WARNING: The following contains spoilers for WandaVision Episodes 1 & 2, now streaming on Disney+.

The first two episodes of WandaVision take inspiration from classic television sitcoms, and part of the fun has been the period-accurate commercials. One of these ads, which is for Strucker watches, seems to be somewhat trivial other than the obvious reference to the Hydra scientist they are named after. However, a blink-and-you-miss-it detail may actually be hiding a major secret: The identity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's next villain.

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In the advertising industry, watches are typically set to 10:10 for marketing purposes, as such a position allows both the hour and minutes hand to be visible, the watch looks symmetrical and important details -- like the manufacturer logo and the date window -- are not covered. Some variations exist, with 8:20 being a prominent alternative, but those are exceedingly rare.

Unlike in real-world marketing materials, the watch in WandaVision doesn't use 10:10 as a time. Instead, the Strucker watch is set to 2:42. Given the high budget of the show and the MCU's attention to detail, it's unlikely that this was an error on the part of the production team. Though there could be a number of explanations for this particular time being chosen, one in particular stands out.

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Published in April 1984, Roger Stern and Al Milgrom's Avengers #242 (Vol. 1) saw Vision return to his body after being deactivated by Annihilus several issues earlier. From there, Vision predicted that something "of near-infinite power" was coming. Just over a month after Avengers #242's release, Vision's ominous warning was revealed to be a reference to the Beyonder, a member of an all-powerful group of extra-dimensional beings. This, in turn, kicked off the original Secret Wars storyline.

Had the time on the watch matched up to an issue number that was relatively unimportant, or didn't feature Wanda or Vision, the connection wouldn't mean much. However, since the comic's sudden resurrection seems to almost parallel the android's reappearance in WandaVision, there may be more to the time on the watch. As Vision has already fulfilled part of the deal by coming back to life, he could still warn Wanda and others of the Beyonder's arrival.

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the-beyonder-marvel

With Thanos now out of commission, the MCU could be looking to establish its next main villain, and the Beyonder would be a perfect choice. The premise of the upcoming Doctor Strange sequel and the potential return of several past Spider-Men in the Spider-Man sequel seem to suggest the franchise will focus on the multiverse going forward. As a character originating from outside all the existing universes, the Beyonder's origin and ability to bend reality to his will would fit perfectly with the MCU's new overarching theme.

There's also a distinct possibility that the Beyonder himself could be behind Wanda's current predicament. In the Secret Wars arc, the Beyonder, intrigued by the existence of superheroes, teleports a large number of them to a planet called Battleworld that he created from scratch to observe them. Such a predicament seems very similar to the one Wanda and Vision currently find themselves in, and it's certainly within the Beyonder's powers to create a new Vision or even resurrect the original. All of this could be a precursor for an even larger trap for more heroes in a bigger crossover event in the future.

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With WandaVision kicking off a new phase of the MCU, the first after the end of the original Infinity Saga and the first without several of the franchise's most recognizable stars, the show needs to be bold and set up the future. The watch hint may not mean anything just yet, but it could turn out to be the first clue in a series of hints building up to the Beyonder's reveal. Either way, WandaVision seems to be setting itself up to have a lasting effect on the franchise for years to come.

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+. 

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