Warning: SPOILERS for WandaVision Episode 9 - "The Series Finale"

WandaVision shows Wanda Maximoff's (Elizabeth Olsen) potential to become a villain, but one of the powerful influences that pull Scarlet Witch back from going down a dark path was Captain America (Chris Evans). Wanda lived and worked alongside Steve Rogers for three years, from Avengers: Age of Ultron to her death via Thanos' (Josh Brolin) Infinity Gauntlet Snap in Avengers: Infinity War. It's fair to say that, despite the mistakes she makes, Wanda defaults to being a hero thanks to Captain America's example.

Wanda and her twin brother Pietro (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) were initially Hydra recruits who were sworn enemies of the Avengers, and they teamed up with Ultron (James Spader) to bring down Earth's Mightiest Heroes. But the Maximoffs turned on the psychotic android when they realized he intended to kill all organic life on the planet. Tragically, Pietro died fighting Ultron in the Battle of Sokovia, but Wanda was accepted by the Avengers after they saved the world. Wanda moved into Avengers Compound in upstate New York and became one of a new team of Avengers led by Steve Rogers and Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson). Vision (Paul Bettany) and Wanda also became romantically involved, which eased Maximoff's loneliness. But she had a lot to learn about being a hero. Luckily, Wanda had the best possible role model in Captain America.

Related: Marvel Spent 6 Years Fixing Age Of Ultron

In WandaVision, Wanda was essentially falling apart and her TV sitcom fantasy and family she magically created with Vision (who died in Infinity War) was a desperate attempt to stave off the emptiness she was feeling. Worse, Wanda no longer had the other Avengers she had grown close to: Natasha died during Avengers: Endgame, and Steve Rogers time-traveled to the 1940s, emerging as an old man in 2023 to pass his shield on to Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie). They were the Avengers Wanda spent two years as an international fugitive with after they all rebelled against the Sokovia Accords in Captain America: Civil War. WandaVision repeatedly touched upon Wanda's darker side and yet, she remains sympathetic and empathetic. Fans can't accept that Wanda isn't a hero deep down, and that's because her mentor was Captain America himself.

Wanda and Steve sitting on her bed in Civil War

Wanda's education as a superhero came from Steve Rogers, which began in Avengers: Age of Ultron. Steve was the Avenger Wanda and Pietro saved from Ultron in South Korea and Cap trusted the twins enough to bring them home to Avengers Tower. While Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) also forged a bond with Wanda at the Battle of Sokovia, Hawkeye left the Avengers along with most of the original members, including Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), who was the main reason the Maximoffs joined Hydra in the first place. But it was Steve Rogers, along with Natasha Romanoff, who took responsibility for Wanda and they molded the new Avengers team into a fighting unit.

In Captain America: Civil War, when Wanda made the fatal mistake in Lagos that led to the deaths of innocents and prompted the United Nations to draft the Sokovia Accords, Steve privately and compassionately counseled her. The Vision was essential as Wanda's paramour but the faith and loyalty Steve showed Wanda was evident and reciprocal. Rogers was distracted by trying to save Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) in Civil War but he still argued for Wanda when Tony Stark placed her in protective custody. When it came time to form Team Cap, Steve sent Clint Barton to free Wanda from Avengers Compound, and she even left Vision, the love of her life, behind to join up with Rogers. Steve is all about standing up for what you believe, following your moral compass, and standing up for what's right, and these are lessons that weren't lost on Wanda, even as she's become a lost, wayward soul in WandaVision.

It's no surprise that Wanda was so loyal to Steve and willingly followed Captain America for years. WandaVision revealed Wanda grew up obsessed with American sitcoms, and Steve Rogers was the living embodiment of everything good the United States represents. Moreso, Steve treated Wanda with trust and respect, and he cultivated the good person he knew she really was, despite Wanda's past crimes. In doing so, Captain America's friendship, along with Vision's love and understanding, form the foundation that holds Wanda's darker impulses at bay so the Scarlet Witch doesn't revert back to villainy. Wanda Maximoff learned to be a hero thanks to Steve Rogers and that's why, despite what Wanda did in Westview, WandaVision isn't the story of her falling into evil. Captain America taught Scarlet Witch better than that.

Next: Everything We Know About WandaVision Season 2

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