WandaVision is one of Disney+’s newest shows and it’s quickly becoming some of their most interesting content.
SPOILER WARNING!
Disney has released five episodes of WandaVision so far and there has already been controversy and A LOT of discourse surrounding it. Some people have been disappointed in the early episodes as they lacked the traditional superhero moments we’re used to. However, this is exactly what makes the show more interesting than the usual Marvel fare.
The first two episodes are played completely straight. It’s a lovely tribute to shows like I Love Lucy and Bewitched. It gets the jokes right and the stakes are comically low. The first episode is centred on a dinner party going wrong and the second is about a talent show. The topics are typical of a sitcom, complete with mother-in-law jokes. This can be very off-putting to a Marvel fan. But not to worry, episode three remedies that.
With a Brady Bunch-like intro, the show begins to fuse its sitcom setting with that of the Marvel universe. The jokes are weirder and the setting becomes more absurd. It is finally starting to do its own thing and you begin to see what the show has in store.
But episodes four and five is where the real juicy content is. WandaVision takes us on a ride through the consequences of Avengers: Endgame and in particular, Wanda’s response. To keep it short, she isn’t taking it too well.
Wanda, or some mysterious third party, has created this sitcom world for reasons unknown and it is up to the people outside to try and fix it. We get the return of Kat Dennnings’ character, Darcy, but she isn’t her usual insufferable self. She’s capable and her jokes actually land. Characters Agent Woo and Captain Rambeau are also strong additions to the cast. Speaking of which, Quicksilver makes a return… as Evan Peters.
This is what everyone is talking about. Aaron Taylor-Johnson played Quicksilver in Avengers: Age of Ultron and Evan Peters played Quicksilver in Fox’s X-Men franchise. Since Disney’s purchase of Fox, the fate of the X-Men series has been called into question. Now it seems we have some answers. But questions still remain. How is this possible? WandaVision itself calls Peters appearance a recast. But is that all it is? Does it suggest a multiverse? Who knows.
The writing is strong throughout. It has to weave from traditional sitcom writing into the Marvel universe. This is harder than it sounds and the show manages to do it very effectively. There is a palpable sense of mystery and eeriness throughout that makes it very bingeable television. It’s a shame that the episodes are coming out week-to-week but I guess Disney have got to keep the hype train rolling.
The show is well worth the watch and a refreshing story within the MCU. It avoids many of the common trappings like universe-ending stakes and a giant beam in the sky. If you enjoy bits of television history, dad jokes, and some of your favourite characters returning, this is the show for you.
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