WandaVision Episode 6: All-New Halloween Spooktacular! Review

For our review of the last episode of WandaVision, click here.

Things are getting spooky in Westview as we have arrived to the Halloween episode but with a Malcolm in the Middle twist, opening and all. When the walls are crumbling, just expand them but there’s only so far they can go. While the real villain remains to be seen (Wanda may be responsible and acknowledged as much but she isn’t in control), a new one emerged in the form of SWORD Director Tyler Hayward (Josh Stamberg) whose real intentions for setting up shop outside of Westview were seemingly revealed. Vision did not want to be used as a weapon but it looks like Hayward had a different plan for him.

Unsurprisingly, Monica, Darcy, and Jimmy were not going along with Hayward therefore were banished from the SWORD base but that clearly wasn’t going to be the case as they had a different plan in mind. While Monica and Jimmy pursued her contact for a means back into Westview, Darcy stayed behind to gather more intel on Hayward.

As far as the sitcom world was concerned, it fully played into the Malcolm in the Middle set up (including a cut-away, characters talking to the camera, and juvenile humor) as the newly-arrived Pietro lived with Wanda and Vision and their family. A manchild who slept on the couch, he was clearly a bad influence. Wanda, on the other hand, was looking forward to spending some time with Billy and Tommy (who now had powers of their own) during their first Halloween, classic costume and all. However, Vision had different plans. Luckily Pietro was there to step in to wreak havoc on the town with the kids. Meanwhile, it was Wanda’s turn to be suspicious of Pietro who in turn acknowledged his different appearance. He was there to be the storyline disruptor cliche just like he believed she wanted. Between the time we know he died at the hands of Ultron and now, the details were unclear. On the other hand, Pietro was impressed with what Wanda had done. She admitted to feeling alone and then ending up in Westview.

Vision claimed to be working neighborhood watch but rather, he went on his own investigation of Westview. People around the border of the town were behaving erratically, that same border which Wanda forbid the kids to cross. His investigation saw him run into Agnes who was in her car and acting just like the others. Using his powers revealed the real her who recognized him but Vision didn’t remember who he really was. She was resigned to the fact that all was lost which was enough for Vision to turn her back, Whether or not that was all an act remains to be seen.

Nevertheless, Vision continued to proceed to the border, eventually attempting to cross the energy field. That same field was keeping him alive as he began to disintegrate the further he went as the SWORD soldiers merely watched. Sensing his being in danger, Wanda used her powers to expand the force field, reclaiming Vision and swallowing the SWORD base and everything else in its path. Everything and everyone in its path converted into sitcom world, including Darcy who was left handcuffed to a truck while Monica and Jimmy and Haward and the remainder of SWORD sped away.

The writing was simply on point here, full of subtle and not so subtle hints and Easter Eggs while the chemistry of Elizabeth Olsen and Evan Peters was definitely a highlight here. Though this Pietro most definitely is not Pietro, it will be interesting to see how this piece fits in to the grand scheme of the series. How will the end this episode impact the rest of the season as the world beyond Westview is in turmoil. What will sitcom Darcy look like? Will Vision bring it all down?

If you liked this, please read our other reviews here and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter or Instagram or like us on Facebook.

Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.