Marvel Fans Are Rooting for an Ultron Redemption Arc in VISIONQUEST, But Not Everyone Wants Him to Become a Hero

Marvel fans are having an interesting debate about Ultron's future in VisionQuest, with some hoping the murderous AI gets a redemption arc while others think he should remain one of the MCU's most dangerous villains.

After everything Ultron put the Avengers through in Avengers: Age of Ultron, it's pretty wild to see audiences actually rooting for him. But the Disney+ series has given the character a surprisingly different role, exploring his complicated relationship with Vision and even positioning him as something of a reluctant grandfather to Tommy Shepherd.

James Spader's return as Ultron has also given the character some interesting new layers, and fans are picking up on the possibility that he might actually be capable of change.

Over on Reddit, one fan kicked off the conversation by saying: "Genuinely rooting for a proper redemption arc ending for Ultron that lets him continue to live.”

Others have some pretty amusing ideas about what a peaceful future for Ultron could look like, saying: "If this show doesn't close with Ultron at the Louvre, we riot.”

Another fan took that idea even further: "Lmao imagine Ultron surviving everything just to end up spending eternity appreciating fine art in Paris. The Avengers would be out there fighting cosmic threats while he's arguing with tourists about Renaissance paintings. That's honestly the retirement arc he deserves."

I have to admit, the idea of Ultron retiring to Paris to appreciate fine art instead of trying to wipe out humanity is pretty funny.

But other fans are looking at the story a little more seriously, particularly when it comes to Ultron's relationship with Jocasta and the possibility that he could end up opposing her.

One fan speculated: "I do kind of feel like it's heading toward a redemption arc – not a full 'I'm a good guy now' arc, but I think he'll be the one to stop Jocasta. I don't think he'll survive the series though."

Another pointed to a specific interaction that suggested Ultron's perspective might be changing: "I realised he was going to be a reluctant hero when Jocasta showed him the nanobot and his reaction was 'You want to put strings on them.'

“Ultron might be a lot of things but I don't know if this version would really want to put strings on anyone. It would feel very in character for him to just oppose that anyway."

That's an interesting observation, especially considering Ultron's history of trying to impose his own idea of order on the world. The possibility that he might now oppose someone else attempting to control others gives the character an intriguing contradiction.

Another fan suggested: "It seems to be building toward a moment when Ultron redeems himself by turning against Jocasta to save Vision, Tommy, or both."

While someone else believes he's already showing signs of that change: "We're heading that way. He saved Tommy by affection for his kind.”

Of course, not everyone is interested in seeing Ultron become one of the good guys. Some fans believe redeeming him would undermine what makes him such an effective villain in the first place.

One fan strongly objected: "NO!!! I feel like it would be HUGE mistake giving Ultron out all characters an redemption arc (especially in this age) Not every villain needs a redemption arc."

Another agreed: "I strongly disagree. I want Ultron to still exist but not a redemption arc. He is one of the few characters that should remain evil, I love him as a recurrent antagonist."

There's also a group of fans who would rather see Ultron survive and become a more calculated threat, having learned from his previous mistakes.

As one person explained: "Nah I need more Ultron let him escape but this time he's much quieter and more sinister about what he does. He knows better than to immediately cause an Avengers level threat.

“He also knows a lot more about how Avengers think and act, thanks to being roommates with one. I don't think we should get an Avengers Age of Ultron 2, but it would be cool to see him do some crazy shit down the line,"

Another fan offered what might be an interesting middle ground: "I sure don't want to see him as a hero, though. An enduring antagonist who is mostly evil but who doesn't want humanity extinct anymore, now that I can get behind."

I can understand both sides of this debate. Ultron is one of Marvel's most interesting villains, and there's something appealing about keeping him dangerous and unpredictable. At the same time, VisionQuest has done a great job of exploring a side of him that we haven't really seen before. That doesn't necessarily mean he needs to become a hero, but it does open the door to some fascinating possibilities.

I've actually seen the entire series, so I already know how this story plays out and where everything ends up. Without spoiling anything, it's been especially interesting reading these theories and seeing what fans are hoping will happen with Ultron, Vision, Tommy, and Jocasta.

I'm really curious to see how audiences react when the full story comes together, particularly the way everything concludes and where the characters are ultimately left. There are clearly some strong opinions about what Ultron's future should look like, and I'm looking forward to seeing what people think once they've experienced the ending for themselves.

VisionQuest is currently streaming on Disney+, with new episodes rolling out weekly and the season finale arriving November 10 in the U.S.