When MCU TV shows were more an idea than a divisive part of the franchise, WandaVision hit the scene like a hurricane in early 2021. It quickly became must-see TV and is still regarded as one of the best shows in the MCU. Three years later, we got the pseudo-sequel Agatha All Along that not only gave the spotlight to the scene-stealing Agatha Harkness, but also established a grown-up Billy Maximoff.
Now, in 2026, the trilogy comes to a close with VisionQuest, which centers on Vision and his son Thomas Shepared, also known as Tommy Maximoff. It’s the end of an era for what many consider one of the best things the MCU has done since Endgame, and it concludes on an introspective bang that delivers on multiple aspects.
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VisionQuest’s Story, and Its Connection to WandaVision
Set years after the end of WandaVision, VisionQuest follows the titular synth in hiding after escaping from those who sought to weaponize him. He ends up hiding out in Edinburgh, which is a callback to where Wanda and Vision used to live following Civil War. But when a bounty is placed on his head by a mysterious client, Vision goes on the run. It puts him on a collision course with Thomas Shepard, a mysterious boy who is actually Vision’s son, Tommy, reincarnated.
For the most part, VisionQuest pulls through with a satisfying story that hooks you in with its intrigue and secrets. The show has a lot of moving parts, especially during its first half as it weaves through Vision’s past and the history of synths in the MCU, but it all comes together by the end. In particular, fans of WandaVision will find a lot to like here.
VisionQuest is like the season two we never got, as it’s nearly a direct sequel in story and style. Not only does the series feature many fun callbacks to WandaVision, but a good portion of key story points are connected to the show. A viewing of WandaVision isn’t technically required to enjoy VisionQuest, but it is highly recommended to get the full context. And it doesn’t hurt to watch Agatha All Along, too.
With that being said, VisionQuest uses a bit too many flashbacks and recaps from WandaVision, Age of Ultron, and a sprinkle of other MCU projects. On the one hand, it’s understandable since it’s been years since those movies and shows came out, but at the same time it also slows the show’s pace and momentum in trying to remind viewers what happened.
Also, some of the revelations here are packaged as having wide-reaching consequences, and admittedly it will require some mental gymnastics to understand the logic and how it fits into the wider MCU. This has been a problem for the franchise for years now, and VisionQuest is the latest MCU project to fall victim to it.
VisionQuest’s Production Design and Surreal Imagery
There’s still a lot to like here, and particularly with how the series is equally internal and external. VisionQuest is as much a show about finding Vision’s humanity and his reconnection with Tommy as it is about finding who is hunting Vision. Following the events at Westview, Vision has become somewhat a husk of his older self. He carries the memories of old Vision, but he doesn’t feel them, nor does he have much of a connection to them. The show does a good job of exploring the themes of humanity, purpose, and what it means to be your own person.
Even if Vision is not an actual human being, his quest to find deeper connection, both for himself and his role as a father, still feels meaningful. VisionQuest could have easily gotten off the rails trying to force character development on a hero many know already well, but it gets the job done.
That applies to most of the show’s other characters, from the AIs who begin to question who they are beyond being code, Thomas Shepard in navigating his identity, and other figures that will be introduced later in the season. The show at its core is about finding who you are, what it means to love, sacrifice, and grow, and it gets to those answers with satisfying results.
Another highlight of VisionQuest is its inventiveness in its art direction and production design, especially when it comes to Vision and his AIs. A significant chunk of the story is set inside Vision’s computer systems, where he’s built a digital house in his programming to consult with the AI personas, including F.R.I.D.A.Y., E.D.I.T.H., J.A.R.V.I.S., and the infamous Ultron. In reality, it’s just Vision in his mind, but the way the show visualizes it is so creative. The house itself is a mix of post-modern and 1950s aesthetics that is visually similar to the early episodes of WandaVision.
The show plays a lot with surreal and imaginative imagery, as series creator Terry Matalas found fun ways of visualizing computer parts and internal computer systems. Hacking is shown as a police procedural, Vision’s core is displayed as a furnace, files and archives are in the form of vinyls and books, an intruder in Vision’s systems is expelled through a computer-themed exorcism, and replaying tapes and videos are presented like tableaux or scenes within a scene.
This creativity also extends to its finale, where instead of falling into the MCU’s worst tendencies of a CGI fest, it tries something inventive for a change that’s more in line with the show’s greater introspection. While everything else is the typical Marvel look, when the series is allowed to be creative, it makes for some of the show’s best moments.
The Verdict: VisionQuest Is Good
Bringing this all to life is the show’s strong acting. Paul Bettany has always been competent as Vision since the second Avengers movie, but VisionQuest is some of his best work to date as the titular superhero. He competently leads the series with the show bringing out the best in the actor as he peels back Vision’s layers in ways we haven’t seen before.
Ruaridh Mollica is a fine addition to the MCU as Thomas/Tommy. While this is Vision’s story, Thomas gets more than enough room to shine as viewers learn more about him, what he’s been through, and how he builds his relationship with Vision, leading to parallels to the show’s themes of self-discovery. The MCU has seemingly found another breakout star in the way Mollica can hold his own amongst a stacked lineup. He taps into the character’s confidence, pain, and confusion with ease, and we’re excited to see more of him in the MCU.
The chemistry between the AIs is fun to watch, especially in the way they act more as a dysfunctional found family rather than a group of strangers, with special mention going to Emily Hampshire as the carefree but heartfelt E.D.I.T.H. Diane Morgan, who you may know as the iconic Philomena Cunk, has an enjoyable supporting role as the Paladin’s handler.
But James Spader steals the show, who is nothing short of excellent, returning as Ultron. While some might see it as a rehashing of an old villain, Spader’s performance makes up for it as he confidently owns every scene he is in. Now in a human avatar, Spader gives Ultron sarcasm, quippy one-liners, and zingers that don’t make him too unserious while retaining that menacing aura of feeling like he’s planning something sinister.
In the long-running saga of the MCU’s shows that vary widely in quality, VisionQuest is firmly one of the good ones. It feels like the proper conclusion to the trilogy, and gives the Maximoff family a fitting ending they deserve, or at least a closing to this chapter of their lives, while also leaving the door ajar for future adventures. While the show might lean too heavily on callbacks to WandaVision and other past projects at times, VisionQuest does find its identity with its story of how humans and synths can learn to be real in their own way.
VisionQuest is now streaming on Disney+ with a new episode premiering every week.
Featured Image and Photos: Courtesy of Disney
Frequently Asked Questions
VisionQuest is a Disney+ MCU series set years after WandaVision, following Vision, a synth in hiding after escaping those who sought to weaponize him. When a bounty is placed on his head, he goes on the run, colliding with Thomas Shepard, who is actually his reincarnated son Tommy.
Watching WandaVision isn’t technically required to enjoy VisionQuest, but MEGA highly recommends it for full context. VisionQuest is nearly a direct sequel in story and style, with many callbacks, and it doesn’t hurt to watch Agatha All Along as well.
MEGA’s review calls VisionQuest one of the good ones among the MCU’s shows, a proper conclusion to the WandaVision trilogy with a strong cast and inventive production design. Drawbacks include too many flashbacks and recaps that slow the pace, and revelations that require mental gymnastics to fit the wider MCU.
Paul Bettany stars as Vision, with Ruaridh Mollica as Thomas/Tommy, James Spader returning as Ultron, Emily Hampshire as E.D.I.T.H., and Diane Morgan as the Paladin’s handler. Terry Matalas is the series creator, and MEGA says Spader steals the show as Ultron.
A significant chunk of VisionQuest is set inside Vision’s computer systems, where he built a digital house to consult AI personas including F.R.I.D.A.Y., E.D.I.T.H., J.A.R.V.I.S., and Ultron. Hacking appears as a police procedural, his core as a furnace, and files as vinyls and books.
