WARNING: The following contains spoilers for WandaVision Episode 8, "Previously On," streaming now on Disney+.
The past few episodes have thrown WandaVision viewers for a massive loop. With the answers finally revealed, the closure that should accompany them feels further way. Even with the villain revealed, there are still numerous questions remaining -- including what exactly is happening with Wanda Maximoff's Sokovian accent.
However, Marvel Cinematic Universe fans aren't the only ones who have noticed the character's distinctive Sokovian tones have faded in and out since 2015's Avengers: Age of Ultron. In this week's episode, "Previously On," a captive Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) asks Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn), "Where are my children?" The witch responds with mockery, saying, "'Were are my children?' Oof! That accent really comes and goes, doesn't it?"
While the jab is worth a few chuckles, it also points to a quirk Wanda has displayed throughout the series.
Following her full-fledged debut in Age of Ultron, Wanda largely lost her accent. Logically, she has spent years as an Avenger and adapted to her environment. However, as she ventures through multiple decades of television, her accent has been barely present. In fact, the first time it's heard on the series is when she sings a Sokovian lullaby to the newborn twins in Episode 3, "Now in Color."
The accent returns intermittently when Wanda isn't actively participating in her "show." The most notable moment is when she walks out of the Hex and threatens S.W.O.R.D. by using a display of power and telling them to leave her alone. Not only is her accent prominent, but it also represents her internal pain.
Wanda felt alone for years following the death of her parents and her brother. The Mind Stone may have given her power, but Vision gave her a sense of purpose and someone to care for. When he died, she felt alienated. Initially, it seemed as though living in the United States was why she was losing her accent. However, it's entirely possible she was only hiding it. Every time her true accent is heard on the show, it seems to represent how alone she feels.
The more emotion she felt, the more her accent peeks through. The Hex is the perfect example of the veil she hides herself and her pain behind. Her American accent is able to be used in full because she is living in a sitcom. However, the moment things stray from the order she has established, the real Wanda emerges. Her powers have always been tied to her emotions, and the last time this happened was when her brother Pietro died. In this week's episode, the accent surfaces only when she is in great pain. Seeing the Vision's body, mourning his death on the foundation of the home they would never have, and her missing children are all examples of when either her powers grow or her accent returns.
Agatha's barb came across as lighthearted. However, when it comes to WandaVision, everything has a purpose. Agatha probably knew why Wanda wasn't using her native accent, and it wasn't because she's lived in the United States for too long. It was because Wanda has been hiding her true pain behind an illusion of a perfect life. Considering how much stronger she has gotten, the final episode may not only reveal the true power of the Scarlet Witch. It may also have her accent return completely.
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.