The MCU Makes Scarlet Witch’s Story Even More Tragic 3 Years After Her Death

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Throughout her appearances within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, particularly in ‘WandaVision’ and ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’, Wanda Maximoff’s tale unfolds as a poignant blend of grief, love, and cosmic dread. Initially traumatized in ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’, she transformed into a grieving lover and an aspiring mother yearning for her ideal life. However, this longing consumed her so much that it eventually restructured reality, twisted morality, and culminated in a calamity that teetered on the brink of obliterating existence. Her transformation from hero to antagonist unfolded with a tragic inevitability, making it all the more unsettling as she retains much of her human essence. To this day, Wanda’s story stands out as one of the most heart-wrenching tales in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Interestingly, Marvel portrayed Wanda’s transformation as the only possible outcome, much like Tony Stark’s demise was unavoidable in “The Multiverse of Madness”. In this story, Wanda discovered the multiverse through the Darkhold and quickly became the antagonist, pursuing America Chavez to seize her powers. Along the way, she killed various versions of herself and others across dimensions. Essentially, it was hinted that she would go to any length to obtain what she desired. Now, surprisingly, “Ironheart” has subtly and perhaps unintentionally deepened Wanda’s emotional wounds and made her downfall seem even more poignant.

Caution: SPOILERS for Ironheart‘s finale lie ahead.

Mephisto’s Appearance Underlines MCU’s Scarlet Witch Cruelty

In the climax of the series “Ironheart“, Mephisto makes his grand entrance, portrayed masterfully by Sacha Baron Cohen. Revealed as the orchestrator behind The Hood’s downfall, he proposes a deal to Riri Williams: her late friend Natalie, who perished prior to “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever“, could be resurrected at the cost of Riri’s soul. This offer echoes the timeless Faustian pact, yet its validity is central to this discussion. In essence, “Ironheart” establishes that supernatural resurrection not only exists but is portrayed as a viable alternative. This implies a reevaluation of everything we’ve learned about Wanda’s capabilities in “WandaVision” and “Multiverse of Madness“.

Why wasn’t Mephisto an option for Wanda, given that he aligns perfectly with her story as a manipulator of desires and ambitions? This seems unusual since Wanda is deeply immersed in the study of the Darkhold, seeking its most secretive knowledge, and she has shown a willingness to risk its power for its reward. It’s hard to believe that Mephisto, who is known to witches as demonstrated in “Agatha All Along,” wasn’t considered before her current situation. Considering Wanda’s actions – tearing apart the multiverse and sacrificing everything she had – it seems illogical that she wouldn’t have offered her soul to a being like Mephisto if given the chance.

In the comics, Mephisto plays a crucial role in Wanda’s narrative. Her sons, Billy and Tommy, were born from fragments of his soul, making a heart-wrenching turn of events. Later, he reclaims them, causing Wanda’s mind to fracture and paving the way for “House of M.” Given this background, viewers anticipated Mephisto’s appearance in the show “WandaVision.” A deluge of theories and discussions about his potential role ensued. The mysterious Hex, the peculiar nature of the children, the illusions, and disappearances all seemed to hint at Mephisto’s involvement. However, he did not make an appearance.

Given the conclusion of Ironheart’s story, there seems to be a missed opportunity for her character, as if she was deprived of a redemptive plot twist that could have spared her from the villainous role thrust upon her by the Marvel Cinematic Universe writers. A more compelling narrative would have been allowing Wanda to make the conscious decision to embrace damnation as a sacrifice, instead of having it imposed on her due to poor writing or storytelling missteps. Additionally, Mephisto’s late intervention, when his unique abilities were urgently needed, feels like an unfortunate twist of fate, almost like cruel irony.

All episodes of Ironheart are available on Disney+ now.

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2025-07-05 02:39