Gut-Wrenching Scarlet Witch Theory Changes Everything About WandaVision 3 Years On

After WandaVision, Wanda Maximoff, alias Scarlet Witch, became one of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s most tragic characters. Wanda forced the entire town of Westview into a fantasy she built out of grief over the loss of Vision. In the process, she herself became a victim of her reality-warping powers when she became so engrossed in the fantasy that she struggled with defining what was and wasn’t real. Within the Hex, Wanda not only had Vision, but she also had two children, Billy and Tommy. Though the twins were not real, they were real to Wanda.

While she had to sacrifice her happiness (and her children) to free Westview, Wanda found her true power as the Scarlet Witch. In the process, she uncovered the sinister plan of Agatha Harkness and defeated the witch by trapping her in a fake persona. Wanda’s story took a dark turn in Doctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness, as her grief drove her to scour the multiverse for variants of her children and attempt to steal America Chavez’s powers.

This rampage led to the Scarlet Witch’s corruption by the Darkhold and her subsequent death. Since then, the release of Agatha All Along has shed more light on Agatha, recontextualizing her interest in Wanda and the latter’s downfall.

Agatha All Along Reveals Agatha’s Tragic Past

Agatha Gave Up Her Son For Power

Agatha All Along revealed that Wanda and Agatha have more in common than previously thought. Like the Scarlet Witch, Agatha was a mother. However, she differed from Wanda in one major way. While Wanda had to give up her children to save the citizens of Westview, Agatha sacrificed her son for a less altruistic reason. The witch gave up her son in exchange for the Darkhold, with his ultimate fate becoming a mystery to her. Agatha All Along hints that she regrets this decision. Prior to breaking out of Wanda’s spell, Agatha’s house featured mementos of a missing child.

Aside from the visual references to Agatha’s son, her actions made it clear that she missed him. The mentor relationship she forged with Teen has maternal undertones. This dynamic formed largely because Agatha suspected Teen was her son, Nicholas Scratch. In episode 4, Aubrey Plaza’s Rio Vidal outright told Agatha “That boy isn’t yours,” meaning Teen is most likely not Nicholas. Even so, Agatha’s treatment of Teen showed she recognized her mistake on some level, though this change of heart could be the result of her losing the Darkhold in WandaVision.

Agatha Targeted Scarlet Witch To Steal Her Powers In WandaVision

Agatha Manipulated Wanda, But The Scarlet Witch Outsmarted Her

This new backstory for Agatha changes everything. In particular, her motive to steal Wanda’s magic in WandaVision could be entirely different. Towards the end of the series, Agatha is revealed as an impostor. She previously posed as Wanda and Vision’s neighbor within the Hex because the former’s raw magical power attracted her. Per Agatha, stealing other witches’ powers is her modus operandi. Her scheme was to corner Wanda, emotionally manipulate her, and goad her into voluntarily giving her powers up. If Wanda gave in to Agatha, she could stay in her fantasy with Vision, Billy, and Tommy.

However, she underestimated Wanda, who used a trick Agatha herself taught her: containing another witch’s powers using runes. After the revelations in Agatha All Along, Agatha’s desire for the Scarlet Witch’s reality-warping power seems less rooted in selfishness. Agatha could want exactly what Wanda gave herself: a reality where she could have her son back.

Theory: Agatha Wanted Scarlet Witch’s Powers To Resurrect Her Son

Wanda’s Ability To Warp Reality Could Potentially Bring Nicholas Scratch Back

While Agatha’s story in WandaVision is already retroactively more tragic after Agatha All Along, a new theory makes her history even sadder. Episode 4 saw Teen asking what really happened to Nicholas, which calls the story of her trading him for the Darkhold into question. If Agatha did not willingly give Nicholas up, it’s possible he died. His death could have either been a result of or the catalyst for her quest for power. Likewise, Agatha was already powerful due to having the Darkhold, but she could have targeted Wanda’s magic in order to resurrect Nicholas.

Agatha’s relationship with Teen could redeem her mistakes with Nicholas and, if he is Billy Maximoff reincarnated, Wanda.

Agatha All Along could potentially strengthen WandaVision’s theme of overcoming grief with Agatha’s backstory reveal. Regardless of whether Nicholas is dead, Agatha’s grief and trauma over his loss are evident. Agatha All Along will undoubtedly use this fuel for her character moving forward. Moreover, Agatha’s relationship with Teen could redeem her mistakes with Nicholas and, if he is Billy Maximoff reincarnated, Wanda. With 5 more episodes of Agatha All Along, how Nicholas will factor into the story remains to be seen. Either way, Agatha’s story casts her turn as WandaVision’s villain in a new light.