Thomas Storai 
Could Nightmare be the real villain behind the strange goings-on in Westview? Thomas investigates the true villain of WandaVision
It’s easy to jump to conclusions after the reveal made in Episode 7. Just like it was easy to jump to conclusions after what we learned in Episode 4. But one thing that’s clear since the beginning, nothing is as it seems in WandaVision. So who is really the big bad in the series? That’s what I’ll try to discover.
Wanda Maximoff?
First, let’s recap what we know. The first few episodes tried to imply Wanda Maximoff was the one behind the Hex. Honestly, it would have been possible – Wanda clearly has trouble dealing with Vision’s death and the Hex would be a way for her to keep Vision alive forever and having a happy life away from the Avengers. However, in episode 5 Wanda admitted to Vision that she wasn’t controlling everything. There were clues of what in previous episodes as well. For example, she didn’t remember how she got there in Episode 1 … Then in Episode 6, during a conversation with Pietro she told him she didn’t know how it started.
Even though, Wanda has a rather important control over the Hex, she doesn’t have full control. And yes, the Hex feels like it’s her way of grieving or not wanting to grieve Vision’s death, she isn’t the real villain. She is hurting, she is pain so may have not made the best choices, even in Episode 7, she admits she could already be that. Though, she isn’t the big bad here.
Agatha Harkness?
Then we have Agnes, the friendly neighbor who was revealed to be the witch Agatha Harkness. The name itself was definitely a sign of who she is – the Ag- of Agatha and the -nes of Harkness.
Right from the start, there were signs that Agnes wasn’t who she appeared to be, that she was more than just a friendly neighbor. She always showed up with what Wanda needed. She always helped her. Help, that’s the key word here. She helped Wanda. Even though, sometimes it’s hard to see how is this help and sometimes it feels like Agatha is trying to keep Wanda to forget about her grief rather than help her get through it.
Comic Villain
In the comics, Agatha Harkness is Wanda’s mentor and she did something similar to what she seems to be doing in WandaVision. When Wanda thought she lost her twins, Agatha wiped her memory to help her get through her grief. Here I feel like it’s something similar but it’s about helping her with the trauma she’s facing with Vision’s death.
Episode 7 revealed through an opening credit called “Agatha All Along” that Agatha was responsible for what happened. However, that’s where I think there’s a twist. There is something wrong with her. I firmly believe the real Agatha isn’t responsible for the Hex. Like I said at the beginning of my article, nothing is as it seems in WandaVision.
Agnes is seen drinking very often in the series, I believe it’s not just a gimmick and it’s actually a sign that she is not herself. There are other little moments where there is something off about her and it’s not because she was hiding her identity. Thus, that leaves the question who is controlling her and who is behind it all?
The Real Villain – Nightmare
Nightmare is the answer for me. In the comics, Nightmare attacks when people are asleep giving him the ability to control their dreams and thus he would be able to create this fake world. Obviously because it’s the MCU there could be a twist to it. We know Wanda is awake but since she isn’t the one behind it all, it’s not a problem. However, we have no idea whether Agatha is awake and I believe she isn’t. This would allow Nightmare to control her.
Nightmare is usually a villain in the Doctor Strange comics and here we’re in a series called WandaVision. Though, we know that Doctor Strange in The Multiverse of Madness and WandaVision are connected. Knowing this, it would make perfect sense to introduce Nightmare in WandaVision and then have him as the main villain in Doctor Strange.
My theory is that Nightmare is the main villain of WandaVision. Of course, like I said it’s a theory. I could be wrong and Episode 8 and 9 could show us Agatha is the villain like Episode 7 hinted at. Though, I believe my theory is correct. Only time will tell! See you Friday for my review of Episode 8. We will see if new elements emerge and in which directions these new clues point.
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Collectables Editor at Future Of The Force.
Star Wars and Marvel specialist, anime expert
