VisionQuest: Spader and Bettany show us the ghost in Vision's machine

Vision is back. And, this time, he’s bringing his dad.

In VisionQuest, we reconnect with the rebooted ‘White’ Vision (Paul Bettany) as he attempts to discover his place in the universe. Spending his nights within the digital home he’s created within his own robotic processor, 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 (James Spader). However, after Vision’s location is discovered by a bounty hunter, he’s forced out of hiding and on the run. As he evades capture, Vision is forced to confront his own nature, resist Ultron’s influence and attempt to connect with Thomas Shepherd (Ruaridh Mollica), a mysterious young man who may be Vision’s son, reincarnate.

Created by Terry Matalas, VisionQuest is whip-smart, feisty and thoroughly entertaining. Backed by incredible work by Bettany and Spader, this is not only a worthy successor to WandaVision but, arguably, one of the best shows that has been produced by the MCU.

It’s worth pointing out that VisionQuest is billed as the third entry in a trilogy that began with WandaVision and Agatha All Along. And, in that spirit, there are multiple threads that follow Vision’s journey into his electric soul. (Though, admittedly, the film follows WandaVision far more closely than it does Agatha.) However, Quest is very much its own… well… quest. Though it taps into the larger MCU’s past, this story is largely encapsulated in its own world, focusing entirely on the growth of its characters.

And this Quest is all about growth.

Despite the fact that the characters of VisionQuest are familiar, only Vision has ever held any importance to the overall MCU. Most of Vision’s compatriots have taken the form of AI voiceovers or robots from Tony Starks collection of creations. Even so, Quest allows each of these characters to spring to life in their own way. J.A.R.V.I.S., F.R.I.D.A.Y. and especially Hampshire’s delightful E.D.I.T.H are all given meaning roles in Vision’s story, each with their own separate journeys and opportunities to evolve. (Even DUM-E and U are allowed to steal a few moments in the sun.)

Even so, this Quest is ultimately about Vision and his relationship to father-figure Ultron. And, truly, the duo are spectacular, especially when together. As Vision, Bettany finally steps into the limelight with a performance that feels true to the character we already know yet gives him ample opportunity to take him to a new level. This is a journey of self-discovery for the humanoid bot that gives Bettany lots of room to play. In some moments he’s stoic and reasonable. In others, he’s compassionate and caring.

But, in other moments… he shows a dark side.

And much of that dark side is inspired by some incredible work by Spader who, once again, brings Ultron to life. Having only appeared in Avengers: Age of Ultron, the character was incredibly underserved in the MCU. As one of Marvel’s top villains, his one-and-done performance never allowed Ultron to become the psychological threat that he was meant to be.

But all that changes in VisionQuest. Here, Spader brings Ultron to life with Machiavellian humour and horror. Having been locked away in Vision’s inner digital prison, Ultron is cagey, cantankerous and utterly captivating. Every line of dialogue slithers out of Spader’s mouth with playful menace. He’s both likable and frustrating at the same moment.

And he’s a perfect foil for Vision.

Dedicated to saving the most destitute of souls, Vision can’t seem to walk away from Ultron’s enigmatic selfishness. Claiming to be Vision’s father, Ultron is entirely problematic yet still remains parental, offering advice at opportune moments (albeit self-servingly). Together, Bettany and Spader are so delightful that one can’t understand how we haven’t seen them onscreen together sooner. There’s an ease between their performances that compliments the other perfectly. As Bettany plays the tightly-wound lead, Spader oozes around him with his own brand of madness. In every moment that they’re together, they’re a delight to watch.

Vision’s engagement with Ultron not only provides the show’s humour, it also provides its soul. After all, this is very much a series that pushes Vision to become the man he’s meant to be. As Bettany takes his character into the depths of his mind (both literally and figuratively), Vision is challenged to participate in a life that (technically) isn’t his own. Created by S.W.O.R.D in WandaVision, he is both Vision and… something else. In this way, Quest pushes him inward to discover who he really is. Is he a hero? A weapon? A grieving father? A loving son? All of these tensions are fully on display within Quest as Vision attempts to discover the proverbial ghost within his own machine.

What’s more, Matalas uses every possible psychological trope and metaphor to his example. Addressing concepts such as Carl Jung’s theory of Individuation and Erikson’s ideas about identity formation, Matalas wrestles with high-level concepts at a level that everyone can understand. (And don’t get me started on the ways that the House of Vision is constructed in such a way as to represent the Id, Ego and Super Ego.) Complicated issues surrounding artificial intelligence, identity formation and the nature of humanity permeate each episode attempts to delve into challenging issues that make us who we are.

But it all remains encapsulated in the compelling (and simple) tension between fathers and sons.

To say more would be to spoil the fun but suffice to say that VisionQuest more than delivers on its potential. Although the series contains all the traditional Marvel action, the best moments of Quest come through its complicated web of identity, emotion and parental drama. As such, though a second season hasn’t been greenlit (and rarely happens in the MCU), one can only hope that this Quest has only just begun.

The first two episodes of VisionQuest are available to stream on Disney+ on October 13^th, 2026 with new episodes releasing weekly afterwards.