5.       In a lot of ways, this show helpfully deconstructs some of the problems with Wanda’s breakdown in the comics, and the tropes which surrounded Daenerys in the GoT finale. Namely, “this woman has too much power and it’ll make her go crazy that needs to be full-on stopped, which is such a burden for our heroes.” Rather, it’s recognized that Wanda has very legitimate reasons for her feeling that way, and instead the other characters who are heroes try and support and reason with her, and she makes it out of the series on a more hopeful – if not happy – note. (But there are still aspects of this that have a whiff of white feminism, I admit.)

6.       Arguably, Monica was the hero of WandaVision: she kept trying to reason with a person who needed it, she played a large role in saving a trapped town, she wouldn’t let someone with the wrong intentions disregard what her mother would have wanted, etc. And I’m so glad that she’s going higher places (pun intended). But I’ve seen more than one person point out a couple of racist problems regarding the character’s trajectory…and yeah, they’re on point.

7.       One of the things that had me worried for a little bit after the penultimate episode was the possibility that Hex!Vision’s personality would go into White!Vision’s body – because it would sabotage so much of the emotional narrative and morals being built, regarding that it’s healthy to let go of grief and let memories live inside you instead of living in denial and escaping into fantasy. But instead, White!Vision’s story is (possibly) TBC, and Hex!Vision is understood to be created out of Wanda’s love for the true Vision, and ends up passing peacefully.

8.       Though what Wanda did wasn’t okay, as several other people have pointed out in posts and reblogs, I think it’s understandable how truly tempting something like that would be: if you had the power to remake your world in a happier image, dismissing anything under the surface with excuses, living through lives of the things that brought you joy, wouldn’t you want to take it, at the very least? Especially those in a very vulnerable emotional position…

9.       I’m glad we’ve finally gotten the Scarlet Witch in the MCU! The new costume looks cool – it’s in-keeping with her prior ‘official’ look, but it doesn’t have a ridiculously low neckline, and it’s got the headpiece. And the Hex was a great name, and a great shout-out to the comics with Wanda’s ‘Hex Powers.’

10.   Another thing the series did for the MCU as a whole is built up suspense and excitement regarding a movie many people probably weren’t fully psyched about, Doctor Strange 2. Now we’re all going to have to see it, to know what happens next, the way this story ended.

11.   OKAY GOD NOW I’M GETTING TO YOUNG AVENGERS THOUGHTS BECAUSE THE MCU WILL GET THERE IT’S BASICALLY BEING CONFIRMED.

12.   First off, the twins were so cute!! Julian and Jeff did a great job portraying them, and if the rumors that they will appear in Doctor Strange 2 are true, then all the better (and I think it’s good for the original twins to appear so the audience has a preexisting connection). But though the ages across the spectrum for potential YA members – Cassie and Kate’s actresses are both mid-twenties, America Chavez’s actress is fourteen as I’m writing this – they’re too young, probably, to be full-on members. Which means we’ll probably see them age up again.

13.   GODDAMN THAT LAST POST-CREDITS SCENE. Not only did re-watching it give me the willies when I later had to get up in the night (the screams haunted me…) but we have no idea what happened to the twins when they went poof. Wanda didn’t create the Vision out of nothing (her love for him and the Mind Stone that was in them both made it possible), and she warped reality in the Hex, and (yeah I’m applying real-world physics to superheroes but hey, they try to do it as much as possible too, these days) energy cannot be created or destroyed only changed…so they’re probably real in some way. Especially considering they were able to act independently, developed powers of their own, and had personalities…

14.   I’m betting Hulkling will appear in Captain Marvel 2 or Secret Invasion¸ so then it’ll be Billy + Teddy 4Evah. Because, if nothing else, Hulkling’s required for the Young Avengers (and if anyone tried to outright erase the relationship between the Skrull Emperor and his mage, what the fans would do, would make 1/6/21 look like a tea party).

15.   But I’m kind of curious…of all the Young Avengers members we know about (or can assume, in the case of Hulkling), none of them have ever actually led the team that I know about. So, is it going to be Young Kang as Iron Lad (because that can’t last), or will it be someone else (I still want Eli Bradley to show somehow, because he’s been so sidelined)? If it does end up being someone we know about, my money’s on Kate. (I’ll admit, part of me is worried about what might happen if they introduced too many, because I’m worried that Tommy – who hasn’t always been a member of the team – would have to go, but I don’t think they’d do that.)

The two are struggling through a very severe thunderstorm and it looks like there is very little indication of getting out any time soon. Knowing Ford, he probably has a special device that shows the way of getting out of the storm. He tells Stan to get it  from their bedroom and Stan rushes in to get it, being wary of the constant push and pull of the boat. He grabs the device and heads out to meet with Ford but the sudden jerk of the boat causes Stan to lose his balance and hit his head against the edge of the table in the kitchen, losing consciousness.

Ford notices Stan has been gone far too long for comfort. He wants to see what's taking Stan so long but he knows he can't risk the danger of the boat tipping over. All he can do is shout Stan's name. The device comes rolling out to the deck, hitting Ford's boot. He quickly picks it up. Okay. So the device is here but not Stan. Ford catches a quick glimpse inside the cabin and can see Stan lying on the floor, not moving. Ford calls out to Stan but gets no response. He starts to panic but keeps manning the boat, making sure they both get out of the hell safely.

Ford manages to get out of the storm into a more calming area. He rushes to Stan's side. He's breathing, thankfully. Ford flips Stan on his back and is met by an unsettling site. The side of Stan's head is bleeding, far too much. Panic and fear starts to grip Ford. But he can't panic like this; he needs to be level-headed for Stan's sake. Unfortunately, there is no sign of being anywhere near civilization.  The best thing Ford can do is get Stan to the bed. He lifts Stan up and takes him to the bed. It’s been hours, days even, and Stan still wasn't up. Ford hardly sleeps at all and hardly leaves Stan's side, besides going to get coffee and manning the boat. Ford's on the verge of losing hope when Stan finally stirs and opens his eyes. A wave of relief washes over Ford.

"Stanley! Thank goodness you're alright. You weren't waking up at all and I was beginning to-" Ford shakes the thought away. "Never mind that, I'm just glad you're awake."

Stan groans as he gets up.

"Hey, hey! Easy now. You don't want to overdue it," Ford warns. "You had a nasty fall and had a concussion. Luckily, it wasn't anything too serious."

Stan puts on his glasses and looks over at Ford. Ford notices a look of confusion in Stan's eyes. He can't be....

"I'm sorry but do I know you?"

Ford's heart is frozen with terror and his whole body freezes up. His breath is shallow and he fumbles with his words, his voice laced with utter shock. "Wh-what?"

"Do I know you?" Stan repeated.

The words Do I know you repeat in Ford's head. This isn't happening. Maybe Stanley is just a bit disoriented is all.

A dry, nervous laugh escapes Ford's lips. "Wh- what do you mean? It's me, Stanley. Ford. Your brother. Your twin."

"Sorry. Doesn't ring a bell."

Ford's heart starts beating uncontrollably. "Me, Stanley." His voice grows desperate. "Stanford. Sixer. Poindexter. That's gotta mean something, right?"

"Erm... sorry no."

A stab to the heart. Ford grabs Stan's shoulders. "Please, Stanley." He could feel his eyes watering. "You have to remember. You can't leave me again. Not like this!"

Stan starts to get nervous. "Listen, pal. I'm sorry. I just don't know who you are. Who... I am."

More stabs to the heart. Ford is so close to breaking down. He grips his brother in a tight hug. "I-It'll be okay, St-Stanley. We'll get your memory back. I swear to you."

Stan doesn't return the hug. It was like the forest scene all over again. Stan patted Ford on the back awkwardly with one hand. "Uh, okay...? What ever you say."

Over the next few days, Ford tries his hardest to recover Stan's memory. It's difficult, considering he doesn't have Mabel's scrapbook or the videos from their childhood. He can only work with what he has. He showed Stan the pictures of the kids in hoping for some miracle to happen.

"Cute kids. Who are they?"

Yet another stab to the heart. Ford swallowed. "It's Mabel and Dipper. Our great-niece and nephew."

"I'm a Great Uncle? How about that."

"They call us Grunkles. Does that... sound familiar?"

"Grunkles?" Ford can see Stan trying to remember. "Nope! Sounds weird but I guess it's better than saying Great Uncle all the time."

Ford's heart shattered yet again. The days were so unbearable to go through. Some days Ford would completely shut himself out from Stan, just shaking and pacing back and forth, trying so hard to keep steady and not completely break down.

"Is there anything you remember at all?"

"I mean.... I know Mabel and Dipper are my great-niece and nephew but I don't really know who they are. And you said we're on this boat because it's our dream but it doesn't really click with me. And you're my brother, I know. But something about you just doesn't click right either. And my name, Stanley Pines, doesn't sound right but it's what you said so I guess you must be right."

Ford started shaking uncontrollably, his whole body feeling frozen in place. "I'm sorry, Stanley. I tried, I really did! I don't know what to do! I'm so sorry, Stanley. I failed you. I lost you and I.... I don't know what to do to bring you back...! I-I should have been there for you. You needed me and I wasn't there. I'm here now but I can't do a damn thing! This is all my fault...! I promised I would never lose you again and now I can't do anything to bring you back to me! Please, Stanley.... Please remember me.... Please. I need my brother back...."

He completely broke down and just couldn't take it anymore. His voice was hitched with sobs and he didn't care anymore. His hands balled into fists and he wanted so badly to hurt himself. Torture himself for the pain he put on Stan. He deserved it.

Something clicked in Stan. Seeing his brother in such a weak state caused something to surface. If there was one thing Stan hated, it was seeing Ford like this.

"Sixer. Sixer, look at me."

Ford looked up at Stan. He could see familarity in Stan's eyes.

"You're not going to lose me again, alright? No matter how long I'm gone, I'm going to find my way back to you. As long as you don't give up on me, I won't either."

"St-Stanley...?"

Stan smiled. "The one and only."

Ford was experiencing so many emotions but the one that stuck out was relief; pure, utter relief.

He shot up from the ground and pretty much tackled Stan into a tight grip. His face burrowed into Stan's shoulder, a firm grip on Stan's coat. "I'm sorry," he choked through the sobs. "I'm so sorry, Stanley."