The third episode of VisionQuest picks up right where the last one left off, with Vision (Paul Bettany) and Tommy (Ruaridh Mollica) barely escaping Paladin's (Todd Stashwick) attack. But the danger is far from over. Vision is badly injured, leaking power, and his chances of survival are slim without Iron Man or Bruce Banner around to help. Tommy, however, refuses to give up, and the other AIs in Vision's head are working overtime to keep him alive.
Meanwhile, Paladin is also hurting, and his handler (Diane Morgan) suggests he consider retirement. He's slowing down, getting hurt more often, and his missions keep failing. But Paladin is obsessed with catching Vision, and he orders his handler to track the energy signature Vision is leaving behind.
Vision and Tommy eventually pull over so Vision can use part of the car to cauterize his wound. Tommy tries to have a real conversation with Vision, but Vision is reluctant to open up. He insists that if he is Tommy's father, it's because of Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen), not because of anything he did. Tommy grows frustrated, especially when Vision starts talking to the invisible AIs in the car. He feels ignored and kept in the dark.
They make it to a rundown hotel, where Vision's leaking power messes with the electricity. Tommy steals some cash from an ATM, which Ultron (James Spader) points out is hypocritical given Vision's own moral flexibility with the Avengers. In the room, Tommy watches old TV shows to soothe himself, a habit that reminds Vision of Wanda. Vision considers telling Tommy the truth about Westview but hesitates, not wanting to burden him with a life he never really had.
Tommy reveals he knows a bit about Vision and Wanda from a book, but he can't understand how he could be their son. Vision tries to explain that Tommy's memories aren't real—they're just a product of his longing for family. Tommy storms out, and we realize the whole conversation was a simulation Vision was running to find the right words. But no matter what he tries, he can't crack the code.
In the real world, Tommy tries to get a snack from a vending machine, and when his food gets stuck, he pounds on the glass. His hand phases through the screen, his powers spontaneously activating. Afterward, his hand is bloody, and Vision patches him up. Vision opens up about his fear of never finding his purpose again, which encourages Tommy to share his own experience at the pool—a memory of his atoms moving rapidly and floating away. They realize Tommy has been phasing, a power Vision once had. The tender moment is interrupted by Paladin's drones, forcing them to flee, but Vision starts malfunctioning.
Paladin's client is losing patience, and Paladin is haunted by his own past. He tracks a mysterious AI killer named Butcherbird (T'Nia Miller) to a luxury apartment, but she's not happy to see him. She digs into his mind and reveals a painful memory: his father called him weak, and then a paladin killed his father and raised him. Paladin isn't a true paladin by blood, and all he's ever wanted is to feel real. He manages to escape, but his client fires him, leaving him spiraling.
The episode ends on a massive cliffhanger that could change everything for Vision and Tommy. With Paladin out of a job and Vision malfunctioning, the stakes have never been higher. VisionQuest continues to be a compelling addition to the Marvel streaming universe, and this episode's emotional depth and shocking twists are sure to keep fans talking. If you're enjoying the series, you might also want to check out our take on its Rotten Tomatoes score and how it's boosting Marvel's streaming revival.
