WandaVision: Marvel moves forward

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Photo by Disney

Wanda Maximoff, left, and Vision, right, are pictured on a promotional poster.

Bela De Jesus, Managing Editor of Global Perspectives

As I turned off the TV after watching the first episode of WandaVision, I was disappointed. The whole episode seemed to simply be a 50’s sitcom featuring Wanda Maximoff and the now-dead Vision. I was baffled and had no clue where the show was going. And yet the confusion intrigued me, and I am thrilled I continued to watch.

WandaVision is the first-ever Marvel series on Disney+ that follows Wanda and Vision, who exist in a sitcom, and follows them as they go through the sitcoms of the decades. The show explains why they are in a sitcom and what happened to the couple after Avengers: Endgame. There are nine episodes, six of which replicate the sitcoms of the decades from the 60’s to the present. 

Each episode models its costuming, set design, acting, intro, and plotline after classic sitcoms from each era, such as I Love Lucy, The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Jeffersons, Full House, Goosebumps, and The Office. Marvel nailed every detail, and the viewer can tell the immense attention taken to replicating the era, even the directing style changes to follow the norms of the decade. 

Not only is the concept unique and fanciful, but it is also executed very well. Each episode ends with a cliffhanger, leaving the viewer itching for the next episode. The show pulls back layers each episode, and by the fourth episode, previous events that were confusing start to make sense, leaving the viewer with that ah-ha moment. The story just continues to develop with insane plot twists that were way out of left field.

Another element that elevated the show to another level was the acting. Elizabeth Olsen, who plays Wanda Maximoff, exudes emotion, portraying the complex character perfectly. The series explores her background more deeply, giving fans context that had never been explained before. Paul Bettany also offers a stellar performance as Vision, expressing the confusion and frustration that the audience feels with him. 

The introduction of new characters heightened the plot and gave me much hope for the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s future. Characters like Monica Rambeau, played by Teyonah Parris, not only added to the series, but also gave space for the development of a truly interesting character with possibly her own movie. Another star of the show is Agnes, played by Kathryn Hahn, adds some much needed humor, while also showing a more mysterious side.

All in all, WandaVision does exactly what it needs to do: develop a new storyline while sticking to the classic Marvel mystery and detail. Despite being an extremely strange concept, the show just works, and it is elevated to the next level with incredible new talent and shocking plot twists. Even though the plot starts slow, I encourage you to push through it because once everything becomes clear, the story just gets better from there.