In episode 6 of VisionQuest, "Deadlock," we return to Madripoor, the fictional Southeast Asian island commonly associated with Wolverine and the X-Men that has built a reputation as the MCU's very own wretched hive of scum and villainy.
Paladin lures Vision and Lisa to the island by taking Tommy hostage, and they are all ultimately ambushed by Raza Hamidmi al-Wazar (Faran Tahir), the ruthless leader of the 10 Rings terrorist group who targeted Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) in 2008's Iron Man, and has now set his sights on Vision at the behest of the mysterious "Client."
Are we any closer to discerning the identity of this shadowy figure after these latest episodes? There's been speculation that it could be everyone from Dr. Helen Cho to the original Vision AI to J.I.M. Hammond in search of a new body, but the most compelling theory points to a character with close ties to Madripoor itself.
The last time we visited the location was in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, when Sam Wilson, Bucky Barnes, and Baron Zemo travelled there to learn more about the Flag-Smashers. In the series finale, it's revealed that Madripoor's de facto ruler, the Power Broker, was none other than Sharon Carter (Emily VanCamp).
Carter hasn't been seen or heard from since, but why would she be targeting Vision? How does she know so much about him, and appear to be able to access the Synthezoid's databanks? Could she be working closely with another AI, perhaps?
Sharon is just one of many possibilities, but next week's penultimate episode should give us a lot more to go on.
What did you make of these latest two episodes of VisionQuest? Check out some images from next week's episode below, and let us know in the comments.
"When VisionQuest begins, Vision, rebooted and having escaped from those who sought to weaponize him, has been in hiding. Searching for new meaning, he consults the AI personas embedded in his programming, including F.R.I.D.A.Y., E.D.I.T.H., J.A.R.V.I.S., and the infamous Ultron. His discreet existence ends when a bounty placed on his head thrusts him on the run with Thomas Shepard, a mysterious boy who may be Vision’s son, reincarnate.
As Vision evades capture, he must confront his nature, resist Ultron’s influence, and unravel the enigma that is his young companion if he’s to survive.”
VisionQuest also stars Ruaridh Mollica as Tommy Maximoff/Speed and Thomas Shepherd, Todd Stashwick as Paladin, T’Nia Miller as Jocasta, Lauren Morais as Lisa Molinari, Orla Brady as F.R.I.D.A.Y., Diane Morgan as an associate of Paladin, Polly Frame, Henry Lewis as D.U.M.-E, Jonathan Sayer as U, Emily Hampshire as E.D.I.T.H., and James D’Arcy as J.A.R.V.I.S. Faran Tahir also reprises his Iron Man role as Raza, with Cristian Lavin and Mary McDonnell appearing in undisclosed roles.
The series is directed by Christopher J. Byrne, Gandja Monteiro, Vincenzo Natali, Terry Matalas, and written by Terry Matalas, Cindy Appel, Christopher Monfette, Nicole Falsetti, and Matthew Okumura.