As Seen On TV

"**As Seen On TV**" is the fifth episode of the seventh season of *The Avengers*. It was also the one-hundredth episode of the series overall and was broadcast on ABC on October 22, 2019. The episode sees Wanda Maximoff inadvertently create a world where she and her family, along with some of her teammates can live out their perfect TV fantasy. *As Seen On TV* was watched by 15.15 million U.S. viewers, once again making it the most-watched scripted broadcast of the week. The episode received very positive reviews for its conception, and the return of Paul Bettany and Aaron Taylor-Johnson.

## Synopsis

Wanda's true power is shown as she subconsciously creates a TV world, where she, along with her twins, Bucky, Sam, Clint, Kate, Peter, and her deceased loved ones Vision and Pietro, are the stars of their own sitcoms.

## Plot

The episode begins with the theme song for a kids show titled *Tommy and Billy*, which stars Tommy and Billy Maximoff, along with their mother Wanda and the somehow resurrected Vision as their father. In the series, Tommy and Billy are beginning fifth grade, and Wanda prepares them for school, despite them not wanting to go. Vision seems slightly confused at times, but Wanda gets him to shrug it off. Vision then drives the two boys to school, where he gets lost and Tommy and Billy have to help him find his way to the school, which is unusual to them. Back at home, Wanda is visited by her friend Agatha Harkness and they chat for a moment before the latter leaves a mysterious book on Wanda's counter while she goes to the bathroom. Wanda opens the book and suddenly Stephen Strange appears. Wanda acts oblivious as Strange informs her she is trapped along with several other Avengers inside this world. However, Wanda ends her disguise and forces Strange out. Agatha returns and casts a spell, much to Wanda's confusion, before the show cuts to commercial.

Somewhere else, the title card for *Life of Peter* appears, before fading into the latest episode. Peter Parker is at Midtown High School, along with several classmates. There is no indication of Peter being Spider-Man and he seems to be living a normal life. Peter visits his girlfriend, Mary Jane, who reveals she is breaking up with him. As Peter deals with the news, Strange reappears as the school custodian. Seeing Peter, he tries to get him to realize where he is. Strange uses magic in an attempt to restore Peter's memory, and this seems to work. Peter tells Strange that he was pulled into Wanda's fake world when Fury sent him to prevent her from using too much of her power. Strange realizes Wanda created the world, and is not the victim and they set out to find her.

On a family sitcom called *The Maximoffs*, Wanda awakens, this time appearing to be under the sitcom spell as well. She and Vision make the kids breakfast, while Pietro Maximoff enters for a surprise visit. Wanda is shocked to see him, but makes no mention of his death. Tommy and Billy know Pietro in this reality, despite never having met him in the real world. Agatha appears again and meets Pietro, commenting that Wanda must be so happy with all her family. Upon seeing Agatha, Wanda makes a realization, before returning to her sitcom role. Agatha leaves and Pietro catches up with the family. After Billy seems to wake up and confuses the rest of the family, Strange and Peter are drawn to their location, where Strange reawakens Wanda, who claims Agatha is doing this. Strange reluctantly believes her, until Agatha returns and rewrites reality all over again.

Now in the buddy cop procedural *Hero Cops*, where Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes star as police detectives, Wanda and Vision portray a couple whose two sons have gone missing, while Strange is a criminal and the prime suspect. Clint Barton is their police chief. Sam and Bucky find Strange and interrogate him. Still with his memories, Strange tries to get them to remember who they are, but he cannot use magic, with Agatha seemingly stripping him of his abilities. It is not until Strange mentions Steve Rogers, that Sam and Bucky start listening. Strange gets them to at least partially remember their old lives and they free him. He finds Wanda, where he tries to do the same, but she and Vision are now fully under the spell. Suddenly, Agatha comes forward, with video evidence that Strange kidnapped Tommy and Billy. Strange is put under arrest, despite Sam and Bucky trusting him.

Following the opening titles for the drama *Raising Children*, Wanda, Vision, and Pietro are worried sick over Tommy and Billy's disappearance. Agatha comforts Wanda and promises her she will return the kids. After making reference to Vision being dead, this awakens Wanda, who uses magic to return Strange, and the two fight Agatha. When Agatha reveals that this world is the only thing keeping Vision and Pietro alive, Wanda is tempted to exile Strange and keep the world afloat, but Strange reminds her that everyone in the world is a real person who is trapped. Wanda tearfully says her goodbyes to Vision and Pietro, before tearing down the world and restoring everything to normal. Agatha is put into government custody, and Wanda and Strange question her. She reveals that when she learned of Wanda's potential, she created the false babysitter persona and began watching the kids, whom she has been testing for the five years that Wanda was gone. Wanda asks her where the boys are now, and Agatha reveals that they are dead, gone with the rest of the fake reality. Strange uses magic to confirm she is telling the truth. Wanda breaks down upon hearing this and sends a magical wave that shakes the entire world. Agatha and Strange are both in disbelief over her ability, but become terrified upon realizing that Wanda has shattered reality, and now a gateway to every dimension has been opened, with Wanda at the center.

## Cast

### Starring

* Mahershala Ali (credit only)
* Dave Bautista (credit only)
* Chadwick Boseman (credit only)
* Bradley Cooper (credit only)
* Benedict Cumberbatch as Stephen Strange/Doctor Strange
* Karen Gillan (credit only)
* Matthew Gray Gubler (credit only)
* Chris Hemsworth (credit only)
* Tom Holland as Peter Parker/Spider-Man
* Pom Klementieff (credit only)
* Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson/Falcon
* Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch
* Chris Pratt (credit only)
* David Ramsay (credit only)
* Katee Sackhoff (credit only)
* Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier
* Mike Vogel as Clint Barton/Hawkeye

#### **Also starring**

* Paul Bettany as Vision
* Kathryn Hahn as Agatha Harkness
* Julian Hilliard as Billy Maximoff
* Jett Klyne as Tommy Maximoff
* Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Pietro Maximoff

## Reception

### **Ratings**

"As Seen On TV" was first aired in the United States on ABC on October 22, 2019. It was watched live by 15.15 million viewers with a 5.4 rating among adults aged 18 to 49. It was the most-watched program of the night, beating even the *World Series*. The episode was up 5% and 4% in viewers and the demo, respectively, from the previous episode. After seven days of DVR viewing, the episode was bumped to 25.00 million viewers and an 8.7 rating.