WandaVision: What’s hidden in plain sight in Episode 5
By Mike McNulty
![(L-R): Paul Bettany as Vision, Kathryn Hahn as Agnes and Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff in Marvel Studios' WANDAVISION. Photo by Chuck Zlotnick. ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved. (L-R): Paul Bettany as Vision, Kathryn Hahn as Agnes and Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff in Marvel Studios' WANDAVISION. Photo by Chuck Zlotnick. ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/756eb062ea8746f75cd40044d18c95e0f579293e1608308e6d8a9187a5d699c6.jpg)
“They recast Pietro?”
But now we come to the big surprise twist at the end of this episode: The return of Wanda’s brother, Pietro Maximoff. Or rather, the recasting of Pietro Maximoff. Because instead of Aaron Taylor-Johnson from Avengers: Age of Ultron (2005), it’s Evan Peters from X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), and Dark Phoenix (2019).
Naturally, since Disney bought 20th Century Fox – the studio which made the X-Men movies – this seems like confirmation that the X-Men and mutants have now officially been added to the MCU. Or, at the very least, this is the first sign of some multiverse mischief.
But just as Pietro’s arrival is perfectly-timed to stop Vision from asking some pointed questions (why, indeed, are there no other children in Westview?), the casting of Evan Peters as Pietro is designed to throw the audience off the scent as well. Because I don’t believe Pietro has been recast; I believe we’ve been introduced to Agnes’ mysterious husband, “Ralph.” And “Ralph” might actually be Marvel Comics’ version of the Devil, Mephisto.
Sure, this seems like a stretch, but it does line up if the theory about Agnes is correct, and how Wanda’s twins were really conceived in the comics. Also, considering that WandaVision will apparently tie into the upcoming Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, it would be perfect timing to bring the granddaddy of all supernatural threats into the MCU. (Then again, there are also rumors that another Doctor Strange villain could be involved.)
We’ll just have to wait and see how “Uncle Peter” factors into whatever is happening in Westview. And whether Vision will start having even more of an existential crisis. And just how old will those twins be in the next episode anyway?
Next. WandaVision: 5 burning questions for Episode 6. dark
What Easter Eggs did you spot in WandaVision Episode 5? Let us know in the comments below!