Contains spoilers for “VisionQuest” episode 7.
Being part of a shared cinematic universe, it’s no surprise that “VisionQuest” references other films and shows in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Obviously, this series alludes to the events of “WandaVIsion” and “Agatha All Along” on Disney+. We also revisit elements from “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” “Spider-Man: Far From Home” and the Iron Man franchise, such as the return of the villainous Raza after 18 years. And while fans may have been expecting a tie-in to “Avengers: Infinity War” given what happened to Vision (Paul Bettany) in that movie, true believers probably weren’t expecting to see a certain element returning in the penultimate episode of the show’s season.
In episode 7, titled “Immolation,” Vision and Thomas Shepherd (Ruaridh Mollica) try to figure out how to save Lisa Molinari (Lauren Morais) after the nanite created by Jo Carrington/Jocasta (T’Nia Miller) attempts to rewrite her brain. Imagine the mysterious client who hired Paladin (Todd Stashwick), who somehow has the ability to connect with both Vision and Jocasta. While promising his “beautiful queen” the memories he lacks, he offers the Android Avenger the source code that would save Lisa and also give him the answers he sought. In return, they would have to go to the customer – an offer they cannot refuse.
Vision needs, as DUM-E (Henry Lewis) says, a “robust external power source” to access this code without his entire system completely melting down. Without many options in Madripoor, Vision and Tommy head to Paladin. He reveals that he has acquired a power source from Wakanda that Vision knows intimately: the Corvus Glaive weapon that dealt a near-fatal blow to the synthezoid in “Avengers: Infinity War.”
Who is Corvus Glaive?
A member of the Black Order, Corvus Glaive is one of the most trusted generals in Thanos’ forces. They had helped the Mad Titan search the galaxy for the Infinity Stones, which ultimately led them to Earth in “Avengers: Infinity War.” While their fellow Children of Thanos battled Doctor Strange, Tony Stark, and Bruce Banner in New York, Corvus Glaive and his wife, Proxima Midnight, traveled to the United Kingdom to meet Wanda Maximoff and Vision for a doomed double date in an effort to retrieve the Mind Stone.
The Black Order tracked Romeo and Juliet from “Captain America: Civil War” to Scotland, where Glaive struck the first blow by spearing Vision with his namesake weapon. Normally, vibranium is impenetrable to most things on the planet, but given that this thing isn’t of this world, all bets are off. Luckily, as the villains neared the end of their mission, the trio of Captain America, Black Widow, and Falcon stepped in to save their teammates. Now outnumbered, the enemies withdrew to fight another day.
Now, how did the Sword of Glaive end up in Wakanda for Paladin to steal if its owner can summon it at will? The answer can be found in “Avengers: Endgame” during the Battle of Earth. Once Thanos and his army were defeated, the battlefield where the Avengers compound once stood was littered with looting. For example, as seen in “Secret Invasion”, Nick Fury and his Skrull agents were able to collect the DNA of the main players in the battle. So it stands to reason that someone in Wakanda probably picked up the weapon and brought it back to their country to be studied and ultimately turned into a power source.
What does this mean for the Vision?
Narratively, the sword gives Vision enough power to search deep within himself for the source code and save Lisa. At the same time, he uncovers the dark secrets that connect all of the MCU’s artificial intelligence thanks to Dr. Phineas Horton and his first creation, “synthetic man” Jim Hammond, aka the original Human Torch.
Thematically, each chapter of Wanda and Vision’s story begins and ends with the Infinity Stones and Thanos. Loki’s scepter was the original container of the Mind Stone. After the Battle of New York in “The Avengers”, Hydra took possession of the scepter and began experiments on Wanda and Pietro Maximoff. These grueling trials awakened the twins’ powers, which set Wanda on the path to becoming the Scarlet Witch in “WandaVision.” Then in “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” the titular villain played by James Spader planned to use the Mind Stone and the Cradle of Regeneration to create a synthetic body for himself. Instead, thanks to Earth’s Mightiest Heroes (specifically the Science Bros), the Cradle was intercepted and the Vision was born from the remains of JARVIS and the Stone.
In the final chapter of the Westview trilogy, Vision wields another weapon imbued with cosmic power and used by one of Thanos’ minions for good. It’s even a weapon with which he himself has been on the opposite side in combat. Now, “VisionQuest” brings the story full circle in a way that saves the day – at least until Vision has to come face-to-face with Paladin’s client in the finale next week.
Gn entert
