 is the first glimpse of life outside Westview, and the whole episode serves to connect WandaVision to the MCU. This episode is centered on Teyonah Parris' Monica Rambeau, a character who was introduced as a child in Captain Marvel but has now grown up. Tragically, Monica was one of the people erased from reality by Thanos when he snapped his fingers in Avengers: Infinity War. She returns to learn her mother Maria has died during the five years she was missing.
WandaVision shows the Blip - the moment the Hulk restored Thanos' snapped victims - from Monica's perspective. As such, the creative team take an interesting approach, using a number of voices to represent Monica's memories and consciousness being restored as well. The last voice to be heard is Captain Marvel herself, who addressed the young Monica as "Lieutenant Trouble."
Maria Rambeau Formed SWORD
WandaVision episode 4 reveals Monica's mom Maria founded an organization named SWORD, dedicated to protecting the Earth from extraterrestrial threats. Maria was no doubt inspired by the events of Captain Marvel, where she learned her best friend Carol Danvers had been kidnapped by aliens and transformed by the power of the Tesseract. It's quite sad to learn Maria has ed away, because it means we'll never get to see actress Lashana Lynch play alongside Brie Larson again, unless it's in a flashback.
Jimmy Woo & Darcy
The MCU has traditionally treated secondary characters as comedy relief, but WandaVision corrects that error by giving some quality moments to Randall Park's Jimmy Woo and Kat Dennings' Darcy. Jimmy is the FBI agent who first discovered the reality warp around Westview, and who called in SWORD to investigate; Darcy is one of the researchers brought in. Apparently she's no longer Jane Foster's intern, but rather has achieved her doctorate, and is viewed as one of Earth's foremost experts in the strange and unusual.
Jimmy Woo Plays A Familiar Card Trick
Jimmy Woo plays a familiar magic card trick with his ID in WandaVision episode 4. It may be a brief moment, but this is a direct callback to Ant-Man & the Wasp, where Scott Lang had spent his time in house arrest learning card tricks; Jimmy Woo was fascinated by them, and even tried to learn them. Apparently he's now mastered the card tricks - suggesting Jimmy wasn't a snap victim, because he didn't exactly seem to be a fast learner.
