Paul Bettany’s synthezoid returned in “VisionQuest” on Disney+, bringing a trilogy of shows in the Marvel universe to a close.
Showrunner Terry Matalas wrote and directed the eighth and final episode, titled “Forever,” after taking over the project with substantial creative freedom from Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige. Matalas spent just 15 minutes deciding to bring back James Spader as Ultron, a villain last seen on-screen in the 2015 film “Avengers: Age of Ultron.”
The finale answers long-running mysteries about Ultron’s human avatar by revealing him to be Virgil Horton, the son of Dr. Phineas Horton and grandson of the character introduced in earlier episodes. Virgil, operating as the mysterious Client, siphoned parts from original Vision’s corpse while working at S.W.O.R.D. to build an artificial body for his digital partner, Jocasta, according to GamesRadar+.
Virgil’s plan to place his own consciousness into Vision’s body as the “perfect vessel for the artificial mind” ultimately collapses when Ultron turns on him. Moved to grief by the destruction of Jocasta, who is shot with an adamantium bullet, Ultron sends Virgil’s consciousness into the nanites and activates a nanobot assault.
To stop the catastrophe, Vision enters a simulated reality dubbed UltraVision, where both androids face imminent burnout and oblivion. Vision tells Ultron that they say hello again.
“Well, we have said goodbye before. So I suppose it stands to reason we might say hello again. But, I promise you, if she were here, she would join me in encouraging you to finish your education,” Vision says in the mindscape.
Moved by the conversation, Ultron destroys the nanobots and deletes himself from Vision’s memory banks. In the physical world, Billy Maximoff (Joe Locke) successfully uses portal magic to join his twin brother Tommy (Ruaridh Mollica) in the UK, helping them jump-start and revive Vision.
“It felt very momentous,” Joe Locke said of the twins’ family reunion in a video call with the Los Angeles Times.
The finale also features an unexpected dance sequence set to Glen Campbell’s “Rhinestone Cowboy,” which Matalas designed to channel personal family road trips and bring the characters together in an unconventional way, Marvel.com notes.
While Vision, Tommy, and Billy reunite and embrace, a post-credits scene expands the broader scope of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Doctor Doom unearths Wanda Maximoff from beneath the mountain that collapsed on her at the conclusion of “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.”
“Scarlet Witch, awaken…. your power will be mine,” Doctor Doom declares in the closing sequence, Inverse reports.
The series explores artificial consciousness within UltraVision, featuring episodes titled Countdown To Human Massacre, Who’s The Boss (Of Ultron)?, Everybody Loves Vision, Home Screen Improvement, 3rd Data Port From The Sun, Edith The Teenage AI, M(AI)S*H, The Bot-Y Bunch, It’s Always Sunny In The Mindspace, and How I Met Your Creator.
Reflecting on the creative process behind the project, showrunner Terry Matalas noted the high level of collaboration with Marvel leadership.
