Last week on VisionQuest, Ultron and Jocasta speed-ran their honeymoon phase! Paladin found out that there are indeed people out there who are more powerful (and scarier) than he is. Vision and Tommy may not be having the best father-and-son time that they could have. And F.R.I.D.A.Y.’s idea of bravery may not be the same as E.D.I.T.H.’s. And that’s what you missed on VisionQuest!
We’re at the home stretch, people! VisionQuest has just one more episode left! At this point in their runs, WandaVision and Agatha All Along petered off a bit. The pacing wasn’t as strong, and the writing wasn’t as engaging. VisionQuest has thankfully avoided the pitfalls. A testament to creator and showrunner Terry Matalas and his team of writers is that they’ve accomplished so much in such a short amount of time. Matalas also sits in the director’s chair this week, which is very exciting. While previous directors have done solid work behind the camera, Matalas is operating on a completely different level. Like Matt Shakman on WandaVision and Jac Schaffer on Agatha All Along, Matalas comes in so fully formed talent-wise that it almost feels like he’s auditioning to helm an MCU film. If Shakman’s work was strong enough to give him the keys to The Fantastic Four, surely there will be something for Matalas on the big screen down the line. Matalas not only knows how to make the emotional moments of Matthew Okumura’s script work, but he’s also very good at keeping the energy up. The sweeping camera brings back memories of J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars films in the best way possible.
While Paul Bettany deserves a lot of praise for his performance as Vision in every MCU appearance he’s played the character, it’s not unfair to say that James Spader has stolen the show from him. Not only does Spader get to enjoy the attention and love that has formed in his 11 years of absence as Ultron, but the writers just know how to make him the most interesting character in the room. It doesn’t matter if the scene is meant to be comedic, dramatic, or heartfelt, Spader delivers every line like music from an instrument. Ultron’s sinister and Machiavellian personality and near-Shakespearean-level dialogue are balanced out with a small sense of humanity and, dare I say, sweetness. This comes through in scenes with T’Nia Miller’s Jocasta. Their chemistry is not only electric (no pun intended), but they really sell the show’s themes of discovering parts of yourself and what it means to be alive.
Todd Stashwick finally comes into his own as Paladin. Terry Matalas once described Paladin as the show’s equivalent to Boba Fett, while Stashwick based his performance on Tommy Lee Jones’ Oscar-winning turn in The Fugitive. While I never had an issue with Stashwick’s performance, I did find Paladin to be the least interesting character. That take changed after last week’s episode, and this episode was no exception. Paladin isn’t just interesting; he’s also just cool. Ruaridh Mollica, Lauren Morais, and Orla Brady continue to impress as Tommy, Lisa, and F.R.I.D.A.Y., respectively. Emily Hampshire still remains the show’s beating heart as E.D.I.T.H. While she sadly doesn’t have much to do this week, her energy and childlike sense of wonder still make her a worthy presence.
All that being said, this week’s episode belongs to Paul Bettany. I know, it seems strange to be this impressed with the scene-stealing abilities of the show’s leading man. However, “Immolation” is just as much an acting showcase for Paul Bettany as it is the penultimate episode of the series. Paul Bettany has remained a constant presence in the MCU since Jon Favreau’s original Iron Man 18 years ago. If you want to be super technical with it, he’s already played 4 different roles: J.A.R.V.I.S., Vision, Wanda’s Hex Vision, and White Vision. Now on the surface you can say, “But he’s just playing the same part,” but that would be, to put it bluntly, wrong. Bettany has always had to add something different to his performances in the MCU. WandaVision specifically showcased Bettany’s range through different sitcom pastiches (and earned him an Emmy nom for it to boot). Immolation gives Bettany even more room to show off his acting skills. His performance as Dr. Phineas Horton, a broken man who neglects his wife and daughter through his mission to revive his dead son, and J.I.M./Synthetic Man while also playing these two characters and Vision at the same time is a testament to his skills. Even though there isn’t much difference between humanoid Vision, Horton, and J.I.M. in physical appearance, Bettany still makes subtle acting choices that make them all feel different. In all honesty, this week’s episode of VisionQuest has fully cemented Paul Bettany’s place as the best actor the MCU has ever had.
As we approach the end of VisionQuest, we can take pride in knowing that there’s still a ton of life left in Vision. There are somehow still multiple avenues for this character and his corner of the MCU to go down, and it’s glorious. “Immolation” isn’t just another remarkable episode in what will hopefully be a near-flawless run of episodes, but it’s also an incredibly emotional showcase for Paul Bettany’s acting ability. Terry Matalas’ energetic direction, Mick Giacchino’s remarkable musical score, the still-engaging supporting cast, and the seamless visuals continue to make VisionQuest a worthy watch.
Next week is a moment of truth. Will the series stick the landing, or will it disappoint? Will it conclude our time with Vision, or will it set up more to come? Will Ultron make the ultimate sacrifice? Will Tommy ever find his brother? Will E.D.I.T.H. finally confront death head on? Will Jocasta finally understand herself? Will F.R.I.D.A.Y. confront her fears? Will The Client throw a wrench into everyone’s plan? Will Paladin find redemption? Will DUM-E and U do something useful for a change? We’ll find out soon enough!
