Warning — This article contains spoilers for WandaVision .
WandaVision is now streaming on Disney+, officially launching the much-anticipated Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The inaugural MCU offering is an unusual start to the next chapter of the franchise since it veered away from the high-stakes battles that are usually showcased in theaters.
Instead, the latest adventure is confined (literally) in the small screen as it focuses on a somehow normal married life between two popular MCU heroes. After serving as side characters for a number of films, Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany were given the chance to shine in WandaVision as Wanda Maximoff and Vision respectively, but as expected, not all is what it seems.
The double-header premiere of the show left fans with a stockpile of questions rather than answers, considering that WandaVision started with a sitcom setting right off the bat. This week’s episode took it up a notch by finally unveiling a major clue about the real-world consequences of Wanda’s created reality.
While viewers are still recovering from the huge reveals this week, an impressive MCU Easter egg was included in the episode that ties heavily to a major hero from the franchise.
DOCTOR STRANGE REFERENCE
During “Episode 3” of WandaVision , a swarm of butterflies appears while Wanda fixes the crib of her unborn child. Shortly after this, a particular monarch butterfly lands on The Vision's nose.
The presence of the these insects - particularly of the monarch species - could be a reference to one of the MCU’s forms of magic, as they've been featured in key scenes involving Doctor Strange.
The first instance of a notable monarch butterfly sighting in the MCU was during 2016’s Doctor Strange when Stephen Strange sees the insect land on his hand during his chaotic travels within the vast multiverse. This was during the Ancient One’s introduction to the mystic arts.
During 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War battle with Thanos, Doctor Strange disintegrates a black hole into a swarm of green butterflies. This was believed to be a variation of a transmutation spell.
A HINT AT THE SORCERER SUPREME’S WANDAVISION ARRIVAL?
Part of the fun of the MCU is the inclusion of a variety of Easter eggs from other properties. Sometimes, those references are fun callbacks, but some are included to provide clues about the plot of the project. That said, it seems that this connection is a prime example of the latter.
The inclusion of butterflies could serve as a vital piece of the multiverse puzzle of WandaVision considering the heavy ties of the creature to the mystic arts. By speculating further, it’s even possible that this is the first hint that Doctor Strange is reaching out to Wanda inside Westview.
At this point, fans should be aware that the married life of Wanda and Vision in Westview is fake, and something (or someone) sinister is pulling the strings from behind. There’s a strong possibility that Strange already noticed the mishap that is happening in the suburban town, and he is just waiting for the right time to interfere.
On top of the confirmed involvement of Wanda Maximoff in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness , previous reports suggest that Benedict Cumberbatch’s MCU hero will appear in WandaVision to potentially set up the storyline of the sequel. In a way, this butterfly connection should add more evidence to those rumors.
Given that Wanda’s manipulation of reality hasn’t been explored much in the MCU, WandaVision is shaping up to be the character’s canvas of experimenting with that power, and the presence of butterflies could be the first hint that the hero is tapping into a different kind of magic.
