Randall is a former resident of Westview who was living under the name Ralph Bohner while in witness protection. Bohner was taken under the thrall of Agatha Harkness during the Westview Anomaly. With dark magic granted by Harkness, Bohner possessed superhuman speed and posed as Pietro Maximoff to get close to Wanda Maximoff and try to extract information about how she had created the Hex. During the Battle of Westview, Bohner kept Monica Rambeau hostage until she subsequently freed him from Harkness' control. Three years later, a still paranoid Bohner met William Kaplan who was researching the Hex and told him about his nightmarish experiences.
Randall was a resident of Westview, New Jersey who was placed into the witness protection program,[6] given the name Ralph Bohner, and owned the house next door to the plot of land that Vision had purchased for him and Wanda Maximoff. In 2018, Bohner survived Thanos' Snap. In 2020, Bohner failed to pay his water bill and kept a copy of the overdue bill in his house.[2]
Westview Anomaly[]
Controlled by Agatha Harkness[]
"You couldn't move or talk or do anything... anything on your own. It was like watching yourself on TV inside your own head. But you couldn't turn it off. It was not a good time!"
In 2023, Bohner was in Westview when Wanda Maximoff created the Hex.[7] This disconnected his ankle monitor from the protection program.[5]Agatha Harkness then arrived and took Bohner hostage, forcibly moving into his house and claiming to others that he was her husband.[7] Bohner was then instructed by Harkness to poison and kill Sparky, which he did.[3] Eventually, Bohner was "cast" by Harkness to play the role of Maximoff's deceased brother Pietro to get more information about the Hex.[8] Harkness also placed a necklace onto Bohner that gifted him super-speed.[9]
Bohner then smiled at Maximoff, asking if he could give her a hug. Maximoff was confused by his different appearance and asked if he was Pietro, with Bohner nodding his head in confirmation. Once Maximoff recognized him as her brother, the two of them hugged. Entering the house, Bohner also saw a confused Vision and asked humorously who he was.[4]
Bohner started living at the Vision Residence and became an uncle figure for Wanda Maximoff and Vision's children, Tommy and Billy Maximoff. One day, the five of them gathered in the backyard for a family photo. Bohner used his super speed to catch Tommy, who was positioning the camera.
When Halloween came, Bohner was still sleeping on the couch at four in the afternoon while the whole Maximoff family were preparing their costumes for the night. Once Tommy and Billy arrived in the living room and saw Bohner, they started making several comments about their "uncle". Bohner ended up waking up and jumped off the couch to scare them. As the boys screamed and ran, Bohner used his super speed power to chase them around the house.
Bohner discuss a "childhood memory"
Bohner continued to play with Tommy and Billy until Maximoff came down the stairs dressed in a Halloween costume. When Bohner and the twins questioned what she was, she explained that she was a Sokovian fortune teller. Bohner laughed and disapproved of her outfit, noting that it was worse than the costumes that their mother made for them when they were children. Maximoff did not remember this event and Bohner stated that she was probably suppressing trauma.
Bohner says he can fill the "father figure" role
Once Vision came down the stairs, Bohner jokingly made a few guesses as to what his costume was, with Vision showing no sense of humor, before joining Tommy and Billy to play video games and show them how to shotgun their soda-cans. Having heard Maximoff and Vision's discussion, Bohner learned that Vision would not be present at the celebration since he apparently was going to do a job for the Westview Neighborhood Watch. As she continued to try convincing Vision to be with his family on their first Halloween, Bohner interrupted the conversation and offered to replace Vision and step in to assist with watching with the twins.
With Maximoff having closed the door, Bohner stood behind Wanda and scared her when she turned around. Bohner asked where she kept the water balloons, but she told him they didn't have any. Bohner then revealed his intentions to spend the night pulling pranks with the twins, blaming Billy for the idea, as he pointed to Tommy, who had to correct him about the names. As Wanda realized that they didn't even have costumes, Bohner ran off with Tommy and quickly returned wearing a costume.
Bohner and Maximoff took the boys trick-or-treating. While walking through the streets, she questioned Bohner on his childhood memories since she was doubting that he was her brother. Bohner realized that he was being tested and attempted to put her suspicion at ease, acknowledging that he knew he looked different. The conversation was interrupted by Tommy and Billy, with Bohner deciding ran off with the twins to help them get candy faster. However, Bohner used his super-speed to commit several acts of vandalism.[9]
Investigation[]
Bohner says he's just playing his part
"I'm impressed! Seriously. It's a big leap from giving people nightmares and shooting red wiggly-woos out of your hands. How'd you even do all this? Hey, I'm not some stranger and I'm not your husband. You can talk to me."
Later, Bohner was a little annoyed and pointed out that Wanda Maximoff was lame for making Tommy and Billy give back all the candy they stole. Being called a "bad influence" for the twins by Maximoff, Bohner explained that he was just trying to do his part as the relative who arrived in town and stirred up with the family, further adding that this is what she wanted.
Maximoff saw a new opportunity to test Bohner and questioned him about his missing accent, but Bohner replied by asking her about hers. Bohner told Maximoff that the details were fuzzy on what happened to him prior to his arrival there, but he remembered being "killed" by Ultron during the Battle of Sokovia and then he heard Maximoff calling for him. Suddenly, the discussion was ended when Tommy and Billy returned and asked to continue trick-or-treating. Bohner and Maximoff discovered that Tommy gained superhuman speed, much to Bohner's delight.
As Bohner and Maximoff admired the festivities set up in Westview, the two sat down and started to discuss her current life. Bohner agreed with her positive comments on Westview and talked about how their parents, Iryna and Olek Maximoff, would’ve loved the town, making her smile. Suddenly, Bohner asked her what she did with all the children since there were no children in the Hex before Halloween, and suggested that she had them asleep in their beds, with Maximoff struggling to explain.
Finally, Bohner began talking about how Maximoff was controlling all of the Westview residents, noting that she handled the ethical issues of the town the best she could, and stating that he was impressed by her upgraded power set since she was being able to do more than project energy blasts and manipulate minds. Assuring that she could trust him, Bohner asked her how she created the Hex. However, she told him she wasn't sure how she did it and that she only remembered being filled with despair.
Bohner was confused when Maximoff turned toward him and panicked for a second, but she stated that she was fine. Bohner then witnessed Billy, who had acquired telepathy powers, frantically calling out to Maximoff, telling her that Vision was in trouble. When Maximoff attempted to calm her son down, asking where Vision was, Bohner interrupted and humorously said that her husband could not die twice. Having made her infuriated, Bohner was blasted away.[9]
Bohner returned to his house since Wanda Maximoff was convinced that he was an imposter. When Monica Rambeau, who was suspecting Agatha Harkness, decided to investigate the house and detected dark energy running through the basement, Bohner approached Rambeau to interrupt her search.[10]
Bohner held Rambeau hostage in his house and thwarted her every attempt of escape. Eventually, Rambeau came across several documents and bills that revealed Bohner's true identity. Rambeau then subdued Bohner before taking off the necklace around his neck, freeing him from Harkness' enchantment.[2]
Escape from Westview[]
Bohner frees himself
"Let's keep an eye out for our missing witness, we still need him to testify. Should be easier to spot now that everything's back to normal."
Having gained freedom, Bohner sneaked around the commotion and found himself wirecutters. He then cut off the Ankle Monitor that was tracking him and fled the scene.[6]
Life after Westview[]
Meeting William Kaplan[]
"She stole my house, completely ruined the market value. And she made me do these horrible things like, I held this really nice lady hostage in my attic. I was a terrible influence on Wanda and Vision's kids. And I poisoned a dog."
Ralph meets William (Craftcrazy17) and his boyfriend Eddie in a parking garage, after connecting on Reddit as Bohnerific69. They meet to discuss the Westview Anomaly in exchange for money. Ralph checks to see if they are wired, then shares what he remembers about Wanda Maximoff and her sitcom, comparing it to watching yourself on TV without control.
When asked about Agatha Harkness, Ralph reluctantly reveals she is a witch who hijacked his life, calling him her husband but treating him as a puppet. He claims Agatha ruined his home, made him hold Monica Rambeau hostage, influenced Billy and Tommy Maximoff, and poisoned Sparky. Ralph mentions that the twins are missing, Wanda Maximoff is dead, and the word on the street is that Vision was used for parts by S.W.O.R.D.. He also believes that Billy and Tommy were destroyed by the Hex and warns William not to underestimate Agatha, despite Wanda's spell. Finally, Ralph asks for payment or half-off tickets to his one-man show in Paramus.[3]
Personality[]
"So, she's harmless?" "Did I say that? I did not say that! Hey! Word to the wise, don't go sniffing around there. Or you'll end up buried in that yard with that dog, or worse!"
Under Agatha Harkness' control and posing as "Pietro Maximoff", Bohner behaves like a manchild, conforming to the sitcom trope of the disruptive visiting relative. He was playful, as seen when he joked around with Billy and Tommy Maximoff in the Vision Residence and later played with them in the trick-or-treat party in the sitcom world, bringing the twins along for fun. He was also quite snarky and rude, even making a joke to Wanda Maximoff about how Vision has died multiple times and humorously asking who Vision was when he first met him.
When he held Monica Rambeau captive, Bohner no longer pretended to be Pietro and acted on behalf of Harkness which he referred to as "Mrs". When Bohner's true persona was unearthed, he begged Rambeau for his life, suggesting he was frightened and unaware of the current conflict. Bohner also expressed an interest in video games and action films, such as Steven Seagal films.
Three years after the Westview Anomaly, Bohner suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, being overly sensitive and easily irritated, as exhibited by his paranoia of being bugged. He expresses intense hatred and fear towards Harkness, avoiding to talk about his experience during the Anomaly and the actions he did under her thrall, such as impersonating “Peter Maximoff”, holding Monica Rambeau hostage and killing Sparky, actions that burden him with guilt. Additionally, Bohner suffers from frequent nightmares and carries with him “witch repellents” and warns others from attempting to visit Westview, demonstrating that he still has not recovered from his experiences. Bohner’s life also went downhill to the point that he struggles for a living, requiring Billy Kaplan to pay extra money for additional information.
Powers[]
Former Powers[]
Enchanted Necklace Empowerment: Agatha Harkness enchanted a necklace and made Bohner wear it in order to both fall under her control and give him super speed. This was so that Harkness could get closer to Wanda Maximoff.
Superhuman Speed:
Bohner running at high speeds
Thanks to the enchanted necklace he wore, Bohner gained the ability to run at extremely high speeds. He was able to act and move in seconds or less, far faster than normal people could even perceive. His powers caused him to generate an aura of blue, white, and transparent energy currents and mist-like shapes, much like fire or wind, leaving behind a trail of it as he runs. Bohner's enhanced momentum allowed him to generate enough force to push Monica Rambeau away with a simple flick of his finger.
Equipment[]
Former Equipment[]
Ankle Monitor: As a result of Bohner being placed in witness protection, he was given an ankle monitor so his whereabouts could be monitored at all times. When Westview was freed from the Hex, Bonher used a pair of wire cutters to remove the monitor from his ankle.
Bohner wore a beads necklace that had been enchanted by Agatha Harkness with a "crystallum possession" spell. This kept him under her thrall and also granted him the power of super speed until Monica Rambeau took it off his neck, liberating him.
Facilities[]
Agnes O'Connor's House: Bohner lived in this house as his permanent residence in Westview. He continued to live in it when Agatha Harkness took control of his mind and used it to imprison Monica Rambeau until she freed him from Harkness' spell.
Vision Residence: When Agatha Harkness controlled Bohner's mind, she commanded him to move in and live with Wanda Maximoff, Vision, and their sons Tommy and Billy. This was a ploy in order to get close to Maximoff and make her reveal how she controlled all of Westview. He eventually moved out from the house after Maximoff expanded the barrier around Westview.
WandaVision showrunner Jac Schaeffer stated that she had no backup options for casting the fake Pietro Maximoff if Evan Peters was unavailable to play the part, feeling that Peters can play an amalgamation of Uncle Jesse from Full House, Nick Moore from Family Ties and Joey Tribbiani from Friends.[11] Schaeffer also explained in order to get the point across that Wanda Maximoff was desperate to see her brother again, they needed to cast someone whom the audience and Wanda would realize should be Pietro, despite it being impossible, and going along with it. The only way to do this was to cast Peters, whom the audience would immediately recognize for his X-Men role.[12]
The character was also used as a play on the sitcom tropes of recasting characters without "much fuss".[13]
The concept of the fake Pietro Maximoff turning out to be an actor was inspired by a similar twist in Iron Man 3 regarding Trevor Slattery, who posed as the fake Mandarin.[14]
The name of Ralph Bohner was a reference towards Ricard "Boner" Stabone from the sitcom Growing Pains.[15]
Teyonah Parris revealed in an interview with Collider's Perri Nemiroff that Ralph Bohner was not definitively chosen as the character's name when the series was in production, as it was one of several names she read out when they shot the scene where his name and identity are revealed.[16]
