VisionQuest after 2 Episodes: Why the Marvel Series Isn't Catching Fire

TVS News AI, editorially supervised, presents VisionQuest after 2 Episodes: Why the Marvel Series Isn't Catching Fire.

You remember WandaVision and Agatha All Along — two series that stood out as genuine highlights in Marvel's TV slate: twisty, carrying an emotional punch and a creative energy you wouldn't always have expected from the format. VisionQuest was meant to be the conclusion of that trilogy. After the first two episodes, one thing becomes obvious: the supposed capstone isn't catching fire.

Paul Bettany returns as Vision, James Spader slips back into the role of Ultron. Both, according to Eurogamer DE's review, perform "with a great deal of joy in their roles." The only problem: it still just doesn't click.

Why the relaunch falls flat despite a strong cast

The reason lies precisely where you'd expect it to: in who's in charge. Jac Schaeffer, who was responsible as writer and showrunner for WandaVision and Agatha All Along, is no longer on board. Her successor is named Terry Matalas — and he's no stranger. Back in the third season of Star Trek: Picard, he repeatedly broke the old "show-don't-tell" rule, defused dicey situations within seconds with perfectly fitting solutions and on the whole delivered fairly arbitrary "wish-fulfillment TV." On material about identity and legacy that demands delicate work, that's about the worst possible starting point.

What the premise promises — and why it still doesn't carry you

And yet VisionQuest starts strong. The premise is on point: Vision — White Vision, to be precise — lives withdrawn as a pub employee in Scotland, a genuinely sad sight. His retreat is a reality-warping simulation in which Jarvis, Friday, Ultron and other Stark AIs live with him as backups, symbolizing certain parts of his personality. It's a stimulating construct that could open up worthwhile perspectives on identity and legacy. James D'Arcy's Jarvis is, as always, a delight, and in duet Spader and Bettany are genuinely a pleasure. The moment you step outside it, the trouble begins.

Paladin as a punchline, Tommy as exposition machine

Outside waits Todd Stashwick as Paladin — and he doesn't work as a menacing antagonist. Already imposing without a costume, even less so with one. Adamantium shotgun slugs or not: you see him talk and scheme far too much, alongside a wasted Diane Morgan (better known to many viewers as "Philomena Cunk") — and you don't witness a single action that feels clever or formidable.

Similarly rough going for Tommy, played by Ruaridh Mollica. The actor, who embodies Vision and Wanda's putative son, comes across as alternately overwhelmed or overcooked, his nervousness grating on the nerves. Though that's not only on him — writers and editing repeatedly let him sprawl at length explaining his split personality, for what else, exposition's sake. His brother — Agatha fans will recognize him — has noticeably less trouble bringing naturalness and charisma to the screen.

What this means for you as a viewer

In the end, the plot trudges forward with leaden feet, and anyone who has seen both WandaVision and Agatha All Along gets positively buried under long-familiar material. That's about as far from elegant as you can get, and a little boring to boot. Hexing a complex, twist-heavy story into a surprisingly light-footed format — not everyone can do that, least of all a "lead fan-service rep" like Terry Matalas.

For you, that means: you get a strong premise, a well-rehearsed duo in Bettany and Spader, and a few worthwhile thought experiments around Vision's head palace and its staff. What's missing — of all things — is a vision that goes beyond that, tying the last loose threads of this trilogy together with the others. The reviewer is sticking with it, but he isn't holding out much hope.

Now Paul Bettany as Vision and James Spader as Ultron return with plenty of joy in their roles and… it still just doesn't catch fire.