WandaVision: Why Agnes Misses Her Cue (How Does She Know?)

Agnes missing what appears to have been a cue in WandaVision episode 5 further supports the popular theory that she is able to see through the ruse of Westview because of her own magical abilities. It's been left relatively open to interpretation for much of WandaVision as to whether to townspeople of Westview understand that they're in a false sitcom-like reality that has been cordoned off via a magical barrier from the rest of the MCU. On one hand, the vast majority seem to feel as though they belong in the universe, and are content with the slice-of-life antics their daily lives entail. On the other, it's clear that some individuals did keep their memories of reality and know they aren't currently in it, as is shown when Monica Rambeau is ejected from Westview after reminding Wanda that her brother was killed by Ultron.

And episode 5 certainly supports the idea Agnes knows exactly how fake the current WandaVision set up is, as one of the episode's first scenes shows her offering to take care of the newborn twins, only to fumble when Vision says no. Appearing lost, Agnes asks Wanda "Do you want me to take that again?... Should we just take it from the top?" in a voice significantly less energetic than her usual put-on persona. Although Vision is taken aback, Wanda gets the show back on track by insisting that Agnes be allowed to care for the kids, and then quiets Vision's concerns that all of this was strange. With episode 3 already having shown Agnes silencing Herb when he tried to tell Vision something about Westview's residents, it's clear she both understands what is going on in the town, and is trying to play along with it every step of the way. What isn't clear, however, is exactly why she isn't affected by the town in the same way the rest of the residents appear to be - as where others are either ejected from the town or forced back into their sitcom roles, Agnes appears to have a greater sense of freedom.

Or it wouldn't be clear, were it not for the preexisting theory that Agnes is Agatha Harkness, who is a powerful witch in Marvel Comics. Not only does Agatha wear a brooch similar to the one Agnes is shown with in episode 3, she's also been shown in the trailer dressed as a witch at Halloween, both details which support this idea. With this in mind, it's likely that Agnes' magical abilities counteract whatever Westview's inhabitants are subjected to in order to believe they truly live in a sitcom. As such, instead of being influenced to act a certain way or ignore "changes to the script", Agnes has to do so herself - hence why she asks Wanda if they should just start the scene again.

This said, Agnes potentially being the magical Agatha Harkness doesn't necessarily have to be what allows her an extra level of freedom in Westview. In fact, it may be something of the opposite, as Agnes is also the best of the supporting cast at playing along with the various sitcom plots, which may mean Wanda (or whoever is controlling the strange reality of Westview) isn't focused on her as much as the other townspeople. With less scrutiny on her, Agnes may be able to do things other townspeople could not - like asking for a retake in WandaVision episode 5 - because she plays her part so well she's not suspected of either knowing the truth or trying to carry out any plots.

Either way, Agnes may be the most important character in WandaVision that hadn't been shown prior in the MCU. Seeing how she reacts to the steadily increasing surreality of Westview - and whether this involves the use of magic - could potentially prove vital in the later episodes of the show. As it is, however, she is currently one of many helpful reminders that something has gone very, very wrong with the town.

Next: Marvel Confirms When WandaVision Is Set In The MCU Timeline