Why SWORD Lied About Wanda Stealing Vision's Body

WandaVision episode 8 reveals that S.W.O.R.D. Director Hayward has been manipulating the agents around him, by lying about Wanda stealing Vision's body. In episode 5, in their base of operations outside the Hex, Hayward shows Monica Rambeau what looks to be definitive video proof that Wanda used her powers to invade a top-secret facility, where she breaks open doors and windows and surveys Vision's dismantled remains. Hayward fills in the rest of the story, saying Wanda took the body by force. WandaVision episode 8 – in particular the mid-credits scene – reveals the truth and a lot more of SWORD's plan.

In episode 8, Agatha Harkness uses her powers to explore Wanda's own memories, which so far Wanda has been unable to recall. One of the scenes is the aforementioned event at S.W.O.R.D. that was captured on video. From Wanda's perspective, everything is a lot more calm. She asks for entry at the front desk and is at first rejected. She is eventually granted access but, impatient, uses her powers to open the door to the facility. She meets with Hayward and looks over Vision's remains. Hayward tells her that he's salvaging Vision and the Vibranium that makes up his body. She does then become angry – breaking the wall of glass and descending into the room to have a final moment with Vision — but instead of taking the body, she grieves, realizing he's no longer present.

Director Hayward has clearly used footage of Wanda in a way that makes it seem as though she broke into the S.W.O.R.D. facility as an antagonist, but Wanda's memory, as resurfaced by Agatha, proves the contrary. She was grieving the loss of her partner and wanted to say goodbye and hold a funeral. So why did Hayward spin this lie to Rambeau and the other agents?

Vision's new form appears in Wandavision

The answer may be depicted in the mid-credits scene of WandaVision episode 8, where viewers see Vision's remains once again intact and energized by Wanda's own powers – transferred from the drone that entered the Hex in an earlier episode. He's had a paint job: Vision's now a totally blank white and his eyes and forehead glow an eerie blue as he comes online. It seems he's to be used as a tool to serve as a sentient weapon. This is strictly against the Sokovia Accords, the international treaty governing the actions of "enhanced individuals," but Hayward's manipulation of Wanda might be the reason behind all of this.

S.W.O.R.D. had in its possession a powerful "weapon," as Hayward described Vision. It was broken, and Hayward wanted it fixed and under SWORD control, but this was against the Sokovia Accords – unless he was reacting to a specific threat that required a specific solution. Showing Vision's remains to Wanda, Hayward likely knew that she would respond with inconsolable grief. Knowing the connection between the two individuals, whatever Wanda went on to do would give Hayward the leeway to reactivate Vision in order to address this specific threat: tackling a Wanda Maximoff problem with a solution made just for her.

Lying about Wanda's actions – obscuring the fact that Hayward contributed to the creation of the Hex himself – gave the S.W.O.R.D. director the opportunity to create a weapon he otherwise wouldn't have had the authorization to make. It remains to be seen if he anticipated Agatha's involvement, and where the crew of "enhanced individuals" will go from here. The credits scene in WandaVision episode 8 certainly drops some intriguing details. Whichever way it goes, the WandaVision finale is sure to feature an epic showdown.

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