WandaVision Episode 8 Has A Great Stan Lee Tribute

Warning: SPOILERS ahead for WandaVision episode 8, "Previously On..."

The latest WandaVision episode took Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) on a journey through her past — but also offered up a subtle Easter egg that paid tribute to Stan Lee. Working his way up to eventually serve as the primary creative force at Marvel, Lee helped to usher in the Golden Age of Comic Books. Alongside acclaimed artists like Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, Lee was responsible for creating such enduring characters as Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, Hulk, the X-Men, and many more. Opting to give superheroes a flawed, relatable humanity, he established a legacy that garnered a legion of fans, countless accolades, and will live on long after his death in 2018.

Having caught the cameo bug during Kevin Smith's Mallrats, Lee appeared in a great many films and TV shows. With the creation of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, that translated into featuring alongside the very heroes he'd helped to create. Though it wasn't the first and only time he'd done so, it paved the way for him to appear opposite a wider range of his beloved characters. It became as much a staple of the shared continuity as the quippy dialogue and thrilling action. Fans often looked forward to what his cameo would be with a similar passion for whatever the plot entailed. His last appearance came almost fittingly in Avengers: Endgame, the closing chapter of the Infinity Saga. Soon after, it was announced that Lee wouldn't be replaced — via CGI or otherwise. However, the MCU has remained committed to honoring Lee and his great influence on comics and movies.

WandaVision episode 8 continued that trend. After meeting with S.W.O.R.D., and seeing what became of Vision's body, Wanda ventured to Westview, New Jersey. The flashback moment served to show how she'd come to be in town and initially created the sitcom reality. The truth was that Vision had actually bought a plot of land where they could "grow old" together. And, in her deep grief, Wanda had spontaneously magicked things into being. According to Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn), such abilities were the stuff of myth and afforded her the title of Scarlet Witch. Prior to all of that, however, when Wanda pulled up to the property, viewers received a brief shot of her car's license plate. As well as the usual details, the word "Excelsior" could also be made out. As fans would be well aware, the word served as a signature catchphrase and sign-off of Lee's for many decades.

WandaVision Episode 8 Wanda Maximoff Car License Plate Stan Lee Tribute Excelsior Bordered

Though also connected to New York, the specific plate was no doubt chosen due to the link to Lee. The reference came hot on the heels of a similar one last week. Also conveyed via a license plate, Lee was alluded to in the WandaVision episode 7 credits. Taking its cue from such modern sitcoms as The Office, the sequence featured a montage of images that displayed Wanda's name. Above one, however, was a set of numbers: 122822. Fans quickly deduced that the numbers correlated with Lee's birth date of December 28, 1922. Rather than leave it at that, however, those working behind the scenes on WandaVision clearly wanted to take things to a new, less cryptic level. Whether this will be the final reference or merely part two of three, with the WandaVision finale unveiling another, shall remain to be seen.

Whatever the case, it was a brilliant inclusion. It not only honored Lee's legacy but actually fit with the themes of the episode and WandaVision overall. The central thesis of the show has been the stages of grief and Scarlet Witch's struggle with them. Though it has been over two years since Lee passed away, many fans still grieve the loss of both the man and the inspiration he embodied. As such, weaving him into a story where those feelings have been at the core felt especially poignant. Furthermore, translated from Latin to English, excelsior actually means "Ever Upwards". It's the kind of hopeful message Wanda could use heading into the WandaVision finale — as she faces down Agatha Harkness and potentially achieves acceptance over everything she has suffered.

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