VisionQuest Episode 4 Ending Explained: Who Jocasta Is in Marvel Comics

The first two episodes of VisionQuest follow Vision (Paul Bettany) as the bounty hunter Paladin (Todd Stashwick) chases him. The two episodes released on Oct. 20 bring in a new threat. Paladin and Vision both cross paths with another synthezoid, one with deep roots in Marvel Comics. The show gives her a very different backstory and motivation than the comics did. If episode 4’s cliffhanger left you with questions, here is what we know about Jocasta (T’Nia Miller) and what she wants.

Note: Spoilers follow for episodes 3 and 4 of VisionQuest.

Who is Jocasta in VisionQuest?

Vision barely escaped Paladin at the end of episode 2. In episode 3, the bounty hunter starts searching for traces of chemicals and radiation that an injured synthezoid would leak, hoping to track Vision down. He finds a different android instead, and she is out for blood. She hacks into Vision’s systems, contacts him and warns him to stay out of her way. Ultron (James Spader) links her use of bird imagery to a serial killer nicknamed the Butcherbird.

All of the Butcherbird’s victims are scientists who worked together on artificial intelligence and nanotechnology research. Tony Stark bought that research and used it to create his AIs, including J.A.R.V.I.S. (James D’Arcy) and Ultron. Vision expects the Butcherbird to target the group’s only survivor. He crashes a party where that scientist, played by Battlestar Galactica star Mary McDonnell, is accepting an award. He hopes to reason with the rogue AI before she kills again.

There he learns the Butcherbird is Josephine Carrington (T’Nia Miller of The Fall of the House of Usher). Carrington belonged to the same research group and seemingly died of natural causes in 2008, the year Tony Stark became Iron Man. Now she lives in a synthezoid body and is hunting her former colleagues. She is collecting the biological keys she needs to unlock something the show hasn’t revealed yet.

The name “Jocasta” comes from shortening her name to JoCa and adding Sta, a nod to the Stark technology used to build her artificial form. Jocasta easily defeats Vision, who survives only by handing control of his body to Ultron. Ultron then tricks Jocasta into incinerating the scientist she came for. Even though Ultron got in her way, the two have real chemistry. The scene hints at a dangerous romance between the homicidal AIs.

Who is Jocasta in Marvel Comics?

The show’s Jocasta differs a lot from her source material. The changes were necessary because Avengers: Age of Ultron departed so far from the comics. In the MCU, Tony Stark and Bruce Banner dreamed up Ultron using the power of the Mind Stone. He was meant to protect the world, but he quickly decided the best way to do that was to wipe out humanity. Ultron hoped to evolve by building himself a new vibranium body. The Avengers captured it and combined it with J.A.R.V.I.S. and the Mind Stone to create Vision. Vision then defeated Ultron in Sokovia, but kept Ultron’s program captive in his own mind to give his synthetic father a chance at redemption. All of that was invented for Joss Whedon’s 2015 movie.

Roy Thomas and John Buscema created Ultron for The Avengers comics in 1968. In the comics, Hank Pym, also known as Ant-Man, uses his own brainwaves to build a robot AI, which quickly breaks free of his control. Like the MCU version, comic Ultron is obsessed with upgrading himself and defeating the Avengers. He forces the inventor Phineas T. Horton to help him create Vision as a son and lieutenant. Vision rebels against his creator and joins the Avengers.

Ultron then builds himself a mate. He transfers the mind of Hank Pym’s wife, Janet Van Dyne (the Wasp), into a robot body and names it Jocasta. The name is a pretty messed-up reference to the mother and wife of Oedipus. Jocasta follows Vision’s example, betrays Ultron and joins the Avengers. For an excellent and faithful adaptation of that saga, watch the 2010 animated series Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes on Disney Plus.

Ultron didn’t make VisionQuest‘s Jocasta, but she seems just as ruthless and dangerous as he is. Any relationship between the two looks headed for betrayal. Still, a team-up between them could be bad news for Vision and all of humanity.

Source: Polygon