WandaVision surprisingly takes Marvel to a new level

CAMERON DELEAN

Staff Writer

The Marvel Cinematic Universe just released a new addition to the mix, WandaVision, on the streaming service Disney+. WandaVision has taken over the internet with an unlikely combination: sitcoms and superheroes. However, the seemingly wholesome content took a dark turn early on in the series. 

Taking place in Westview, New Jersey, we follow the misadventures of Wanda Maximoff, played by Elizabeth Olsen, and Vision, played by Paul Bettany. WandaVision is the first series in Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The show premiered Jan. 15, 2021 with new episodes being released every Friday until March 5, 2021. 

The series starts with Wanda and Vision living an average domestic life in the suburbs in the 1950s with lighthearted plots and antics. However, with each passing episode, more details begin to reveal themselves that lead the audience to believe that there is much more than meets the eye in WandaVision. The show takes place after the most recent Avengers movie, Avengers: Endgame (2019), and the events in the show explain what these beloved superheroes have been up to since the passing events.

This show is unlike anything Marvel fans have seen before. It’s an all new format and on a new platform. However, the response has been positive for the most part, receiving a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes and 8.2/10 IMDb.

The twists and turns of WandaVision have left Marvel fans at the edge of their seats, completely unsure of what’s to come next. The internet has circulated new theories after each episode. Fans have speculated what characters will make appearances, along with connecting plot points in the show with ones in the comics. I think WandaVision has connected Marvel fans in a way that hasn’t been done before. Never before have fans been able to guess the direction the plot was taking in real time. The creators of the show haven’t given any indication of what’s coming next, so it is all speculation at this point. 

I was unsure of what to think of the series when Marvel originally announced its release. I was hesitant to watch because I worried it would diminish the integrity of the characters and movies I had grown to love. However, this show has been a pleasant surprise in that it has constantly kept myself and others guessing while also being a major plot driver in the larger MCU story. 

Marvel is notorious for leaving clues in their movies, and WandaVision is no exception to this. Each episode feels like a scavenger hunt, because in WandaVision every minuscule detail matters, even down to the color of a flower. I’ve had to rewatch episodes several times just to make sure I caught everything. 

Being a fan of WandaVision has been an experience. I have had to make sure on the day of a new episode release, that I stay off the internet until I can make time to watch it. Most episodes leave on vague yet intense cliffhangers, but the anticipation and build up are always worth the wait. And along with that payoff, I’ve liked seeing the creative jokes and memes people have come up with online.

After every new episode is released, TikTok, Twitter and Instagram are flooded with spoilers and memes in a matter of hours. Although avoiding spoilers has been a daunting task, I’ve enjoyed being a WandaVision fan. I have learned much more about the comics and I feel a deeper connection to the Marvel community. Also the references made to other MCU movies in WandaVision have rekindled my love for the older movies. 

I was definitely hesitant about the new MCU content being on a streaming platform as opposed to being seen in theaters, but the quality of WandaVision is up to par with the rest of the Marvel movies while being unique and refreshing. Because of how much I’ve enjoyed WandaVision, I am excited to see the other shows that are going to come out of Phase Four. To me, WandaVision has served as the perfect transition into this new-age of the MCU, paying tribute to old characters while introducing us to a plethora of new ones.