The FinalBoss avengers have assembled for our WandaVision review. It will contain SPOILERS. If you have not watched WandaVision I’d advise you to fire up DisneyPlus and crack on. You can watch all nine episodes in less than five hours! If you keep reading there will be SPOILERS!!
WandaVision marks the beginning of Marvel’s phase 4, where for the first time television series will intertwine with the movies. The show follows Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) in the aftermath of Avengers Endgame and how she deals with her grief following the loss of Vision (Paul Bettany). They are now seemingly living a quiet life together in a small town, where they live next door to Agnes, played by Kathryn Hahn. The investigation into what is happening in the town is led by Monica Rambeau (Teyonnah Parris) and Josh Stamberg as SWORD director Tyler Haywood (Josh Stamberg). Reprising their MCU roles are Kat Dennings as Darcy and Randall Park as FBI Agent Jimmy Woo.
That’s the set-up, now let’s dive into our WandaVision review.
Firstly your thoughts on weekly episode releases vs dropping the whole show at once?
Callum – I prefer weekly drops. It builds up the anticipation for the next episode much more than having it just waiting for you in one lump. I’m not really much of a binge-watcher, so I am much more likely to keep up with something I’ve caught in the early seasons released like this than a show with 7 seasons and 20 episodes a season. Weekly drops and small seasons with short episodes are the way forward for me.
Jon – Funnily enough, I think if they had dropped the whole series at once, I wouldn’t have bothered any way past the second episode. But this approach intrigued me enough to see what was going to happen this week. Come to think of it, I guess that echoes the 1950/60s style of sitcoms that they parody so much.
Shaun – I like the weekly drops too. Make each episode into an event in its own right. You then get a whole week to speculate, theorise and generally work out what is going on and what might happen.
What’s your overall verdict on WandaVision?
Callum – I thought it was very good. The first two thirds especially were so fresh and innovative. WV is certainly one of the most interesting things the MCU has done. I think they could have tied in the initial theme of sitcoms into the ending somehow though. WV almost lost some of its unique flavour towards the end.
Jon – I think I’m going to be in the minority here that I really didn’t think that much of it. Whilst the show juggled between parody and homage to bygone sitcoms in the first few episodes it never really said anything about said sitcoms – or added to them for that matter. And for the series to then simply end with the traditional Marvel wham-bam final showdown for me suggests a muddled and confused series overall. With that said, it’s really intriguing to see Marvel doing something like this, and, for the most part, making something interesting and not by the book. If nothing else, I’m very keen to see where they go with other shows, and really relish the idea of more zany, lesser-known characters being utilised.
Shaun – Initially, it took some getting used to but I really liked it. I appreciate that you didn’t know from one week to the next what was going to happen. Was it going to be more action or comedy? The show has a great set of characters with enjoyable ‘villains’ and plenty of twists along the way. Not sure it quite stuck the ending though.
What are your favourite episodes or moments from WandaVision?
Callum – I loved the episode where CVision finds out that Wanda has something to do with their situation and they square off. The tension that was built up at the end of that episode was electric and that energy was released with a huge “WTF!” when the X-men quicksilver dude turned up (Bohner, hehe). Also loved the Vision vs Vision philosophy showdown in the final episode. Very rare in Marvel to finish a conflict without cities collapsing.
Jon – “Agatha All Along” is a real earworm. I also adore that Kat Dennings is getting some screen time. I think she’s great. The line about grief made me stop and say “wow” aloud.
Shaun – I don’t really have a standout episode. I loved the magic on show and anytime Wanda got the red glow in her eyes and around her hands, signalling she was about to do something magical, was a treat. Wanda’s transformation into the Scarlet Witch was a highlight of the finale.
Who were your favourite characters in WandaVision?
Callum – Loved Agnes but pre witch reveal, thought she was a bit pantomime afterwards. I loved Monica Rambeau. Darcy and Jimmy Woo are also always great. But I think my favourites have to be the main characters Wanda and Vision. The way they changed with each era of telly was really interesting and Wanda had a great depth of character in this.
Jon – Probably alternate Pietro for me. His Time in a Bottle slow motion scene from Days of Future Past is still up there as one of my favourite superhero movie moments. Love the actor, love his touch in this show and how inspired it was to bring him in for this. Didn’t overstay his welcome either, and totally filled the obnoxious brother character trope so, so well.
Shaun – Despite both getting their names in the title I think this is very much Wanda’s show. Elizabeth Olsen got to show off a whole range of emotions. Whether she was displaying vulnerability or unleashing her powers she was awesome. Darcy and Jimmy also made a great double act of their own. Spin-off?
Were you satisfied with the final episode and how it fits into the wider MCU?
Callum – Perhaps not as much as I would have liked to be. I had hyped it up massively in my mind so that probably didn’t help. Don’t get me wrong, I loved it. I just think everything didn’t flow quite as nicely as it could have and perhaps became less interesting once we left the sitcom side of it. As for how it fits into the MCU, I think it’s a springboard for phase 4. I’m guessing Monica will be a key character in space, the Skrull keep getting teased so they will be big and Wanda isn’t going anywhere soon either.
Jon – My overall feeling would be no. I got a taste of an otherwise weak Twilight Zone sort of premise that never really took off, or settled what it actually was either. Story-wise, I feel Wanda got off very lightly for essentially kidnapping a whole town of people too.
Shaun – My immediate reaction is I’m not sure. The finale was a great spectacle but it didn’t wrap everything up as neatly as I’d have liked and I still have a lot of questions. Where did White Vision go? Who is this Cliff that Jimmy called? I am a sucker for a tease though, so I did enjoy the mid and end-credit stings!
Next up is Falcon and The Winter Soldier, how excited are you for that?
Callum – Definitely. Captain America: The Winter Soldier is one of the most underrated MCU films, so a show with two of the characters from that will be great. The duo have also been fantastic in all of the other MCU films they have been in so I think we could be in for a very exciting show.
Jon – Until Disney release my wife and kids, I guess I’ll have to watch it.
Shaun – I’m looking forward to it. A bit like Wanda and Vision, I guess, Falcon and Bucky have not been major players in the MCU so will be cool to see more of them. I think it will be more of an action show though and I’d be surprised if it’s as deep as WandaVision.
What did you think of WandaVision? Let us know and be sure to check out our TV and movie sections for more Marvel content!