Four episodes in and almost halfway through the quirky storyline of MCU series “WandaVision” on Disney+, the questions are slowly being answered regarding how a retro-style sitcom starring Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and the android Vision (Paul Bettany) actually jives with the superhero setting of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Already the hints have pointed to a powerful reality-altering power that is keeping the two Avengers inside the idyllic town of Westview, NJ.

Said power has pushed the atmosphere of the “WandaVision” show from one decade to the next, 1950s to 1970s. One of Wanda and Vision’s neighbors is seen leaving Westview and being surrounded by modern-day special agents at the end of episode 3. Will episode 4 finally spoil things?

It might have, considering how the title of the episode, “We Interrupt this Program” which premiered Friday, January 29, sort of indicates that something will drop the illusion of the in-universe “WandaVision” sitcom to show the reality that its alternate perspective has been covering up. But first, there is a prologue section delving into the backstory of Wanda and Vision’s neighbor Geraldine (Teyonah Parris), who as background info confirms is indeed Monica Rambeau, the little girl who once helped Carol Danvers recolor her Kree battle suit in 2019’s “Captain Marvel.”

The thing was, Monica got snapped out of existence by Thanos alongside countless others in 2018’s “Avengers: Infinity War.” Her mother and Carol’s old friend Maria Rambeau was spared, but then died of cancer during the five years from her daughter’s disappearance and return in the “Blip” of “Avengers: Endgame.” The younger Rambeau was actually an active agent of SWORD, a separate agency from SHIELD; and for her first assignment upon return she was to help FBI agent Jimmy Woo (Randall Park, 2018’s “Ant-Man and the Wasp”) investigate a “missing persons” case. The location: Westview.

Arriving at the New Jersey town, Woo and Rambeau see it covered by a field of cosmic microwave background shaped like a hexagon. Monica tries to contact the field and gets sucked inside Westview, where the residents are now “cast” in the “WandaVision” show with Wanda and Vision in the center of things. Rambeau’s second vanishing sends SWORD to the area to investigate, with fan-favorite MCU supporting character Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings from 2010’s “Thor”), now a Doctor, tasked to investigate the field. This is how the SWORD team receives episode broadcasts of “WandaVision,” where they see Monica try to blend in by assuming the identity of Geraldine while inside.

But SWORD is one to take an active stance in figuring out cosmic phenomena, so they send an agent named Franklin (Zac Henry) to infiltrate Westview underground via the sewers. By that time (circa events of episode 2 “Don’t Touch that Dial”), Franklin pops up from a manhole outside Wanda’s house, only to be transformed into the beekeeper that the couple see, which triggers the 1960s-1970s setting update. Not long afterward (as seen in episode 3 “Now in Color”), Wanda realizes that “Geraldine” is in the know about her late brother Pietro Maximoff and Ultron. Geraldine returning to the outside world was due to being expelled by Wanda from within.

Following Woo and Darcy’s discovery that the “WandaVision” TV broadcasts are censored, the sitcom setting over Westview briefly disappears. Wanda is her present-day self again; but so is Vision, dead and not revived since the Mind Infinity Stone that powered him was never returned. The major reveal of this scene is that Wanda herself is in full control of the cosmic illusion, as she immediately resets the atmosphere in town, where Vision is alive and that they have twin boys.

As the series prepares to hit its midpoint, the question of who is controlling the sitcom environment is answered. Wanda herself is, with a greater range of power than she has ever demonstrated. But now some follow-up inquiries must be made. Is this altered bubble world created by Wanda alone? Did she get outside help? And if so, is she in control or is the outside party controlling her? The plot now intensifies in Marvel Studios’ “WandaVision,” part of Phase 4 of the exciting MCU franchise, available only on Disney+.

Image courtesy of Screen Rant