Warning - This article contains spoilers for "Episode 5" of WandaVision .
2016's Captain America: Civil War turned the MCU upside down.
After Scarlet Witch caused immense collateral damage in Lagos, the world governments introduced the Sokovia Accords, a set of laws that mandated that the Avengers become a government-regulated organization.
Those who opposed the Accords became fugitives in the eyes of the lawmakers. Even though half of the Avengers didn't give the documents their John Hancock, the Accords still went through. While this caused Cap and company to be on the run for two years, Steve Rogers and his entourage of escapees eventually returned to the spotlight once a certain Mad Titan threatened human existence.
After Thanos was eventually defeated five years after snapping, many questioned if the Sokovia Accords were still enforced during that half-decade.
DEATH, TAXES, AND THE SOKOVIA ACCORDS
Even seven years after they were canonically introduced, the Sokovia Accords are still an active set of laws in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The most recent episode of WandaVision saw acting S.W.O.R.D. Director Tyler Hayward reveal Wanda Maximoff stole Vision's corpse from their headquarters, leading FBI agent Jimmy Woo to object that that act is “in direct violation of Section 36B of the Sokovia Accords.”
THE SOKOVIA ACCORDS AND PHASE 4 OF THE MCU
“The world's on fire, and you think all's forgiven?”
When General Ross spoke those words to a defiant Captain America early in Avengers: Infinity War , viewers expected that “I'm not looking for forgiveness, and I'm way past asking for permission” aka Cap's response to be the MCU telling us that the Accords were at least being put on pause.
Well, if they were on pause, they're back in full force now.
Woo's acknowledgment (and expertise) of the Accords communicates that the controversial set of laws are still being enforced around the world. Considering how entangled Woo was with one of the Accords's fugitives, Scott Lang, it makes sense that he would know enough about the superhero rules to be able to reference specific sections at a moment's notice.
While WandaVision 's acknowledgment of the Accords can be viewed as a throwaway reference, there is reason to believe they will play a bigger role going forward. Recent merchandise for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier series showcases Emily VanCamp's Sharon Carter plastered on a WANTED poster , with the sub-line proclaiming the warrant for her arrest is for “breaking the Sokovia Accords.”
If Woo and other FBI agents are trained to still obey the Accords, the rest of the world governments and organizations are most definitely following suit. It remains to be seen if the superhero laws will make a main plot presence in the future, but for now, expect those controversial superhero laws to continue playing into a number of supporting characters' storylines.
MCU Writer, Editor, Podcaster
