In WandaVision Scarlet Witch Finally Reclaims Her Own MCU Story

With WandaVision, the Scarlet Witch is poised to finally reclaim her story after years of being largely ignored or used by others in the MCU. Wanda Maximoff is one of the most consequential characters within all of Marvel Comics and it is only fitting that her onscreen counterpart will get her long-awaited due in the upcoming Disney+ show.

Played by Elizabeth Olsen, Wanda has figured into the larger MCU narrative as something of a plot device for more prominent heroes. Making her first major appearance in Avengers: Age of Ultron, she was originally positioned as an antagonist, aligning with the titular artificial intelligence (the Scarlet Witch has similar villainous origins in the comics, having debut as part of Magneto's Brotherhood of Evil Mutants in The X-Men #4 before becoming a hero). Even though Wanda joined the Avengers, she has still been treated as though she is something to be handled - used as a powerful tool despite her extensive trauma.

HYDRA was the first to use Wanda for their own means, playing upon her and her brother's anger to convince them to subject themselves to torturous experimentation. Ultron later capitalized on Wanda's hatred of Tony Stark to enlist her into his service, initially obscuring his true desire of world domination. After discovering the errors of her ways, she is taken in by the Avengers, notably Hawkeye, who serves as a quasi-father figure to Scarlet Witch in Avengers: Age of Ultron (giving Clint Barton some much-needed character development in the process). Strangely, although her brother's death in Age of Ultron must have been an impactful event in Wanda's life, later films never mention Pietro, completely ignoring the effect it must have had on her.

Instead of exploring that loss to motivate Wanda's growth and development, Captain America: Civil War primarily uses her as the catalyst for the creation of the Sokovia Accords. In fact, throughout the film Wanda is viewed as something of an object to be argued over, as Tony angrily tells Steve, "She's not a U.S. Citizen and they don't grant visas to Weapons of Mass Destruction." Her decision to align with Team Cap is ultimately punished with imprisonment and when he releases her, she has no real choice but to follow him - again, she has no where else to go and little agency. Avengers: Infinity War links Wanda with Vision, after their romance was teased in Civil War, although their union - as so much in Wanda's story - has happened off-screen. Used as a weapon once again, Wanda is forced to kill Vision, as she was the only one capable of destroying the Mind Stone. Wanda is heartbreakingly successful, but her grief (and on-screen development) is interrupted when she is Snapped away by Thanos.

Although Wanda's story is one of the most devastating in all of the MCU, the films have yet to take the time to truly explore her life. Now, as Marvel enters Phase 4, there seems to be room for Wanda to take on a more central role at last. Her striking out on her own in WandaVision offers enormous promise, as it is the first time in her cinematic history that she will be forced to act independently (without her brother, HYDRA, Ultron, or the Avengers). This means that Wanda will be able, for once, to face her traumatic past, either overcoming it or failing. Since she is said to be a major player in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, it is almost certain that the events of WandaVision will serve as a launch pad for Scarlet Witch's prominent and universe-altering role in future storylines.

Wanda has subtly been one of the MCU's most mysterious characters and the prospect seeing her come into her own is exciting. Though she has often been pushed to the periphery of the story, WandaVision seems like an excellent opportunity for the Scarlet Witch to make good on her threat in Avengers: Endgame. If fans don't know exactly who she is and what she stands for right now, it looks as though, very soon, they will.

Next: How Powerful Scarlet Witch Really Is In Each MCU Movie