“Who am I? I was an Avenger. But I’m not a hero anymore. I have his face, but not his virtue. All I have is his name,” is contemplated by White Vision in the trailer for the new Marvel Television series, “VisionQuest.” It also presents the themes to be explored in the series: identity and Belonging.
Released on Oct. 13, “VisionQuest” is the final installment in the trilogy . These three series all feature interconnected storylines, sharing characters and plotlines. The first series, “WandaVision” focused on Wanda Maximoff, played by Elizabeth Olsen, and Vision, played by Paul Bettany, living a suburban, sitcom life in Westview, New Jersey, that moves between decades. “Agatha All Along” and “VisionQuest” both deal with the fallout from the first series, but center around different characters, Agatha Harkness, played by Kathryn Hahn, and White Vision.
Originally created as a weapon by S.W.O.R.D. in “WandaVision,” White Vision is visually identical to Vision, but instead of red armour with white, he shares all of his memories.
However, White Vision cannot connect emotionally to these memories, causing him to have an identity crisis. Although he is linked to the original Vision, White Vision is not him. He does not have the same principles and values as Vision; he does not see humans and their actions in the same way. This prompts White Vision on a journey to discover his own person and purpose.
Opening with a nod to “Avengers: Infinity War,” Vision is in Edinburgh working at the bar the original version of himself and Wanda used to be regulars at. Here, Vision is trying to integrate into society and learn how to be human. After closing up the bar, Vision heads home, where he escapes into the Mindspace, a virtual reality residing in his subconscious. In this reality, Vision resides in a grand manor with several other artificial intelligence “siblings” created by Tony Stark. J.A.R.V.I.S., played by James D’Arcy, E.D.I.T.H., played by Emily Hampshire, F.R.I.D.A.Y. played by Orla Brady, D.U.M-E played by Henry Lewis, and U, played by Jonathan Sayer. These A.I.’s run the manor and attempt to guide Vision with tips to become more human-like. Of course, the group would not be complete without Ultron, the villain A.I. of “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” who happens to reside, or rather, is locked in the attic of the manor.
When a mercenary by the name of Paladin is hired to hunt Vision, capturing his son Tommy, played by Ruaridh Mollica, he is forced to take action. Tommy, who viewers will be familiar with from “WandaVision,” is the reincarnated son of Wanda and Vision who possesses superhuman superspeed, but cannot control it. Living in London as a pickpocket, Tommy struggles with having memories from his life before, during, and after Westview, not completely sure what is real. The relationship between this Vision and Tommy is a focal point of the series, as both try to form a bond and understand the dynamic between them.
Many elements of the series feel similar to that of “WandaVision,” which may be due to the fact that Jac Schaeffer, the genius behind “WandaVision,” is serving as the head of the writers’ room.
Despite overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics, and an interesting storyline, the plot takes a while to get off the ground. The first episode, “No Strings,” focuses on building the world Vision inhabits as well as the characters around him, which at times can feel a bit dragged out and uninteresting, especially to audiences expecting an action-packed start. This plot can also feel a bit underwhelming and simple when compared to its predecessors. Bettany and Spader create an interesting dynamic between Vision and Ultron as a tense, toxic father-son duo. As for the rest of the characters, they seem to fall flat because of dialogue and acting. At times, their actions seem forced and are ingenuine.
Even though the series gets off to an uneventful start, it is intriguing to see where “VisionQuest” will take audiences, especially leading up to the release of “Avengers: Doomsday.” This series may connect to the movie, or set up future Marvel projects. For now, audiences will have to sit through the buildup as Vision discovers his purpose, Ultron’s motives are revealed, and Tommy becomes the superhero, Speed.
