MeinMMO editor Nikolas Hernes mourned for years over a legendary villain that, in his opinion, was wasted in the Marvel-movies. But a new MCU series finally gave him the recognition he deserves.
In August 2026, I vented my frustration with the villain Ultron in an article. In my opinion, the MCU did not utilize the great potential that lies within the robot. It had the possibility to be a threat on the level of Thanos and convey interesting concepts about AI, but instead, it turned him into a throwaway villain.
However, Marvel’s latest series, VisionQuest, has achieved something truly impossible: I can finally forgive Marvel.
The idea behind Ultron and Vision continues
Warning: There are minor spoilers for the series VisionQuest.
Right from the first episode, it becomes clear what VisionQuest is about. The white Vision wants to learn human emotions. Something he knows from the memories of his old self but does not understand. The rescued AIs in his mind are supposed to help him, but among them is also Ultron.
He early on seems like a manipulative element, wanting only to free himself and achieve his goal of extinguishing humanity. But as the episodes go by, it becomes clearer: Ultron is changing. The robotic villain is concerned with humans, not with their destructive nature but with their creativity.
Ultron becomes fascinated by art, whiskey, and ultimately emotions. All things he wants to understand. He slowly realizes what Vision described in the movie Age of Ultron: The beauty of humans.
Ultron does not want to simply imitate them, which is subtly shown in a scene with Jocasta. She offers him whiskey, but he declines. Ultron knows how whiskey is supposed to taste, but in his current form, he cannot experience it himself – he needs a physical body.
Not only Vision grapples with the question of what it means to be human
, but Ultron does too: Is it the soul, the physical body, or both? This makes the series even philosophical and fits into the conversation between the two Visions about the Ship of Theseus at the end of the series WandaVision.
Apart from this theme, it is precisely Ultron’s human appearance that is the highlight of the series.
James Spader is a force
The actor James Spader voiced Ultron in the movie, but in the series, he also appears in physical form – a rule all AIs in Vision’s mind adhere to. And James Spader is fantastic. Despite his subtle acting style, he has such a strong aura that he steals every scene.
Precisely this style fits Ultron as well. Spader speaks eloquently and intelligently, but also incredibly cool and calculating – just like a robot imitating humans. When this imitation breaks, and Ultron seemingly shows feelings, Spader subtly conveys this in his acting. This is true craftsmanship, and with this performance, he ranks among the best actors in the entire MCU.
This also beautifully complements Paul Bettany’s portrayal of Vision. Even though he thinks he is cool and emotionless the whole time, a certain concern, anger, or sadness can be seen in his expressions. The different acting styles of the two create a beautiful chemistry that captivates beyond the actual story.
VisionQuest does not simply bring Ultron back; the series thinks about and develops him as a character. From a once-disposable villain, he becomes one of the most interesting figures in the MCU, who has finally reached the potential that was dormant in him for 11 years.
For me personally, VisionQuest surpasses even series like WandaVision and makes it my favorite in the MCU that I can recommend to everyone.
But what do you think about VisionQuest? Do you like the series and what it has done with the characters? Feel free to tell us in the comments. Since the MCU has now treated Ultron worthy, another character is still missing: I still can’t forgive Marvel after 16 years for wasting one of the most exciting heroes
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