Vision and Tommy join forces to track down Butcherbird and put an end to her murder spree. However, lingering trust issues between father and son threaten to create a worst-case scenario for the synthezoid.

Warning: Spoilers Below

Freeing Vision

Vision remains under Butcherbird’s control, leaving the remaining AIs with the task of freeing him. E.D.I.T.H. decides to perform an exorcism, complete with dialogue that only makes sense when you're trying to rescue a synthezoid. I particularly loved the line, "In the presence of database and query, control-alt-delete thee from this place." Ultron's response, "The power of code compels you," was equally entertaining. Emily Hampshire and James Spader have been delivering performances on a unique level throughout this series. That's saying something when they manage to out-act Paul Bettany.

Butcherbird leaves Vision alone but warns that she will target Tommy if he comes after her. Despite the threat, Vision feels compelled to stop her from killing anyone else. We now have a true crime investigation on our hands, which naturally catches Ultron's attention.

Sleuthing

The AIs inside Vision’s mind are now trying to figure out who and what Butcherbird is. Vision and Ultron enter a virtual database while E.D.I.T.H. hacks into government agencies to learn more about Butcherbird. It's a struggle because they have to prove they aren't robots, encountering the same frustrating problems that real people face when we're asked to verify our identities online. Is there a small sliver of a fire hydrant in one of those boxes?

Meanwhile, E.D.I.T.H. and F.R.I.D.A.Y. learn more about Butcherbird’s victims. They are connected to AI technology that was sold to Stark Industries, and it appears that all the AIs in Vision’s head are based on the same template. Five people were involved in creating the AI. One apparently died years ago, another is the company's CEO, and the remaining three are dead. Vision must get to a gala to prevent Butcherbird from attacking the CEO.

Trust

In the real world, it's the anniversary of Ultron's attack on Sokovia, and Tommy notices Vision retreating into his own head. Tommy explains that he needs Vision to trust him and wants to know that the feeling is mutual. The synthezoid reveals the AIs living inside his head and explains four of the five remaining avatars. Conveniently, he leaves out Ultron, even though Ultron himself tells him that's not a good idea.

Meanwhile, Tommy reaches out to his friend Lisa for another grift. He and Vision will need her help getting into the Tech Gala, which is clearly a black-tie affair. They know they must protect the CEO from Butcherbird's planned attack.

Bad Decision

After maintaining their charade to get into the gala, Vision and Tommy listen to the CEO speak while Vision continues having conversations with Ultron inside his head. Tommy realizes that Vision has been communicating with Ultron, undermining the trust he was trying to establish with his father. Meanwhile, Butcherbird arrives and reveals that she is Jocasta. (This is a very important development for fans of the comics.) Elsewhere, E.D.I.T.H. determines that she and the other AIs are based on real people Howard Stark knew. She deduces that Jocasta is based on Jolene Carrington, the original CEO of the AI company who supposedly died years ago.

This is where Vision makes his biggest mistake yet. Unable to fight Jocasta, he allows Ultron to take control of his synthezoid body. This is voting for Trump in 2024 levels of dumb. You already know he's evil, so giving him power makes absolutely no sense. Ultron refuses to kill Jocasta. He realizes she needs the CEO's voice to access a vault, so he manipulates her into accidentally killing the CEO. This demonstrates just how evil Ultron is while technically keeping his promise to Vision. Meanwhile, inside Vision's head, Ultron locks down the other AI avatars, maintaining complete control as he sings a disturbing rendition of "No Strings" from Pinocchio. The evil AI has finally completed his mission from Avengers: Age of Ultron, taking over Vision's body.

Final Thoughts

This is another episode that gets me excited about where this series is headed. Ultron is a compelling villain who we should have seen more often by now. We got him in Avengers: Age of Ultron (or, as Matthew Carroll of the MCU Podcast calls it, "Weekend at Ultron's"), but we haven't seen him since. James Spader is stealing the show at every turn, and I can't wait to see what happens with Jocasta going forward, especially given Ultron's interest in her advocacy for their kind.

While I haven't mentioned them much in this recap, DUM-E and U also stole the show in their own special scene. DUM-E was explaining the AI situation and kept saying "A," hoping U would finish with "I." Unfortunately, U kept missing the segue, resulting in some funny references that reminded me of Pinky and the Brain. It's a wonderfully humorous moment in an otherwise dark episode. I'm on board.

Check out VisionQuest streaming exclusively on Disney+.