Theory: Scarlet Witch's Magic Gave Darcy Superpowers Too

Episode 6 of WandaVision has had intriguing implications for Darcy, as the magical powers of the Scarlet Witch and the hex barrier have caused a mutation in Monica, initiating a transformation on a molecular level. This process may have also begun for Darcy when the hex barrier encompassed her at the end of the episode. With the changes in Monica happening rapidly enough that her brain scan was ruined by the energy that she was giving off, it is very possible that Darcy will also rapidly experience changes. As Monica has a comic equivalent with energy transformation and projection powers, the real question is whether this exposure will have similar effects for Darcy.

After an incursion and attempted drone strike in episode 5, Wanda changed the hex barrier in some way, giving it an ominous red tinge. Although Darcy has encountered strange energy formations before - she originally appeared as the "sassy friend" in the MCU Thor movies - this is the most directly that she has been affected by them. Now, in episode 6, a large number of the soldiers and scientists in the camp, including Darcy outside of the hex have been encompassed by the barrier, as Wanda expanded the field of the hex in order to save Vision who was being torn to pieces outside.

With the recent acquisition of the Fox catalog, Marvel is in a position to add mutants to its roster of super-powered individuals; while the comic mutations are a result of preexisting genetic code, a cellular re-write could also accomplish this aim. As well, Wanda originally acquired her powers through exposure to the mind stone, one of the six infinity stones, and her powers are directly related to that exposure. With Monica acquiring powers that could challenge the Scarlet Witch from exposure to the barrier, it appears that the potency of the Mind Stone to unlock these abilities is still considerable, even when not applied directly.

WandaVision Has Established That Wanda's Magic Can Cause Powers

In episode 5, Monica was informed that her medical tests upon leaving the hex have been ruined by some kind of interference - a brain scan that shows nothing at all, and blood tests that need to be repeated. Episode 6, sheds some light on the implications of this - it is revealed that the blood test shows changes to Monica's physiology, with cellular changes "at a molecular level". Monica has a comic counterpart that has used a variety of code-names, the most frequently used being Spectrum and Captain Marvel. Since Director Hayward of SWORD hates superheroes, an abundance of caution and a rising distaste for Monica may have stopped him from sharing these results with her.

Although the barrier was shown to be destructive to Vision, Monica's cellular changes do not appear to have injured her in any way. With the exception of her time in the hex when she was directly controlled to behave as a sitcom character, Monica's patterns of action are consistent, and she has not expressed any physical symptoms apart from some minor injuries when she was thrown out of the hex by Wanda. While her behavior is hard to determine from the relatively brief screen time that she has received outside of the hex and the related mind control, the effects of her cellular re-write appear to be tied to her potential acquisition of powers.

What Darcy's Superpowers Could Be

Jimmy Woo and Darcy Lewis watching tv in WandaVision

Unlike Monica, Darcy has no superpowered equivalent in Marvel comics. With Wanda's twins Billy and Tommy teased to be Young Avengers, and other references to the formation of such a team in upcoming projects, it would not be unreasonable to assume that any powers she receives might be more subdued, helping her to continue to assist in a support position. If WandaVision is a precursor to adding mutants to the MCU, then Darcy's powers could be limited but useful to her. As an astrophysicist, Darcy could gain control over cosmic energy, or find her already prodigious intelligence enhanced. A fight with base guards when Darcy, Monica, and Jimmy were being thrown out of the base left Darcy standing by, wondering why nobody told her that there was going to be a fight - possibly implying an unconscious desire to gain physical abilities, which hex exposure could grant.

There does not seem to be a direct correlation between character and abilities granted in the small sample size seen so far. Monica's understanding of cosmic energy ties her powers to her personality, but the hex barrier is itself is cosmic energy, and Monica's comprehension was also in part why she was exposed to begin with. Darcy could very well follow the path of a comic book associate of the Hulk, Doctor Leonard Samson, who although empowered with great physical strength continues to practice as a therapist. Although Darcy could gain powers from her exposure to the hex, it is her understanding and personality that makes her an interesting character in the series.

Darcy also may not gain powers at all. The Wakanda Files book suggested that in order to gain powers, a person required a genetic predisposition - if Darcy doesn't have it, she might not gain powers. Wanda also changed the hex since Monica passed through it repeatedly, which could impact how it affects people. The Scarlet Witch's powers don't affect her twins; while this is implied to be because of their own powers, it could also be that there are people who are more and less resistant to those powers. Finally, Darcy and the rest of the camp's residents have only passed through the barrier once so far, on their way in. If the hex simply came down without the people inside passing through the barrier again, they may be less impacted than Monica was.

SHOULD Darcy Have Superpowers?

Darcy has been characterized as impulsive, headstrong, and occasionally a bit reckless since she was first introduced in Thor. Then again, that is a fair description of Iron Man, Thor, and Captain Marvel, and while other characters in the MCU have questioned their judgment, they have certainly used their abilities heroically. The Sokovia Accords view empowered characters as threats, and that demeanor mixed with enhanced abilities could prove to be a problem for Darcy - but make for entertaining television or films.

Using an idea that is sometimes brought up in regards to the Marvel mutants, however, it seems most important that whether or not Darcy gains superpowers, that her intellect and personality remain the most important parts of her character. It can be easy to view a character's powers as the most important thing about them, but an early theme of the MCU, particularly in Captain America and Thor, was that what was important was the person behind the powers, and Darcy is already a compelling and interesting character. WandaVision will reveal if Darcy gets superpowers, but the core of her character should remain the same.

Next: WandaVision Is Building Monica’s Hidden Contact To Be Huge Surprise