VisionQuest Season 1 Episodes 5 and 6 Review: T’Nia Miller and Thrilling Action Take Center Stage

VisionQuest Season 1 Episodes 5 and 6 reveal a larger plan in motion as Ultron and Jocasta join forces while Vision and the gang find themselves in a race against time.

While Vision and the gang are stuck, the focus shifts to Jocasta (T’Nia Miller) and her new ally/love interest, Ultron (James Spader). VisionQuest Season 1 Episode 5, “Firewall,” continues the series’ exciting visual decisions with Jocasta and Ultron’s conversations being projected from security cameras for Vision.

It’s a smart way to keep the audience with all the characters simultaneously. Without breaking up any momentum, they build out exposition and maintain the ever-growing tension. 

VisionQuest‘s ability to ensure its characters can be present without being physically present remains one of the most efficient and exciting aspects of the show. It breaks from what we’re used to seeing from Marvel on a visual and storytelling level.

Even more exciting are the performances that come out of these conversations. James Spader delivers delicious work all season long, but “Firewall” introduces another challenging layer to this character. He approaches every scene like a game, surveying the board and strategically playing his next step.

The real highlight, though, is T’Nia Miller. She finally gets a substantial amount of runtime and she stretches herself through every second available to her. 

Miller matches Spader tit for tat. There is an electricity coursing through her eyes. She’s riveted by this sparring match and having someone she deems at her level.

Much like Spader, she is calculated and measured on the outside. Miller brings a commanding presence to the role that towers above everyone else in the scene.

However, Miller plays with something a little deeper that brings an air of unpredictability to the character. There is a pain at the center, reeling from betrayal. She feels more inclined to give into her feelings, unlike Ultron.

Jocasta’s blend of calculation and anger is a jolt of electricity for the series that will undoubtedly propel it toward its conclusion. 

As their relationship rapidly escalates, there is a looming question of “Who is playing who?” when it comes to Ultron and Jocasta. While the romance feels a bit strange, it does make room for an interesting conflict in the larger scheme of a show that is about finding humanity again.

Both are characters actively working in favor of their own self interests, but are suddenly presented with someone they potentially care about. VisionQuest revels in the ambiguity of the genuineness, leaving us second guessing every word out of these performer’s mouths.

Spader steals every scene he’s in, but now he has to contend with Miller, a formidable scene partner in every way. Tantalizing and playful, these two expertly ramp up the tension for the explosive episode to come.

VisionQuest Season 1 Episode 6, “Deadlock,” is the most action-packed episode yet. The hostile attempt to negotiate Tommy’s freedom brilliantly sets the stage and allows the episode to build. By taking care to actually build, the subsequent action is all the more satisfying and exhilarating. 

This exchange also keeps the Paladin important and interesting without discarding his thread. He turns out to be a red herring antagonist, but the fact that he is still present shows me we’re seeing his arc through. Marvel has a tendency to discard their red herrings so it’s nice that Paladin holds a bit of weight still.

There are still quite a few questions left in the air, but it finally feels like we have a better idea of what the big picture is. With two episodes remaining, VisionQuest‘s biggest hurdle is tying everything together in a coherent, complete package.

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VisionQuest airs Tuesday on Disney+.

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