WandaVision: Every MCU Easter Egg In Episode 9

WandaVision episode 9, “The Series Finale,” is absolutely packed with MCU Easter eggs and references to Marvel Comics. WandaVision began as a surreal sitcom, a Marvel mystery for fans to try to solve, but it ended as it was always going to – in an explosive, action-packed confrontation in the streets of Westview. The heroes and villains of WandaVision assembled for a fateful confrontation that has the potential to break the world.

Every episode of WandaVision has been full of Easter eggs, whether to the MCU or to comic book lore. Previously they’ve been subtle, meaning you had to look closely in order to spot them; but WandaVision episode 9 makes them overt, bringing together various plot threads that the show has been carefully weaving for weeks more effectively than a witch would weave a cat’s cradle. No doubt some will be disappointed as their favorite fan-theories are dismissed, but in truth WandaVision benefits for being tightly focused on a single family, even as it sets up the newly-christened Scarlet Witch for her future in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

The finale Easter eggs range from smaller nods to teases with bigger implications, not only for Scarlet Witch but several other MCU characters. So here are all the Easter eggs in the WandaVision finale.

An Amusing Nod To The Wizard of Oz

Wanda swats Agatha Harkness out of the sky by telekinetically using a car as a weapon – a trick she deployed against Iron Man in Captain America: Civil War – but when she goes to investigate she finds only Agatha’s boots left behind – an amusing nod to The Wizard of Oz, where a dark witch was killed when a house crashed upon her, leaving only her boots sticking out. This is intended as a prank by Agatha, a way of mocking Wanda and demonstrating she’s out of her depth.

Agatha Harkness’ Book Of Magic Is The Darkhold

WandaVision episode 7 saw Wanda Maximoff investigate Agatha Harkness’ basement, which the sorceress had crafted as a temple of magic. The centerpiece of Agatha’s home was a mysterious book glowing with scarlet power, and in episode 9 Agatha confirms this is a legendary tome of dark magic called the Darkhold. Apparently it contains an entire chapter on the Scarlet Witch, the basis of Agatha’s knowledge about Wanda, and so as a result the post-credits scene reveals Wanda has taken the Darkhold and is reading it herself. In the comics, the Darkhold was fashioned by the Elder God Chthon, who used Wanda as a pawn to invade the Earth; all this seems like very deliberate foreshadowing for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

The design of the Darkhold is very different to the one previously seen in Agents of SHIELD, pretty much confirming the show should not be considered canon in the mainstream MCU. It’s also different to the comics, more reminiscent of the Iron-Bound Books associated with another of the Elder Gods, Shuma-Gorath, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Marvel merge Chthon with other, similar entities.

The Scarlet Witch’s Power Exceeds The Sorcerer Supreme

According to Agatha Harkness, the Scarlet Witch’s power exceeds that of even the Sorcerer Supreme. That’s significant, because it means Wanda should be capable of feats of magic that would be beyond even the Ancient One. Disturbingly, though, right now the Earth doesn’t have a Sorcerer Supreme to protect it any more; the Ancient One died in Doctor Strange, and Stephen Strange is yet to prove himself worthy to become the next Sorcerer Supreme.

Implicit References To Chthon, The God Of Chaos Magic

Agatha Harkness claims the Scarlet Witch is destined to destroy the world, presumably alluding to the fact she is an agent of Chaos Magic, chosen as a pawn by Chthon. Later, as the confrontation between Agatha and Wanda comes to an end, she claims Wanda has no idea what she’s done by claiming the full power of the Scarlet Witch, specifically that she has no idea what she’s “unleashed.” In the comics, every time Chaos Magic is used it weakens the fabric of reality, potentially allowing Chthon to break through. It is likely something similar is true in the MCU as well.

Scarlet Witch Generates A Protective Bubble

In amidst all the spectacular flares of power, there’s one scene in WandaVision episode 9 where Wanda generates a protective hex over her family in the shape of a force-bubble. This is actually one of Scarlet Witch’s trademark powers in the comics, and it’s great to see it appear in the MCU, proving the power of Chaos Magic can indeed be used protectively.

Spectrum’s Powers Become A Reality

While Wanda and Agatha battle it out in the heavens, Monica Rambeau intervenes down on the ground to prevent Wanda’s children being shot by Director Hayward. Repeated exposure to the Hex has rewritten Monica’s body, granting her superhuman powers of her own; the bullets do not injure her, but instead fly through her body, losing their kinetic energy. In the comics, exposure to extradimensional energy transformed Monica into a superhero who’s gone by codenames such as Captain Marvel, Photon, and Spectrum; it transformed Monica’s body into an energy form. Just as in WandaVision, the comic book version of Monica can indeed absorb the kinetic energy of bullets into herself.

Vision’s Flashbacks

The two Visions go head-to-head in a dramatic battle of their own that seems tonally similar to the confrontation between Vision and Ultron in Avengers: Age of Ultron. In the end, white Vision allows his opponent to tamper with his circuitry; this leads to his experiencing a surge of memories, including scenes from Avengers: Age of Ultron, Captain America: Civil War, and Avengers: Infinity War – right up to the moment of his death.

“I Am Vision”

“I am Vision,” the white Vision realizes, affirming his identity. It’s difficult not to be reminded of Tony Stark’s declaring himself as Iron Man at the very beginning of the MCU, but this one is a lot more private. Unlike Tony Stark, it looks as though the restored Vision will keep out of the limelight, simply because the public still believed him dead in the “In Memoriam” video in Spider-Man: Far From Home, set months later.

Wanda’s Avengers: Age of Ultron Mental Manipulation

Wanda resorts to a familiar technique during her battle with Agatha Harkness, invading her mind in order to experience a shared, warped memory that goes horribly wrong. This is the same technique Scarlet Witch used in Avengers: Age of Ultron, and Wanda’s hand gestures are identical. Unfortunately the effect is far less effective, because Agatha Harkness is no stranger to this kind of magic.

The Scarlet Witch Costume & Headdress

When Wanda Maximoff manifests her full power, she finally becomes the Scarlet Witch, wearing the costume she glimpsed in a vision years ago when she was exposed to the Mind Stone. The design is fascinating, a blend of modern designs from Wanda’s time in the Uncanny Avengers and from James Robinson’s tremendous Scarlet Witch run. It’s been significantly improved to avoid exposing too much cleavage, which will please Elizabeth Olsen; she’s previously complained about how much cleavage Scarlet Witch’s costumes show. The traditional Scarlet Witch headdress appears to demonstrate Wanda’s claiming her power, in the same way a similar headdress manifested over Agatha’s mother in a flashback in WandaVision episode 8.

Part of the Mind Stone is in Wanda

Scarlet Witch reveals a part of the Mind Stone lives in her, and manifested itself in the creation of Westview’s Vision – explaining the flare of yellow energy as Vision’s body was formed. This is a fascinating scene, with enormous implications for the MCU in that it appears to confirm the Mind Stone bound itself to Wanda when she was exposed to its power during the Hydra experiments. Given Vision was such a noble and heroic character, this further supports the theory the Mind Stone contains a degree of sentience – and, indeed, that it is good. Thanos may have destroyed the Infinity Stones in Avengers: Endgame, but the Russo brothers confirmed they aren’t gone from the MCU, merely reduced to an atomic level. Thus the Mind Stone could yet return.

A Skrull Recruiting For Nick Fury

WandaVision‘s mid-credits scene sees Monica Rambeau approached by a Skrull who is working for a friend of her mother’s, and seeks her help on a mission to space. Spider-Man: Far From Home‘s post-credits scene confirmed Nick Fury is in an alliance with the Skrulls on a mysterious mission to space, and it’s safe to assume Monica is there with him. This sets up Monica Rambeau to be a key player in Marvel’s upcoming Secret Invasion series on Disney+, which is expected to deal with alien sleeper cells on Earth. Interestingly, note there’s no suggestion Nick Fury is working with SWORD; rather, he seems to be an independent operator on a mission of his own, so some popular theories he has taken charge of SHIELD’s replacement may be incorrect.

Scarlet Witch Copies Doctor Strange’s Reading Technique

Scarlet Witch is seen reading the Darkhold by using a sort of “astral duplicate,” allowing her to do two things at once. This is exactly the same approach Stephen Strange used in Doctor Strange, allowing him to absorb significant knowledge at speed. Wanda has clearly grown significantly in her powers, given she is doing this without any hint of formal training at all.

The Twins’ Voices

Scarlet Witch’s studies are interrupted when she senses Billy and Tommy calling out for help. She had believed the twins gone, but clearly that’s not the case. In the comics, the twins were forged with fragments of Mephisto’s soul, so Wanda could well be being manipulated once again. Alternatively, the twins were ultimately reincarnated as Wiccan and Speed, members of the Young Avengers, so it’s possible they’re set to return in some manner. Marvel’s Phase 4 definitely seems to be setting up Young Avengers, with several other potential members confirmed or anticipated. So don’t count the twins out just yet.

About The Author

Thomas Bacon
(4894 Articles Published)

Tom Bacon is one of Screen Rant’s staff writers, as well as a Peer Mentor for new writers and a member of the Care Team, offering support and a listening ear to members of the Comics group. A lifelong fan of major franchises including Star Wars, Doctor Who, and Marvel, Tom is delighted his childhood is back – and this time it’s cool. You can find him on Twitter @TomABacon.

A graduate of Edge Hill University, Tom remains strongly connected with his alma mater as a volunteer chaplain. He’s heavily involved with his local church, and anyone who checks him out on Twitter will swiftly learn he’s into British politics too.

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