Every Westview Resident Wanda May Not Fully Control | Screen Rant
WandaVision indicates that several Westview residents exist in Wanda’s sitcom fantasy who may not be fully under her control. While many of the supporting characters act the part of loyal and friendly townspeople, Wanda and Vision connect with a few who are sometimes aware of the prison they’re in. Their interactions can include a passing reference to Wanda’s powers or the town as a whole, and they almost all share a mutual fear of her.
Wanda’s immediate family are well-aware of her abilities and the pocket reality she doesn’t remember creating. Billy and Tommy call her out on what day of the week it is and know she can resurrect people if she wants to – they beg her to bring Sparky back after he dies. The “recast” Pietro in the form of Evan Peters is the most self-aware of them all, complimenting Wanda on the work she’s done to perfect the people of her world, bringing up her past trauma, and questioning her on how she did all of it. Vision is slowly beginning to learn that he, too, is under Wanda’s control and seeks out answers from neighbors.
Outside of Wanda’s familial bubble, some of her neighbors and sitcom counterparts experience suspicious bouts of consciousness. This may be because Wanda has become exhausted exerting all of her power to keep everyone under her spell at all times or she is easily distracted. It is likely a character will come to when Wanda puts all of her focus into something else, rather than on the entire town. Though she has balked at the idea that she is controlling the town, she is capable of using many people at once, as seen with the S.W.O.R.D. soldiers. Whatever the reason is, let’s take a look at the residents who have shown resistance to her manipulation.
In episode 1, Vision’s boss Mr. Hart grills Wanda and Vision on why they came to Westview during a bizarre dinner scene. The implication is he knows something is amiss in town, judging by the accusatory tone of his voice. He becomes so frustrated with their lack of response that he begins choking, and Wanda gives Vision permission to intervene and save him. Their conversation probably wouldn’t have veered in this direction if Mr. Hart hadn’t interrogated them. Scarlet Witch may have tried to kill Mr. Hart to avoid thinking about her past or how she actually got to Westview, which she still doesn’t remember.
Agnes seems to be the most cognizant of her surroundings outside of Wanda's family. In episode 2, Agnes calls Wanda “the star of the show," hinting that she understands Wanda is behind this fake reality. On their way to the fundraiser meeting, Agnes advises Wanda that Dottie is the head honcho in town. Wanda says that instead of impressing Dottie, she should just be herself, and Agnes gives her a questioning, almost nervous look, like she knows Wanda’s true nature.
In episode 3, Agnes is seen whispering with Herb and tells Vision that "Geraldine" has no home and no family. She also stops Herb from revealing some truth about the community; they both look worried when she tells him to stop and they both revert back to their sitcom selves, presumably after Wanda reestablishes focus off of Monica.
When she intervenes to help out with Wanda's children in episode 5, Agnes seems to miss her cue when Vision says Agnes shouldn't hold the babies. She nervously refers to Wanda like she's a director and asks if she needs a redo or to “take it from the top." Despite the kids aging up in front of her, she acts unfazed, though she seems surprised later on when Tommy asks Wanda to resurrect Sparky. It seems like, despite Wanda's control, Agnes is making a concerted effort to play along and hide behind a cheery facade.
Finally, in episode 6, Agnes is forgetful near the border of town, suggesting everyone glitches at that location. When Vision awakens her, she asks if he’s there to help and says Wanda never lets them think of leaving. After he puts her back to sleep, Agnes reverts to her old self and drives away.
Dottie hasn't been identified by S.W.O.R.D. yet, so she may know more about Wanda than meets the eye. In episode 2, Dottie confronts Wanda after their fundraising meeting, threatening that she's heard things about Wanda and Vision. When Wanda assures her she doesn't intend to harm anyone, Dottie says she doesn’t believe her. Soon after, Dottie hears Jimmy’s voice through the radio and then fearfully asks Wanda who she is. Right after the radio explodes and Dottie cuts her hand, she switches back to her sitcom persona, suggesting Wanda is no longer distracted by the radio.
At the start of episode 3, Vision notices Herb cutting through his wall, which could be a glitch in the Hex or his signal that their current reality is a hoax. This is when Wanda is in labor and focused on her newborns, so it is entirely possible that her control has weakened over her neighbors. Later on, Vision notices Herb and Agnes whispering on Herb’s property. He has a difficult time explaining why "Geraldine" came to Westview, and Agnes interrupts him before he can finish the sentence. Soon after Wanda ejects Monica from town, Agnes and Herb revert back to their oblivious sitcom selves, implying control is restored or they're just pretending their conversation with Vision never happened.
Another instance occurs in episode 6 when Herb is doing a neighborhood patrol during Halloween. Wanda asks if Vision can help find the perp stealing all the candy, but Herb says he’s not on duty. When Wanda expresses her confusion, Herb looks concerned and almost frightened. He asks if he can help her with anything or if she wants something changed. What he can help change isn’t made clear, but his statement insinuates he is well-aware that Wanda is controlling Westview and wants to keep all communication peaceful and orderly.
Additionally, in episode 3, after the twins' delivery, Doctor Nielsen tells Vision, “Small towns, you know, so hard to escape,” hinting that he knows Westview has been taken over. This aligns with what Agnes tells Vision in episode 6: that Wanda doesn’t even let them think of exploring outside the town. Since Wanda is busy with Billy and Tommy in episode 3, this allows Westview residents' true, hidden personalities to breathe a little.
Dennis has a very brief exchange with Agnes in episode 2, claiming he’s just “the messenger.” A messenger of what remains unclear – what kind of news could he be delivering to Westview residents? In episode 5 when Wanda and the twins are out looking for Sparky, Dennis tells the kids not to worry, adding “your mom won’t let him get far,” which implies that he knows more about Wanda than he’s leading on. It’s worth it to note that both Pietro and the animated shark in episode 6’s Yo Magic commercial also refer to the kids as “little dude.” It hasn't yet been revealed if this is just a coincidental term in this fake reality or a suggestion of a deeper connection.
In episode 5, after a company-wide email about the “Maximoff Anomaly” arrives at work, Vision’s co-worker Norm laughs it off and says none of it is real. Vision taps into his mind, allowing Norm’s real personality to surface. He begs for Vision to stop her, but he doesn’t say exactly who. He could mean Wanda, since Monica says early on in the episode that she heard Wanda’s voice inside her head and that Monica was drowned by overwhelming grief. Norm doesn’t appear in episode 6, but that doesn’t mean Vision waking him up didn’t let part of his real personality remain aware. Norm could very well question his reality in upcoming episodes.
When Vision brings Norm’s predicament up to Wanda at the end of the episode, she denies it, asking how she can possibly control everyone at the same time. Earlier, she easily makes several S.W.O.R.D. soldiers turn their guns on Hayward, so it’s not outside the realm of possibility that she has a handle on all of Westview’s residents.
During the Halloween episode of WandaVision, Vision does his own patrol of the neighborhood, in search of clues that may give him a sense of what Wanda is hiding from him. He notices one neighbor trapped in a loop attempting to hang Halloween decorations outside her house. In the background, a man keeps bending down to place a jack-o-lantern. The woman is obviously aware of her situation, judging by the single tear rolling down her cheek, as she’s being forced to repeat one action. It’s a devastating glitch that becomes even more apparent when Vision visits the outskirts of town.
Closer to the outskirts, and hence Scarlet Witch's hex, children and adults don't move, a world-building error hinting at the insignificance of their roles. Many don Halloween costumes, but it's not difficult to imagine their horror behind the masks. Though Wanda says she doesn't want to hurt anyone, it is apparent she is causing great distress and discomfort to anyone in the hex. She's protecting her new home in WandaVision, but at what cost? And who knows how many more people will awaken from their hex personas as Wanda's world continues to be threatened?
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