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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 Episode 3 Review

After careful deliberation and consulting my knowledge of the history of Marvel comics, I believe that I have come to a conclusion as to what’s going on in WandaVision. Yeah, it’s all Wanda’s doing; she trapped an entire town in a reality-altering bubble so she can have her happy life with Vision. And the twins. They now magically have twins.

If you know Wanda’s history in the comics, this will make a lot more sense. If not, then buckle up. This is going to get weird. I love the 70’s intro, though.

Unexpected Twins

After Wanda forcibly reset her ideal life at the end of last episode, the show moved into the full color of the 70s. The big difference, though, was that now she was unexpectedly pregnant with twins!

Normally, the birth of twins would be a cause for excitement and celebration. In a sitcom about a synthezoid and a pseudo-magical girl, though, it leads to hijinks. As Wanda’s pregnancy rapidly progresses due to her magic, she starts messing things up around the house. By the time Vision goes to get the doctor again, Wanda’s gone into labor. Fortunately, “Geraldine” helps deliver the twins safely. Bada bing, Wanda and Vision have two boys: Tommy and Billy!

Like I said, this should be cause for celebration. But the viewers note that more cracks are beginning to form in Wanda’s dream life. And more people are beginning to notice.

Something is Wrong in Westview

The first thing that shows something’s wrong is how fast Wanda goes from pregnant into labor: a few hours. Even factoring in magic or superpowers, that’s not normal! But it’s more than that, though. Vision starts to catch on that something is very, very wrong in Westview, bringing up the unexplained occurences in the previous episodes. The fact that Wanda begins to panic as he mentions them only confirms my supsicions: Wanda is actively fighting any attempts to break whatever is going on. At one point, she even rewinds events so that Vision never brings up these supsicions.

The biggest clue we got as to what’s happening doesn’t even come from the main characters, though. It comes from the supporting cast. Several people in Westview make comments on how strange things are, or how hard it is to escape. And then “Geraldine” drops a bombshell when she mentions how Wanda’s brother was killed by Ultron. In the next scene, Wanda coldly tells a confused Vision that “Geraldine” had to leave. Then the setting (and camera angles) bring us back to reality as we see “Geraldine” being flung out of some kind of bubble.

Based on this, I was able to figure out some important details about the mystery of the show. Westview is, in fact, a real location, and most, if not all, of the people living there real people. Given how scared they are, I can only assume that they were unwillingly dragged into whatever crazy mess is going on. And on some level, they seem to be aware of the danger they’re in and are trying to escape.

Bottom line, whatever’s happening to Wanda is worse than we could have imagined.

What of the Twins?

But what of the twins, Tommy and Billy? Are they real, or are they a product of this illusion? The most likely answer is, yes and no.

In my previous review, I mentioned how Wanda had kids that were erased from existence. There’s a reason why: they were fragments to the soul of a very powerful, demonic entity. When he reabsorbed them, they ceased to exist. However, they ended up reincarnating as two teenagers who would become the superheroes Wiccan and Speed.

When the series inevitably ends and we uncover the mystery of WandaVision, will the twins end up ceasing to exist. Or will they mirror their comic book counterparts and reincarnate? Either way, this is a big bombshell to drop on us.

I don’t know what’s going to happen next, but I think that every MCU fan should be paying attention to this. It’s going to lead big changes going forward.

I Give “Now in Color” A 5/5

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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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