WARNING: The following contains spoilers for WandaVision Episode 5, "On a Very Special Episode...," now streaming on Disney+.
Since Thanos touched down in 2018's Avengers: Infinity War, Marvel Cinematic Universe fans have gone back and forth as to which hero was powerful enough to defeat the Mad Titan. The latest episode of WandaVision, "On a Very Special Episode...," as well as the show proper, not only makes mention of the discourse, but succinctly confirms that Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch could have easily disposed of Thanos.
The discussion comes up in a discussion between Monica Rambeau, Jimmy Woo and Darcy Lewis in Episode 5 of the Disney+ series. The three debate whether the set, props, and costumes within the "Hex" anomaly are indeed reality, or just a complex illusion. If it's the former, it's by far Wanda's most impressive display of powers yet, as she's able to not only create a solid reality, but allow it to hold its shape through many "episodes"/decades.
While Woo and Darcy are skeptical about this being true, Monica is all on board. She just spent 24 hours in Westview and all its lifelikeness, experiencing Wanda's mind control firsthand to become a character in her story. Not only that, but the captain has no doubt that her potential always been there, and has only come out in full force recently.
"She could have taken out Thanos on her own if he hadn't initiated a blitz," Monica says. "I mean, nobody else came close." As the others contest that point with the mention of Captain Marvel (which seems to hit an awkward note with Monica), the conversation moves on.
The brief bit of dialogue is not just a fun way for in-universe characters to have a discussion of "who would win in a fight," like many superhero fans have done for years. It's actually a callback to a statement Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige made shortly after the release of Avengers: Endgame in 2019.
"Wanda Maximoff, who is probably near the upper echelons of power," he said, "I contend she would have taken down Thanos if he hadn’t called the [army], it was done--so her being the Scarlet Witch now, as Lizzie said on stage in a full sort of unabashed power-based [way], coming into the Doctor Strange movie, that is two heroes coming together in a fun way."
Feige's quote refers to a climactic moment from the final battle of Endgame that served as a rematch between the Scarlet Witch and Mad Titan. In Infinity War, Wanda tried in vain to prevent Thanos from getting his hands on the Mind Stone in Vision's head. Though she impressively held him off--complete with five Infinity Stones -- she eventually relented when Vision requested she kill him. She painfully complied, only for Thanos to rewind time, easily dispatch of her and claim the final Infinity Stone for himself.
Thanos' subsequent snap made Wanda disappear. But when Hulk brought everyone from "the Blip" back five years later, she returned, out for revenge. The fight between the MCU heroes and Thanos' forces is full of big moments, but one to remember comes when Wanda approaches the Mad Titan, set on revenge. Notably, this is a 2014 version of Thanos, who admittedly has no idea who the Scarlet Witch is. But that doesn't stop her from charging forward, Vision's death fresh in her mind.
It's an impressive and emotional show of power from Wanda. She easily hurls piles of debris and energy blasts at him. She shatters his double-edged sword, which had just broken Captain America's durable vibranium shield minutes beforehand. With Thanos on the ropes, she hurls him into the air, peeling off his armor and torturously tearing him apart. Unfortunately, he's able to call in an air strike, sending her reeling and preventing her from getting the final blow.
While this bit of dialogue is a fun confirmation of Feige's claims from 2019, it's also an important reminder about the horrific extent of Wanda's powers. While her power set was much more tame in films like Avengers: Age of Ultron and Captain America: Civil War, they have grown immensely with time. But emotion seems to be the biggest key to Wanda's abilities. When pushed to her breaking point, Scarlet Witch has shown she can deal devastating damage, nearly killing the "Big Bad" of the MCU. Considering how much grief has seemingly pushed her to create the reality of Westview, it could spell even more trouble for those that try to take her on.
Written by Jac Schaeffer and directed by Matt Shakman, WandaVision stars Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch, Paul Bettany as Vision, Randall Park as Agent Jimmy Woo, Kat Dennings as Darcy Lewis, Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau and Kathryn Hahn as Agnes. New episodes air Fridays on Disney+.