Scarlet Witch Comes From a Line of Literal Witches in the Comics, Which Could Explain Some Things in ‘WandaVision’
WandaVision fans are gearing up for the end of the season and it’s going to be tough. This season has been pretty great and has given a new, deeper perspective on Wanda Maximoff that fans hadn’t gotten up until this point. And the second-to-last episode just gave so much more backstory to Wanda, even when fans thought they knew it. It also seems to connect to her comic book origins more than ever before. [Spoiler alert: Spoilers ahead for WandaVision].
Episode 8 of ‘WandaVision’ showed Wanda’s past from a new point of view
The final moments of Episode 7, “Breaking the Fourth Wall,” revealed what a lot of people have speculated for weeks: Agnes is actually Agatha Harkness. In the comics, Agatha Harkness is a centuries-old witch who ends up becoming a mentor to Wanda. Here, though, it seems like a more sinister relationship is underfoot.
So in Episode 8, “Previously On,” viewers find out that Agatha dates back at least to the 1600s. And her intentions seem devious as well. She wants to know how Wanda created Westview, putting to bed any and all theories that Agatha or anyone else created the Hex. Agatha recounts feeling the magic that Wanda created there and having the need to come take a look.
The episode is a true flashback moment for Wanda, Agatha, and the viewers as it goes all the way back to Wanda’s childhood in Sokovia right before her parents died. It follows the most tragic moments in her life from thereon until fans see the truth of how Wanda came across Vision’s body at S.W.O.R.D.’s headquarters.
In the comics, Wanda Maximoff is descended from the original Scarlet Witch, giving her her sorceress abilities
While doing so, it showed everything before the show started. Agatha is so astounded at the levels of magic Wanda possesses. She calls Wanda a myth, saying that she used Chaos Magic, and finally uses the name “Scarlet Witch” when describing Wanda. Even though Agatha’s a witch, does that mean Wanda’s powers are also mystical and magical too? Well, if they go the route of the comics, then yes.
While Wanda and Pietro Maximoff thought they were related to Magneto and therefore mutants, Wanda’s actual biological mother was Natalya Maximoff. And Natalya was the original Scarlet Witch. So Wanda was born as a human with mystical abilities.
And Wanda’s beyond powerful. With her mother being a sorceress, she comes from a line of sorceresses. The Scarlet Witch title is no joke, and with her control of Chaos Magic — which means she can alter reality (sound familiar?) — and the fact that she’s a Nexus Being — meaning she’s the anchor and focal point of that dimension — Wanda Maximoff is a massive threat in the comics.
In ‘WandaVision,’ it seems like this would explain a lot of her past
How does that translate over to the show? As Agatha was hinting at in every past memory, things were a bit off. For example, how did Wanda and Pietro survive for 2 days without that Stark missile going off? And without any food or water under a lot of rubble and other unsafe conditions around them? And how were they the only two to survive the tests by Hydra?
In the comics Wanda’s powers were only enhanced by the High Evolutionary. This made her more receptive to her magical powers, but they didn’t actually give them to her. Again, she inherited them from her mother.
So, if MCU Wanda also inherited her magic, it would explain those things that Agatha was hinting at. And, as Agatha shockingly said at the end of the episode, Wanda is using Chaos Magic. And she calls her the Scarlet Witch, insinuating that there were others before her, like in the comics.
As with anything Marvel, things aren’t going to be just like the comics. But this seems pretty likely.
