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The Falcon and the Winter Soldier Episode 1 Review

It’s been two weeks since the end of WandaVision. The show that took the world by storm and ushered us into Phase 4 of the MCU. In this post-Endgame MCU, everyone’s trying to find their way in a world without the Avengers, no Iron Man, and Steve Rogers an old man. A world where 3.5 billion came back after five years of being dead and loved ones died or moved on. And amidst the great action of the opening to The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, its clear that finding a new normal’s easier said than done.

Falcon Struggles to Fly

When we last saw Sam Wilson, he was with the now-elderly Steve Rogers. Steve got his happy ending, returning to the past and living his life with Peggy like he deserved. However, he made sure to pass on his mantle to Sam, who has all the right qualities. He’s selfless, he’s skilled, charismatic, and he’s got those sweet wings! Plus, he was Captain America for a while in the comics, so it makes sense.

So what does the Falcon do? He…donates Cap’s shield to the Smithsonian.

Following a very epic opening sequence in which the Falcon takes down a terrorist cell in the skies of Tunisia, he hands Cap’s shield over to the Smithsonian, saying it belongs to Steve Rogers, not him. And we can understand why. He feels like he’s not worthy of becoming the next Captain America, the man who helped save the universe. However, I think many would disagree. Sam Wilson has proven himself more than worthy of being Steve’s successor. But from his perspective, he may not feel worthy. He’s still struggling to find his place in this post-Blip world, trying to help his sister keep the family business afloat. And as it turns out, being a superhero doesn’t qualify for a bank to give you a loan. Which is utter garbage; Sam helped save the universe, I think that deserves a loan from a bank!

So, yeah, the Falcon is trying to fly in this new world, but is being grounded by his insecurities and the problems of life.

Winter Soldier Has PTSD

At first glance, it looks like Bucky Barnes is doing better. The government pardoned him for his time as a brainwashed HYDRA assassin and for the crimes Zemo framed him for. He’s doing his best to make amends for what he did as the Winter Soldier. The only condition is that he has to undergo therapy to help him with his mental state. It seems like life’s good for him.

It isn’t. Despite knowing that he wasn’t in control of himself when he did it, Bucky is still haunted by his life as HYDRA’s fist. His first appearance onscreen shows performing an assassination mission, and then killing a random civilian who had the misfortune of seeing him. And yet, he lies to his therapist and says that he doesn’t have nightmares and just wants a normal life again. Before he joined the army in World War II.

It’s heartbreaking to see Bucky still suffering even after everything that he’s been through. He went to war almost eighty years ago, and even though its long over, he never came back. And even though he wants it, he pushes away the people who want to help him. It’s both frustrating and sad to see take place.

But you know what really made me sad? This old man that Bucky was friends with, Mr. Nakajima? Bucky learns that it was his son that he killed in that flashback to years ago, and you can just feel how guilty he is. It looks like he wants to admit it, but is terrified Mr. Nakajima will hate him for it. Please, Universe, give Bucky a hug. He deserves it.

Meet the New Captain America US Agent

So, remember how Sam Wilson said no one could step into the shoes of Captain America? It turns out, the US Government doesn’t see it like that. And with a bunch of anarchists called the Flag-Smashers running around, they want a new symbol to rally behind. So, they get someone new to become Captain America.

I swore, I could feel my eye twitching as I saw that happen in the last moments of the episode. The rational part of my brain admits that the US Government has the right to appoint a new Captain America. They gave Steve Rogers the title and the shield, so they should have the right to appoint someone knew. However, the emotional part of me reacted the same way Sam did: with disgust. Disgust at the fact that they’re disregarding Steve’s wishes. Their failure to recognize that Captain America needs to stand not for the American Government, but for the best ideals America represents. And the fact that it’s not Steve, Sam, or Bucky wielding the shield.

If you’re wondering who the new guy is, he’s John Walker. In the comics, he goes by US Agent, and before that, he once served as Captain America. However, John was not the most stable of people as Cap, and he ultimately gave up that role. If the MCU version’s anything like he is in the comics, then he’s going to be a soldier who obeys the whims of the government itself. And the government doesn’t always make the best decisions.

Great Start

We’re only on the first episode of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and the show’s already off to a great start. After dealing with the dramedy of WandaVision for months, it’s nice to return to the action and suspense that made the MCU the hit franchise it is today. While the show only has six episodes in total, the pilot tells me that it’s going to be packed with plenty of action, along with the small, personal moments that will help humanize the characters. And after what we’ve seen in WandaVision and Spider-Man: Homecoming, I want to know what the world is like post-Endgame.

I Give “New World Order” a 4/5

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WandaVision Episode 9 Review

Well, everyone, it’s finally over. Nine weeks, six decades of sitcoms, twists and turns around every corner, and it’s over. We’re at the series finale of WandaVision. So, did we get everything that we wanted out of the series finale? No, we didn’t. My theory about Pietro turned out to be wrong, but more on that later. But unlike some shows whose series finales can leave us disappointed (*cough* Game of Thrones *cough*), there’s not much to be dissappointed about here. It’s Marvel; we know that there’s going to be more to the story later on, so the story will continue. Ergo, I’m reviewing each part of the finale and where the show goes from here. It’s series finale time.

Wanda Embraces Her Identity…

The whole concept of WandaVision has been that Wanda’s trying to escape from the reality she’s been stuck with. One where her parents are dead, her brother’s dead, and Vision’s dead. She couldn’t deal with that, so she created the Hex. But no matter how much she wants to run from it, she has to learn to accept her reality. What she’s doing to Westview is wrong, and she can’t ignore that anymore. After Agatha continues to prod her and free everyone from her thrall, Wanda finally undoes the Hex. More importantly, though, Wanda chooses to embrace the role Agatha claims she’s meant to fulfill. She is now the Scarlet Witch.

I mentally freaked out when I first saw Wanda’s Scarlet Witch outfit. It’s a perfect synergy of the classic look and what she’s known to wear in the MCU. However, it’s also very dark and foreboding looking. You go, girl!

…But Says Goodbye to Her Family For Now

Ultimately, Wanda manages to come to terms with what’s going on around her. The Hex must come to an end, even though this means saying goodbye to her Vision and sons. They all know what this means, but they all accept this. They understand that this is the only way things can be set right. And with the end of the Hex, Tommy, Billy, and the Hex Vision fade out of existence.

I don’t buy that for a second! I don’t know how, but Tommy and Billy are going to return in some form or another. Having developed powers similar to their mom and uncle, Marvel likely means for them to become the next generation of heroes. The Young Avengers will rise one day, and they will be a part of it!

As for Vision, even though the one Wanda made is gone, he managed to do some good. He managed to talk down the original Vision that Hayward reanimated, and unlocked all of his memories. And then, White Vision left. Like, just leaves and goes somewhere else.

So, the good news is, Vision ended up coming back for real. However, the series finale gives us no clue as to where he’s gone. I have a feeling that we’ll see him in the future of the MCU, though. He’s too good a character to be forgotten.

Jerks Get Punished

There’s not much to say here. The two antagonists of this miniseries, Hayward and Agatha, get what they deserve. Thanks to Darcy and Jimmy Woo, Hayward’s illegal actions (bringing back Vision as a sentient weapon, risking the lives of everyone in Westview) are exposed, leading to him being arrested.

As for Agatha, Wanda gives her a more fitting punishment. While everyone else in Westview’s set free, she will remain trapped in the role she chose: that of the nosy neighbor. A fitting punishment for someone who tried to take power that didn’t belong to her. That said, I know that this is temporary. The MCU will compel Marvel to eventually release her when Wanda needs her. God help us when she’s freed.

Monica Flies Again

As for Monica, she came out of this story better than most. She helped save Wanda at her lowest point, and now she’s got superpowers of her own. And thanks to her help, Hayward’s going to be behind bars for some time. But Monica’s not meant to be grounded forever. In the mid-credits scene of the series finale, Monica’s approached by a Skrull disguised as an FBI agent. According to them, an old friend of their mom needs their help in space.

This is going to set us up for multiple routes here. On the one hand, Monica could end up being in the next Captain Marvel movie alongside her aunt Carol. On the other hand, she could be working with Nick Fury and Talos in the upcoming Secret Invasion series on Disney+. Either way, Monica’s journey to becoming a superhero’s already begun. Her mom would be proud.

By the way, Monica learned that that fake Pietro wasn’t anybody special. He was just some schmuck under Agatha’s control. No Pietro from another universe; just a dude with an embarassing last name.

Can’t Wait To See What’s Next

We shouldn’t be asking whether the series the finale to WandaVision was good. Instead, we should be asking about what’s next for the MCU. This is only the first step to Phase 4 of the MCU, one that’s going to include a new Spider-Man film, the Black Widow film, and so many miniseries and shows. But above all, it’s going to be building up to one movie that everyone can’t wait to see: Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness. This show’s going to tie directly into that upcoming movie. It’s not known how she’ll affect it, but Wanda’s going to be playing a role in the next Doctor Strange movie. The question is whether or not she’ll be a hero or villain? I’m honestly hoping for the former, but the latter would be interesting.

Either way, this was a fitting sendoff to the first big show of 2021. Thanks for the memories, WandaVision. But question: what happened to that S.W.O.R.D. Agent that got in through the sewers?

I Give “Series Finale” a 3.9/5

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WandaVision Episode 8 Review

Ever since WandaVision started, fans have been relentlessly asking questions about it. Is someone controlling Wanda and making her do this? How the heck did Pietro and Vision come back? Is Agnes really Agatha Harkness? But do you know what the biggest question has been? It’s how did the event dubbed the “Westview Anomaly” start, and how did Wanda’s powers start acting like they were on steroids? Not one knew the answer to those last two; not even Wanda.

That changes with the penultimate episode. Naughty Agatha makes Wanda take a trip down memory lane that reveals the truth about the Westview Anomaly. And that’s only the start of the bombshells we get this week.

*MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD! READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!*

We Learn About Agatha Harkness’ Past.

Even before we learned who she was, Kathryn Hahn’s role as Agatha Harkness has been the breakout role of WandaVision. She can go from serious and threatening to pleading for mercy to deliciously evil and hammy at the drop of the hat; her reveal song “Agatha All Along” went viral and hit the top of the charts on iTunes. But who is she, exactly?

Like in the comics, Agatha’s a centuries old witch who lived all the way back in Salem. However, in the MCU, her coven turned on her when she started using powerful dark magic. When they tried to kill her for it, she killed them instead. By accident.

While Agatha hasn’t outright stated her goal for messing with the Westview Anomaly, I have a theory. Remember the Yo-Magic Commercial? I think Agatha’s trying to leech off of Wanda, the most powerful magic user she’s ever seen, and drain her magic power for herself. I mean, if I was a power-hungry lady, that’s what I would do.

But that doesn’t answer the question: what is the Westview Anomaly, and how did Wanda create it?

It’s Always Been Wanda

For years, everyone thought that Wanda got her powers from the Mind Stone, one of the six Infinity Stones. And we bought that idea so easily; hell, I thought the Westview Anomaly was the result of her Infinity Stone based powers evolving. However, this episode revealed something big. It seems that Wanda’s always had latent magic powers in her. On the night her parents died and that shell lay in her living room, it never went off. Wanda thought it was defective; however, Agatha think she used magic to make it happen.

As much as I hate to admit it, Agatha might be right. At one point in the comics, Wanda was said to use very powerful magic. Now imagine that power being permanently juice by an Infinity Stone. Suddenly, the fact that Wanda can warp reality becomes very feasible.

Wanda’s Life of Trauma

So, when the Westview Anomaly was created, why did Wanda make it based off of various sitcoms? Because those sitcoms were her security blanket in an otherwise hellish life.

As it turns out, Wanda’s dad was a fan of old American sitcoms, and he would have the family sit down and watch some every now and then. Seeing how the characters in those shows only had to deal with silly, easily solvable problems made her want to have that kind of life. Instead, the universe seemed to want to continually screw her over. And when she found out about what S.W.O.R.D. did to Vision’s body, she seemed to steal it before creating the Westview Anomaly.

Or did she steal Vision’s body?

Hayward Started Everything

Hayward lied to everyone from the beginning. He made it look like Wanda stole Vision’s remains against his wishes, brought him, and created the Westview Anomaly. But he lied to everyone, and this episode proves it.

In one of the biggest twists to this miniseries, we learn that Wanda never broke into S.W.O.R.D. HQ; Hayward let her in so she could see what they were doing to Vision. She wanted to take his body, but only so she could lay him to rest; and Hayward refused, and gave her the idea of creating a fantasy life where Vision was alive.

The Vision we’ve seen in WandaVision isn’t the real one! He’s a construct created by Wanda’s magic, which is why he can’t survive outside the Westview Anomaly. But if that’s true, then what about the real Vision? It turns out, Hayward’s using all the events going on to get a hold of some of Wanda’s power so he can bring Vision back to life as an emotionless weapon. And he’s succeeded.

In the short time I’ve know Director Hayward, he’s proven to be a callous, deceitful, trigger-happy jerk. Now, he’s willing to risk the lives of everyone in the Westview Anomaly to test out his unholy new toy? That’s messed up on so many levels! Worse, if the comics are anything to go by, then the newly returned Vision will possess no emotions whatsoever. He’ll be a pitiless weapon, the kind that he sought to prevent himself from becoming.

The Big Finale Approaches.

So, to recap, Agatha’s revealed herself to be an evil witch. She’s holding Tommy and Billy hostage and is trying to exploit the power of the Westview Anomaly for her own purposes. And now Hayward’s sending Wanda’s real undead ex to off her. So, yeah, next week’s finale should be pretty amazing to watch.

I honestly have no clue how things are going to turn out, but I can imagine a lot of jaw-dropping moments and some good old fashioned fighting between heroes and villains. It’s gonna be great.

As for this episode, I never thought I’d say this, but I think there was too much exposition for me to deal with. After last week, it felt like this episode fell a little flat for me. Though, to be fair, this show has a pretty high bar to begin with.

I Give “Previously On…” A 3.5/5

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So, last week on WandaVision gave us a lot to deal with. Pietro’s back from the dead, Wanda’s fully aware that she’s created a sitcom world for herself and told S.W.O.R.D. to stay the hell away. Tommy and Billy are tweens. All the people of Westview are trapped in their own bodies. Did I mention Pietro’s back?

If the last episode blew the Internet’s mind, then this episode throws into a vat of acid. Three things you need to know about this review, people. Firstly, I’m going to unpack as much as I can. Second, major spoiler alert. Thirdly, this episode is peak 90s-2000s and I love it. It’s the millennial sitcom’s time!

Pietro Knows

So, you know how some shows have that character who’s aware of the medium they’re in and actively calls out the tropes? This episode sees Pietro establish himself as that guy for this fake sitcom. He knows that his role is to be an agent of chaos and disruptive influence in Westview because that’s what Wanda wants. So he plays the part, and plays it perfectly, even bringing up the sitcom formula: “Big Guy has a conflict. Twins need a father figure for the night. Don’t sweat it sis. I got the old XY chromosome.”

Pietro fits his role so perfectly, it’s unsettling. Made even more so by the fact that he’s aware of his death, and how he’s suddenly come back. It’s crazy. I’m not even sure if this is the real Pietro or is someone else; an imposter?

Tommy and Billy Have Powers

The title says it all: Tommy and Billy have inherited powers from their parents. Tommy’s got his uncle’s super-speed, and Billy got his mom’s Mind Stone based powers.

This is a big deal as it is, but it could also lead to long-term consequences for the MCU. In the comics, Tommy and Billy become the superheroes Speed and Wiccan. The fact that they have powers only affirms that whatever happens at the end, they’re going to have a role in the future of the MCU

I Don’t Trust Hayward

After the stunt he pulled last episode, any trust I had in Hayward’s good intentions was strained. After this episode, though, it’s gone completely! He makes it clear he’s determined to take down Wanda no matter what, and benches Monica, Jimmy, and Darcy when they object. Then, we learn that he’s found a way to track Vision in the Hex, but kept it a secret! He’s up to something!

Here’s my new theory: he doesn’t actually care about saving Westview. He just wants Vision back for some ulterior motive. I don’t know how S.W.O.R.D. got his body, but I don’t think they had the best of intentions with it. And given how this episode saw Hayward care more about Vision than anyone’s safety, he’s not done with him yet.

The Hex Expands

During the whole episode, Vision takes the opportunity to explore more of Westview and learns some disturbing things. For starters, anyone who isn’t in Wanda’s field of view is trapped frozen in place. Literal background characters without any roles to play. Now partially aware of what’s going on, Vision tries to leave the Hex to get help from S.W.O.R.D, leading to a very disturbing moment in which we see him begin to disintegrate in front of everyone.

So, in response, Wanda expands the Hex. That’s right, she grows the area of the Westview Hex, enveloping the S.W.O.R.D. base and most of the personnel in her fake world.

This is bad. Really, really bad. If Wanda’s capable of expanding the Hex like that, then there’s no telling how far she could take it! What if it gets to the point where she tries to cover the entire world in her spell?

Is Wanda Fully Responsible?

There’s an interesting question that’s been going around since the start of the show: is Wanda the sole person responsible for what’s happening? Her powers have never been this strong before, and while they reached similar levels in the comics, that was because they got juiced up by outside sources. I think the same thing may be happening here.

The evidence? This commercial. While all the other fake commercials have been about key moments in Wanda’s life, this isn’t, and it’s far darker.

I think someone, or something’s, sucking on Wanda’s powers for their own benefit. This would make sense since even Wanda doesn’t know how the Hex came to be. Or this could all be pure conjecture on the fans part. Either way, things are getting insane.

Things are Falling Apart

As we inch closer and closer to the finale for WandaVision, we see Wanda’s attempts to create her dream life begin to fall apart. Regardless, everything’s going to end up coming to a head, and it’s going to chance the MCU.

By the time the dust settles, I think we’re going to be looking back at one of the craziest things Marvel’s ever done. I loved this episode, and its Malcolm in the Middle vibes and sense of humor, and eagerly await to see where things go from here.

I Give “All-New Halloween Spooktacular” a 5/5

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WandaVision Episode 5 Review

“On a Very Special Episode…”. How appropriate of a title for the new episode of WandaVision. In a show that’s already proven to be an insane mind-screw, Marvel just managed to kick things up to newer, crazier heights this week. On a very special episode of WandaVision, the wall between Westview and the world at large begins to crumble before we get a bombshell ending that could change the MCU forever.

THIS IS YOUR FIRST AND ONLY WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD. IF YOU HAVE NOT WATCHED WANDAVISION YET, DO SO NOW!

Vision Knows

We all knew that Vision would eventually learn the truth. Since episode 3, he’s been becoming aware that something’s wrong in Westview. But in this episode, Vis learns that Wanda’s controlling everyone in town. In a particularly terrifying scene, Vision frees the real personality of the townsperson called Norm, and we learn that the people of Westview remain fully aware of what’s going on, but can’t do anything about it. They’re prisoners in their own body, and it seems that Wanda’s the Warden.

Wanda tries to deny everything at first, but that only makes Vision angry. We’ve never seen him angry before; and he has every right to be. It turns out, he can’t remember anything from his life before Westview; Wanda’s blocking his memories to protect him from the knowledge that he’s dead. That, and this episode confirms why the Avengers didn’t try to bring him back: he didn’t want to be. He won’t be happy to learn that Wanda disregarded his wishes.

Wanda’s Fully Aware of What’s Happening.

When the show started, it was left ambigious as to how aware Wanda was of what’s going on. Some thought that she’s doing everything without realizing it. This episode, though, eliminates that ambiguity for good. After S.W.O.R.D. uses an old drone to talk to her (and the director tries to off her) she leaves Westview to confront S.W.O.R.D. directly.

Her only message to them: stay out of Westview or she’ll tear them all apart.

If you’ve followed Wanda’s journey through the MCU thus far, then you’ll know that her life’s been one big conga line of trauma. She lost her parents at age 10. Her brother was killed by Ultron. She tried to be a hero, but became a fugitive, only to find love with Vision. Then Thanos took him away from her.

I saw the look in Wanda’s eyes: she’s done letting the universe take things away from her. Now, she wants to take back from the universe, something I’d understand. That said, she’s dragged an entire town of innocent people into her despair and pain. She needs help before she crosses a line that she can’t turn back from.

Unfortunately for the multiverse, she may have already done that.

“She Recast Pietro?!”

Here it is, folks: the moment that could change the MCU forever. In the final moments of the episode, Wanda, Vision, S.W.O.R.D., and viewers at home got the mother of all bombshells when a very special episode ended with a very special new arrival: Pietro, back from the dead.

Except, it’s not the MCU’s Pietro.

Somehow, instead of the MCU Pietro, we got a new one, played by Evan Peters. If you’ve never seen the X-Men films, then Peters plays Pietro in that now-defunct franchise. The fact that there were two Pietro’s was due to Fox being its own separate entity at the time, but now that Disney owns them (and thus the rights to the X-Men), fans expect the X-Men to eventually join the MCU. The question was how, though? Would they be new iterations of the X-Men, or would the original franchise somehow migrate to the MCU. Given how Marvel seems keen on making Phase 4 the time to explore the greater multiverse, it may end up being the latter. And we could have just seen the first step to that.

I’m serious. People are going crazy all over the Internet, coming up with theories that somehow, the X-Men franchise is in a separate universe that will merge with the MCU, giving us the Mutants and X-Men. However, does this mean that this their Quicksilver, or an illusion constructed by Wanda’s powers. Or is Kevin Feige and Marvel trolling us? I have no clue, but I’m more invested in ever with this show!

A Very Special Episode, Indeed

There are so many ways that WandaVision could end right now, and all of them will change the MCU forever. One way or another, Marvel’s going all in with the next phase of their cinematic universe, and I am loving it. This is the kind of show that fans will be talking about for years to come.

If you haven’t watched this show yet, then go get Disney+ and watch it. It’s worth every penny!!

I Give “On A Very Special Episode” a 5/5

Stray Observations

• Okay, I know these commercials are recapping important and traumatic moments in Wanda’s life, but this is stretching it.

• I was very disturbed by how Tommy and Billy magically aged themselves up.

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WandaVision Episode 4 Review

We interrupt this program of your weekly dose of WandaVision to bring you this important news bulletin: I TOTALLY CALLED IT ABOUT WANDAVISION!!

No, seriously. I was right about my theory about the show: Wanda’s created a sitcom fantasy world to live out her dream life with Vision, who is still dead! The truth. Will. SHOCK YOU! Prepare for spoilers from beyond this point.

S.W.O.R.D. and the Rambeau Family

The episode starts off concurrently with the events of Avengers: Endgame, as we learn that Monica Rambeau (who we last saw as a kid in Captain Marvel) was one of the people Thanos snapped away, only to come back. In the chaos that followed, we learn a sad truth: Maria Rambeau, died of cancer in the five years between Infinity War and Endgame.

It was lightly touched upon in Spiderman: Far from Home how the actions of Thanos and their reversal had unimaginable socio-political fallout. Families were torn apart, never to be put back together. Jobs were lost, homes were lost. It’s just flat out cruel. I hope that, in the future, the MCU will explore the social fallout of “the Snap,” but for now, Monica has a job to do.

Quick background: S.W.O.R.D. is a sister organization to S.H.I.E.L.D., but the former focuses on threats from deep space. In-universe, Maria Rambeau founded it after Captain Marvel. But after the events of Thanos, they switched focus to dealing with sentient weapons and AI. Which is what leads Monica to Westview, New Jersey and for this to happen.

We Interrupt this Program

As a result of Monica’s disappearance, S.W.O.R.D. and every branch of the armed forces show up. And as the events of the previous episodes progress, they piece together everything that’s going on.

Firstly, we learn that all the characters are, in fact, the residents of Westview. They’re unwilling actors in this “show”. Secondly, any attempts to enter Westview result in objects or people conforming to the setting of the show. Finally, we confirm something that I already knew: Wanda’s fighting against any incursions into her perfect life. Case in point, she throws Monica out of the bubble world.

I’m still not sure if Wanda’s aware of what she’s doing, but on some level, she knows. She knows that Vision is dead, but she’s in denial. And that denial has led to her creating this sitcom world for herself, complete with a reanimated Vision. It’s a sickening sight to behold, and I won’t show you the image.

What’s the Plan Now?

So, now that S.W.O.R.D. knows that Wanda’s the one behind this sitcom, what will they do now? They have to find some way to interrupt this program and turn everything back to normal. But that’s the thing: I don’t know how.

No, seriously. I knew going in how this came about; it’s resolving it that I’m in the dark over. I mean, I have a few ideas, but that’s about it. I do know one thing, though: as WandaVision heads into the 1980s, things are going to keep falling apart even further.

In the meantime, I recommend you watch this show. It’s the first big show of 2021 and it needs to be nominated for an Emmy ASAP!

I Give “We Interrupt this Program” a solid 4.8/5

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WandaVision Episodes 1 & 2 Review

After a year of laying dormant due to COVID-19, the MCU makes its glorious return today with its new mini-series, WandaVision. I got up bright and early this morning so I could watch the first two episodes. Then I subsequently spent the rest of the day rewatching it. I had to come up with theories about the underlying mystery of the show. And laugh at all the classic sitcom tropes the show was satirizing.

Thank God DuckTales! got me ready last year with the episode ‘Quack Pack’. This is my review for WandaVision.

Two Decades of Cheesy Sitcoms Rolled into One Hour

The last time we saw Wanda was at Tony Stark’s funeral in Avengers: Endgame. The last time we saw Vision, though, was when Thanos killed him via ripping out the Mind Stone in his head. Now, we see them as a married couple in a place called Westview, a place that functions like the sitcoms of 1950s and 60s. And from there, WandaVision spends most of the first two episodes acting like the Dick Van Dyke Show, I Love Lucy, and I Dream of Jeannie.

I will be honest with you guys, there’s only two ways you’re going to go with the sitcom setting: you’ll either love it, or you’ll keep thinking “Oh my God, this is so cringe!” I hate to say it, but I was in the latter camp for the first episode.

Sue me, I don’t exactly like the culture of 1950s America. It was the time when people thought the American dream was white picket-fences and traditional families, and the conservative humor. I sat through episode 1 asking myself “is this really what passed as humor back then? Was this the kind of thing my grandparents watched?”

Admittedly, it got better as episode two brought us into the 60s and the humor became less forced and more natural. However, being thrown into a stereotypical sitcom may seem cheesy and off-putting to some. But I think it’s also the biggest strength to WandaVision.

The show writers clearly wanted to not only capture the aesthetic of sitcoms of the era, but poke fun at it. Everything from laugh tracks to over-bearing bosses and nosy neighbors gets made fun of, and I love it. In other words, it’s so bad, it’s good. Also, bonus points for the fake commercials!

Not What it Seems

From the get go, we know that something’s wrong. Very wrong. The fact that Vision’s still alive is proof enough, but we can already see cracks forming in the idyllic world of WandVision. First, it’s the little things, like how Wanda and Vision can’t remember their wedding or where they’re from . But it’s when some of the people of Westview start to press them for answers that things get dark. In one instance in episode 1 as Wanda and Vision have dinner with Vision’s boss, the man starts choking. And the whole time, his wife just laughs and says “stop it,” like a broken record. But then, the moment passes, and things return to normal.

Fans have pretty much figured out that this takes place in some Twilight Zone fantasy bubble-world. The question, though, is how did this happen. Here’s my theory. With Thanos dead and nothing to distract her from the (from her perspective) still raw aftermath of Vision’s death, Wanda had a nervous breakdown. So her subconscious had her alter reality to make this dream world where Vision was still alive and she could have her happily ever after. The thing is, she’s consciously unaware that she’s responsible for the world of Westview. Thus, in order to keep her sanity intact, she’ll unknowingly fight any attempts to get her out of her dream world.

Legacy of House of M

If you’re skeptical about this, or that Wanda is capable of that much power, I have the comics to back me up. Wanda’s got a history of mental instability, with her powers previously being able to rewrite the entire universe, having done so on two ocassions. The first time was in 2004 in the Avengers Disassembled storyline. Driven insane by a cosmic entity and remembering the children she had who were erased from existence, Wanda nearly destroyed the Avengers. While she was eventually subdued, her actions led to the Avengers temporarily disbanding. But that was nothing compared to what happened next.

When it looked like the heroes would kill Wanda to stop her from threatening existence, her brother urged her to rewrite all reality. The result? A world where everyone had their dream lives and Mutant’s reigned on top. Then, when everything was put right, she uttered three words that changed the Marvel Universe for years to come.

She turned 98% of all Mutants into normal humans. That’s how powerful she was! And MCU Wanda could end up being on that level!

A Great Start to Phase 4

No matter what my feelings are regarding WandaVision right now, I think that it’s a great start to Phase 4 of the MCU. It’s surreal, it’s mysterious, it’s funny and satirical, and it has a hint of horror to it. And with what Disney has planned for the MCU this year, this is only the beginning to something new. WandaVision is going to be a great start to the long-awaited next chapter to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I think it’s the first big show of 2021, and if you have Disney+, go watch it!

I Give “Episode 1” and “Episode 2” a 3.5/5 and 4/5

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Things that came to an end in 2019

In my look ahead at 2019 that I did at the end of last year, then you’ll recall what I dubbed 2019. I called it “the Year of Endings.” The name came from the fact that several great stories in the form of movies, shows, and games would be ending this year. It felt appropriate.

With the year now largely wrapped up, I decided to take a look back on everything that came to an end. In addition, I wanted to share my thoughts about the way these things ended. Too often have I seen a good story ruined by a bad ending.

Infinity Saga

When Iron Man came out in 2008, I don’t anyone knew what it was starting. As a result of that film, a cinematic universe the likes of which had never been done was born. Now fast forward to 2019, and supeheroes dominate our culture, with Marvel capping off one of the most ambitious stories in history: the Infinity Saga.

I’ve been a fan of Marvel since I was a kid. So when I saw Thanos appear in that mid-credits scene in Avengers, I knew what Marvel was building to. However, never in my wildest dreams did I expect the Infinity Saga to end like it did. The franchise had plenty of high moments, a few low points, but through it all, it remained an incredible ride. The final clash between the Avengers and Thanos was one of the greatest moments in cinematic history. As a result of the MCU, I don’t think our culture will ever be the same again, and I’m happy about that.

Game of Thrones

Game of Thrones was, without a doubt, the definitive show of the decade. Based on George R.R. Martin’s books and inspired by Shakespeare’s plays, this show gave us a modern spin on a medieval world. The sheer amount of success it’s had is mind-boggling. From giving dozens of actors their big break, to all the memes and references in pop culture, Game of Thrones was a show that only came around once a generation. Then, we got the finale.

If you’ve read my reviews for the final season, then you know how I thought it was a let-down. Yeah, all the characters I hated died, but the way they did made it feel like a hollow victory. While I don’t agree with how the show ended, I’ve since come to a conclusion. While I think the final season could have been done better, I don’t think it changes the fact that Game of Thrones is one of the best shows ever made. The ride alone made the whole thing worth it in the end. Also, I could at least celebrate Littlefinger’s death.

Kingdom Hearts: The Xehanort Saga

Fourteen years. That’s how long fans had been waiting for Kingdom Hearts 3 to come out. In that time, we had to go through several mid-quels, prequels, and remasterings. However, in January 2019, Square Enix finally gave us the final chapter in the Xehanort Saga for their crossover RPG, Kingdom Hearts.

Personally, I enjoyed Kingdom Hearts III. I loved the updated graphics, the new game play mechanics, and the new worlds based on Disney properties that we could explore. However, my enthusiasm for it was marred by my belief that Square Enix delayed it longer than necessary. Then when I got to the end and saw what happened, I felt more frustrated than sad with how it turned out. Despite this, I still think Kingdom Hearts is one of my all-time favorite series.

Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

After forty-two years, eleven movies, and hours worth of content, it seems that Star Wars is dropping the curtain on the Skywalkers. After Disney bought Lucasfilm in 2012, they announced their intent to create a Sequel Trilogy, culminating in the release of The Rise of Skywalker earlier this month. The film’s supposed to put an end to the story of Skywalker family. However, I don’t buy it for a second.

Ever since The Rise of Skywalker was announced, people talk like its the end of the franchise. In reality, that couldn’t be further from the truth! Star Wars proved a long time ago that it can tell great stories without involving the Skywalker family. In fact, some of the best content didn’t involve the Skywalkers or their friends at all! In other words, I see The Rise of Skywalker as the first chapter in a new era for a franchise that can go on for decades.

Star vs the Forces of Evil

This year saw one of the best cartoons put out in years come to an end. At one point, Star vs. the Forces of Evil was almost as popular as Steven Universe and Gravity Falls. However, that didn’t stop Disney from rushing bringing the show to a somewhat quiet end in May of this year. The question, though, is why I keep bringing this show up.

I think my obssession with Star vs. can be explained with three different reasons. Firstly, I think after being so thoroughly disappointed by it, I subconsciously transferred my love of Game of Thrones to Star vs as a means of coping. Secondly, I felt like Disney rushed to get the show’s final season out, throwing in multiple episodes in the span of a few weeks. As a result, it ended before we could get ready for it. Finally, I think that they could have told more stories in the show. Daron Nefcy has openly said she’d come back to do more with Star vs if Disney asked. Thus, I don’t think the story of Star Butterfly’s done just yet.

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

I used to think that My Little Pony was a toy line meant for little girls. Then I saw Rainbow Dash beat the snot out of Starscream on an episode of Death Battle. That made me realize that these ponies could actually be cool. After that, I got into the show, and ended up becoming a brony.

In October of this year, Discovery Family and Hasbro brought My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic to an end. However, unlike Game of Thrones or Star vs., this show came to an end on a very satisfying note. Discovery Family went out of its way to promote it by re-running every episode ever, and the finale managed to tie up any remaining plot threads. In other words, it had a good ending. Best of all, IDW Comics will be continuing the story in comic book form starting next year, so this won’t be the last time we see these characters. I thought it was great seeing one of the decade’s best cartoons go out on a high note, and I only wish other shows could do the same thing.

Happy New Year

Do you agree with my picks? What other great things came to an end in 2019 that I missed? Let me know in the comments below, and happy New Year.

Click here to see more stuff recapping past years.

My Plans for December 2019

Thanksgiving Day’s behind us and we survived Black Friday; and I hope the Force was with you if you went shopping. Now the holiday season’s here, and if you’ve followed RJ-Writing Ink since last year, you’ll remember what I did. I watched a holiday special a day, then reviewed it here. Now I’m here to say that I won’t be doing that again this year.

There are multiple reasons behind this. Firstly, trying to write a special a day got hectic for me. I still had to do my other posts, and it got a little difficult. Secondly, there are a few things that I want to focus on for this December. Thus, here are my plans for December 2019. I think you’ll find them taking you to a galaxy far, far away.

Star Wars Hype Build-Up

I don’t get as much of a chance to write about it here, but I’m a huge fan of Star Wars. I enjoy everything from the movies to the books, games, and lore. Despite my love of the franchise, I’ve been a skeptic about the sequel films since they started. However, I refuse to let my optimism be diminished. As such, I aim to make sure the Force is with me for December.

All throughout December, I’m going to be writing about all things Star Wars. There’s no set theme for this, as it can be about anything from the franchise. Some ideas I do have, though, include:

• Favorite Moments in Star Wars
• A look at the philosophies of the Jedi and Sith (and their flaws)
• Characters in Star Wars I’m a fan of
• Good things about the Star Wars prequels
• My biggest problems with the Star Wars sequels

All of this will lead up to my review of Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker. May the Force be with us this December.

A Look Back on 2019

If you’ll recall, I wrote a post at the end of last year calling 2019 “The Year of Endings.” The rationale being that this year saw the end of a lot things in pop culture. With the year coming to a close, I want to look on some of the things that came to an end this year. I’m not sure if this will be one post or a series of posts, but I can tell you that I plan to have it up between Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

To clarify, most of what I’ll be writing about will be things I’ve already written on RJ-Writing Ink.

A Look Back on the 2010s

For better or for worse, the 2010s were an eventful decade for humanity. From world-changing historic events to the rise of cultural icons, the 2010s were big. Thus, with the decade coming to a close, I felt it’s appropriate to look back on the big highlights.

Expanding on my look back on 2019, I’ll be writing on a number of topics. I already have some ideas in place:

• Biggest Global Events of the 2010s
• Best Movies of the 2010s
• Biggest moments for pop culture in the 2010s
• Best TV shows
• Best animated TV shows

There’s no set timetable for this, though. All I know is that I’ll be posting it throughout December.

Some Holiday Specials

Alright, I know I said that I wouldn’t be focusing on holiday specials this year. However, if I see a special or movie that I like, then I want to write about it. Don’t expect it to take up much of my blog, though.

May the Force Be With Us

Well, that’s everything that I wanted to say. In between all this, I’ll be doing posts on my regularly scheduled topics. May the Force be with you!

Click here for some of my Star Wars stuff.

Come here to see some of my Animanga stuff.

Click here to see my other animation stuff.

Once upon a time, we thought that Spider-Man was out of the MCU, and the fandom almost went to war over it. I even gave my two cents about the whole thing. Earlier today, though, we got a special announcement:

That is right, Spider-Man shall remain in the MCU for the time being. This has made fans go crazy with joy. I actually squealed in sheer happiness when I heard about this!

For those not aware, over the summer Disney and Sony’s deal over the use of Spider-Man fell apart. Sony owns Spider-Man and the film rights, so Disney has to give up most of the profits. They only got 5% and merchandising. Then they got dollar signs in their eyes and wanted half of what Sony was making, which led them to break off their deal.

I said that both sides were to blame, but I felt that Disney was being too greedy. Fortunately, it appears that the Mouse came to its senses and compromised. According to Variety, this new deal let’s them keep merchandising rights, but they only get a quarter the profits.

This is the best deal we could have gotten, and I think everyone will benefit. Tom Holland can keep playing his breakout role for a little longer. Sony gets to move forward with its own Spider-Plans, and Disney gets the hero who could be the MCU’s new anchor back. I’m happy with this!