WandaVision Episode 8 Easter Eggs EXPLAINED - What's The Real Meaning Behind MCU Scarlet Witch?

4. The Origins Of Wanda's Coping Mechanisms

WandaVision 4
Marvel Studios

One of the earlier questions people had regarding WandaVision was why Wanda chose to manifest her version of Westview as different sitcoms from throughout television's history. She grew up in war torn Sokovia, and so the operating assumption for many that she wouldn't have had access to all the series she herself reenacted within the Hex.

This is where things get particularly emotional, because the episode reveals that Oleg, Wanda's father, was selling DVD boxsets of these shows in Sokovia, but that before each sale he and his family would watch a series of their choosing to better help them learn English.

When Wanda's mother Irina opens up his suitcase, you can spot all the shows that have inspired WandaVision's many episodes, including I Love Lucy, Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie, and Malcolm in the Middle (my personal fave).

We later see Wanda watching Malcolm in the Middle at the Avengers compound shortly after the events of Age of Ultron, and it's also what she first bonds with Vision over.

It recontextualises all of this from just being a fascination with certain shows into an emotional throughline that extends to all of Wanda's loved ones, and that is incredibly heartbreaking.

Content Producer/Presenter
Content Producer/Presenter

Resident movie guy at WhatCulture who used to be Comics Editor. Thinks John Carpenter is the best. Likes Hellboy a lot. Can usually be found talking about Dad Movies on his Twitter at @EwanRuinsThings.