Looking for Easter eggs and references to other movies has become a fun part of the viewing process for superhero fans. That's especially true if a movie or television show is part of a shared universe, like the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Even if a project, like WandaVision, isn't on the big screen, fans keep their eyes out for references to the wider universe.
WandaVision doesn't disappoint in that regard. Even after just a few episodes, the series has as many comic-book and MCU references as any movie in the franchise. Of course, some of those MCU callbacks are more important than others, whether it's a result of the story they belong to or how they speak to Scarlet Witch's emotional state.
The Sokovian Greeting
When the Harts come over for dinner, Vision tries to turn an awkward moment into a charming anecdote about Wanda's heritage. He describes Wanda covering Mr. Hart's eyes as a "traditional Sokovian greeting." The moment is played for laughs in classic sitcom style, but it calls back to a darker MCU moment.
When Wanda first interacts with the Avengers in Avengers: Age Of Ultron, she does something very similar to the team. One by one, she sneaks up behind them, places her hands near their eyes or temples, and creates an illusion for them to become immersed in and haunted by. It's an incredibly dark callback that reminds the audience that, once upon a time, Wanda was the villain of the story.
"My Husband And His Indestructible Head."
One of the first interactions between Wanda and Vision in their new series is a bit of flirty banter that actually recalls a tragic battle. As Wanda uses her telekinetic abilities to put away dishes, she hits Vision with a plate, which prompts him to remark, "my wife and her flying saucers," while Wanda responds, "my husband and his indestructible head."
Both lines actually call to mind the events of Avengers: Infinity War. Wanda only leaves Vision's side in the movie when the Avengers are overwhelmed, and she does it by moving spinning saucer-like structures away from Black Widow and Okoye. Later, Vision's head is proven not indestructible when Thanos plucks the mind stone from it. The exchange is a hint that deep down, Wanda remembers the battle, setting the series after the events of the movie.
A Toaster From Stark Industries
In true sitcom style, each episode features a commercial. The unique products reference other events in the MCU. That's true of the item in the first commercial, a toaster created by Stark Industries.
The advertisement urges the audience to, "forget the past," but it definitely calls to mind a traumatic event from Wanda's past. As the advertisement continues and the toaster is used, the button that turns it on sounds suspiciously like Iron Man's suit's repulsor blast. Likewise, the beeping of the timer actually calls to mind the countdown of a bomb. The audience will remember that when Wanda was young, her parents were killed when a Stark Industries bomb landed on her home. She and her brother were trapped in the rubble for days with a shell that didn't detonate, waiting to die. That traumatic experience led to her hatred of Tony Stark.
The Voice On The Radio
In the second episode, Wanda hears a voice calling to her through a radio. The voice will be a familiar one to MCU fans as it belongs to actor Randall Park, who plays FBI Agent Jimmy Woo in Ant-Man and the Wasp.
If fans paid attention t0 casting before the series began, they would know that he was slated to appear in the show, though it what capacity was never revealed. The only organization that has a presence so far in the series is the mysterious SWORD. It's likely that Agent Woo is no longer with the FBI after Avengers: Endgame's five-year time jump, but with SWORD, which should leave the audience wondering if he's friend or foe.
Strücker Watch
The second episode also features a nod to Wanda's past, though this one is a watch. The Strücker is supposed to be an elegant piece, but it's got some sinister reminders with its Hydra symbol right on the face.
The name, of course, is a nod to Baron Von Strücker. That's the Hydra scientist who used an infinity stone to experiment on Wanda and her brother in Sokovia. The Maximoff twins volunteered for the experimental program because they thought it could make them powerful enough to go up against Tony Stark themselves. While Wanda might be happy having these abilities now, this commercial serves as a reminder of the dark path she took to get them - and the fact that she lost her brother.
Abe Brown
When the reveal is made to the audience that the WandaVision "sitcom" is being monitored by SWORD, that reveals also comes with some fake credits for the show. Amongst those credits is a name straight out of the MCU.
Abe is short for Abraham, and Abraham Brown has appeared in the MCU. He's actually a character in Spider-Man: Homecoming. One of Peter's classmates and a member of the trivia team Peter participates in, Abe doesn't appear in the movie's sequel. That's because he survived Thanos's snap and graduated high school. That would put him in his early twenties after the events of Avengers: Endgame. It's not clear what role (if any) he might play in WandaVision, but the use of his name on a SWORD monitor makes it possible he's already an agent.
Simser Paint
In the third episode, Wanda and Vision set about preparing for their surprise baby. They even paint a nursery in their spare room. The paint they use is a special brand: Simser Paint.
This brand is so special because it doesn't actually exist. Instead, it's a nod to storyboard artist Jeremy Simser. That might not seem like an important MCU nod to some, but it is an interesting shout out. Simser provides samples of his work on his own website. That site also reveals that he's working on Doctor Strange: In the Multiverse of Madness, which also features Scarlet Witch. That could be a hint that fans will see more continuity between the two projects than they initially thought.
Geraldine Mentions Ultron
The third episode of the series is the first time Wanda's tragic past is mentioned outright. Geraldine mentions Wanda's brother and the villain Ultron. The mention is enough to get Wanda to violently expel her from Westview, giving the audience their first glimpse of the world outside.
This is also one of the first times that Wanda isn't just altering reality and hiding it from everyone. Now, the audience can see that Wanda is actively avoiding her past and the trauma that comes with it. She wants nothing to do with the things that hurt her, lending credence to the theory that she's in complete control of what's happening in Westview.
Wanda's Accent Returns
In the third episode, Wanda, for the first time, mentions that she was a twin, just like the babies she has. As she talks about Pietro, the Sokovian accent developed for the character that's been missing for WandaVision returns. She even sings to her children in Sokovian.
It's a reminder that the classic American sitcom tone Wanda has been sporting isn't her own. Interestingly, when asked about her accent in interviews, Elizabeth Olsen made sure to tell reporters that Wanda's accent wasn't gone. Not only does episode three prove that, but it is more evidence that Wanda is putting on her own show.
Hydra Soak
Also in the third episode is a commercial for a Hydra bath product. The bath powder, called "Hydra Soak," is meant to find "the goddess within." Not only does this recall Wanda's days with Hydra (and possibly provide a nod to Agents Of SHIELD's Framework storyline with mind control blue soap), but it also lends credence to a theory that Wanda's abilities might not have been gifted to her by an infinity stone.
Fans have long speculated that Wanda and Pietro already had the capacity for superpowers within - whether they're the MCU's answer to comic book mutants or something else. If her powers were "unlocked," instead of given, that would open the door for more characters with natural powers in the MCU.