On the one hand, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is officially going full steam ahead with regularly scheduled programming after two weeks of WandaVision releases. On the other hand, there are seemingly more questions than answers as to what's actually happening in said Marvel Cinematic Universe after three episodes of its first Disney+ show.
Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany's first headlining appearances with Marvel Studios is setting up a story unlike any told in the franchise's history, shown through the lens of historical American sitcoms like I Love Lucy and The Brady Bunch. Thankfully, the end of "Episode 3" gave the first true indication that the plot is not only directly set within the MCU as told through the Infinity Saga, but also that nothing can be taken at face value.
In a chat with an MCU first-timer, this trend is in full bloom with the character that she is bringing to the small screen.
WHO IN THE MARVEL WORLD IS DOTTIE?
Courtesy of an Entertainment Tonight exclusive, WandaVision star Emma Caulfield addressed some of the mystery surrounding her character in the Marvel Studios TV show, Dottie. When asked if there is more to the queen bee of Westview than meets the eye, Caulfield simply replied that "there's more to everything on the show" than meets the eye:
"Well, there's more to everything on the show. I think. I mean, it's like we're in black and white, then no! Now we're not. The idea of the magic show -- all these things -- the idea of who are [they] and what is happening? There's definitely more than meets the eye.
Caulfield has been paying attention to the fan theories surrounding Dottie, expressing that they're "so fun" while diving into her favorites. Some of them even pointed to her being MCU star Scarlett Johansson in disguise:
"They're all really good. It's hard to choose, like picking your favorite kid. Each theory has such thorough and passionate reasons why they're right. It's wonderful. I just think it's really funny, before I got to say anything, before they were like, 'We're going to go public with you being on it. You can post, you can do all that,' there were pictures of me, paparazzi pictures, that were leaked on one of the sets. I was in a full mask and I had the wig and I had the clothes and I think I had flip flops or Uggs or something on, and I was everyone from Lady Gaga, I was Scarlett Johansson, I was everyone and no one guessed me, which was so funny. I literally can't say anything, but I'm like, "That's me!" They were like, "It's got to be ScarJo because they have the same hands, look at the vein patterns." And I'm like, "What are you talking about?" and I'm looking at my veins, like, "We do have similar hands!" That's a really good theory. I'm Scarlett Johansson, reprising something. Cool!"
Now that Dottie has made her debut in WandaVision, rumors are pointing to her being anybody from Clea to Enchantress to the Squadron Supreme's Arcanna in disguise, which Caulfield is clearly loving as she keeps her true identity a secret:
Yeah, I'm still other people! I'm just enjoying this no one knows who I am. I'm anonymous and not anonymous at the same time.
EMMA CAULFIELD REMAINS TIGHT-LIPPED
Even in her first experience with the Marvel Studios juggernaut, Emma Caulfield is quickly catching on to the strategy of not revealing anything that could be remotely labeled a spoiler.
Thus far, Caulfield's Dottie played a pivotal role as the social leader of Westview in "Episode 2" before taking a backseat cameo in "Episode 3" when Wanda knocked out the power on their block. The most notable scene of hers was after Wanda heard a message on the radio from the outside (now confirmed to be from Jimmy Woo) and Dottie smashing a glass, cutting her hand open, and bleeding red in a black & white world.
Due to the magical nature of this series, classic magical Marvel characters like Clea from the Doctor Strange mythology and Enchantress from Thor's legacy have been tossed around as potential reveals for Dottie. Considering how secretive Caulfield is being with her true identity, it's clear that she will be someone to keep an eye on in the coming weeks.
Thanks to the new tease released before "Episode 4," it's obvious that the WandaVision world is about to be turned upside down after the first third of Season 1. The plot and story are completely unpredictable, seemingly exactly the way Marvel Studios planned it, and the action should come in bunches in the imminent future.
"Episode 4" of WandaVision is set to premiere on Disney+ on Friday, January 29, 2021.
