As comic book fans pick apart the layers of Marvel Cinematic Universe implications that run rampant in WandaVision, fans of an entirely different fantasy television franchise uncovered a nod to an iconic 90s series in the show. Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans quickly spotted Emma Caulfield Ford (Timer, Once Upon a Time) in Disney+’s WandaVision as Westview socialite Dottie, as she played vengeance demon Anya in the 90s monster hunting show. The Independent catalogued Buffy fans reactions to the second episode of WandaVision in which Dottie is brought face to face with the rabbit Senor Scratchy, because the actress’ character in Buffy had a persistent and irrational fear of the fluffy creatures.

 

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“It’s somewhat surprising to see Emma Caulfield suddenly accept bunnies and celebrate them on WandaVision,” said DigitalSpy of the reference that impressed Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans. Anya’s fear of bunny rabbits manifested in many memorable ways throughout Buffy from dressing as the fearsome creature for Halloween to singing about their untrustworthy nature in the show’s musical episode “Once More With Feeling” from her final thoughts before facing down certain death in the series’ finale. For all these reasons, The Independent conjectures that confronting Caulfield with a rabbit in WandaVision was a “deliberate” decision.

However, Buffy references aren’t what concern WandaVision viewers most when it comes to Caulfield Ford’s character Dottie. Esquire reported on the prevailing theory that Caulfield Ford’s character may be the devilish villain Mephisto in disguise. Subtle references to Dottie’s controlling demeanor prevalent in the show’s first batch of episodes, which include lines such as “her roses bloom under penalty of death”, have contributed to the theory. As Caulfield Ford’s Buffy character likewise had a reputation for fulfilling wishes at a high cost, there would be a metatextual layer to the actress’ casting if it were revealed she was Mephisto in disguise.

However, as some eagle-eyed viewers have already dug up an Easter Egg that implies that Grim Reaper may be lurking in the scenic suburb of Westview, there’s a strong possibility that Dottie could be an ally and not a villain.

Another speculated Marvel character for Caulfield Ford’s Dottie includes Doctor Strange sorceress, and daughter of Dormammu, Clea. As WandaVision is set to tie directly into Doctor Strange and The Multiverse of Madness this seems a fair speculation, however Nerdist finds it “a bit of a stretch”, favoring yet another theory. Nerdist posits that Dottie could be a lesser-known character called Arcanna, a member of The Squadron Supreme. Since The Squadron Supreme exists in a parallel dimension to that of Earth 616, where most of the Marvel stories take place, Dottie’s existence could serve as “a convenient doorway to the multiverse”, according to Nerdist.

With a new episode dropping today, fans will have even more to pick apart regarding Caulfield Ford’s character and the other mysteries that abound in WandaVision. Hopefully, for Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans, they’ll be one or two more nods to Caulfield Ford’s lovable demon Anya throughout the series.