Marvel’s first TV show on Disney+ introduced a new side of the franchise that audiences hadn’t experienced before: the weird and chaotic, action-less, but still capable of hitting the right spot. Viewers must understand that “WandaVision” isn’t the typical superhero show, so don’t expect half-hour CGI battles, one explosion after another or the jokes you’re used to. This time, Marvel attempted to combine a 50s sitcom with slow-paced superhero thriller, starring Vision and Wanda Maximoff.
Ten minutes into the first episode, which was in black-and-white, I was already loving every second. The attention to detail by the showrunners, set-designers and costume designers was impressive, as they were able to capture the essence of the 50s and 60s. The mannerisms, the over-the-top jokes accompanied by a laugh track, the clothing of the characters and even the scene transitions drew audiences into the past and completely out of their comfort zones. It’s understandable that comic book fans entered WandaVision expecting the same 10-year old formula that Marvel movies followed since “Iron Man” but it’s refreshing to see something new — something experimental that encourages the audience to let go of their preconceived notions and just follow the characters in their unusual setting.
And what setting is that, exactly? Nobody knows for sure. And that is the beauty of the show: the suspense, the subtle clues and hidden Easter eggs, the lack of information that keeps fans guessing. It’s possible that the setting, which seems to advance a decade with every episode, is an illusion or alternate reality created and controlled by Wanda. Why and how she is doing it remains a mystery. It’s also possible that this dimension was created as a coping mechanism for the loss of Vision, who was killed by Thanos during “Infinity War,” because Vision wasn’t among the heroes resurrected by Bruce Banner in “Avengers: Endgame.”
All of this is speculation, of course, but it’s founded on some similarities to an older comic book story arc called “The House of M,” where Wanda alters reality after suffering from a great tragedy. What is known for a fact is that whatever is happening in these episodes is one great trick, as told by Vision himself in episode two, where he broke the fourth wall and told audiences quite explicitly that they were witnessing one elaborate trick, and that humans were easily fooled. One has to pay close attention to every line of dialogue, even from the side characters, as it might hold small clues about what’s really happening.
The seemingly action-less plot is disturbed in episode two by random apparitions of color: a red toy helicopter and red blood stains. These serve as indications that this reality is unstable and that it can be breached. Wanda also hears a voice calling to her from the radio, and we know from the ending of episode one that she is being watched by someone on the outside, so perhaps that is the same person or organization.
“Who is doing this to you, Wanda?”
That’s what the voice asked her. We can infer that the real Wanda is in some form of emotional or even physical pain, and that the reality she created has some form of consequence on the world outside it, which is why someone is trying to reach her. The suspense grows with each small clue like that, just like the sense of danger, culminating in the final scene with the sudden appearance of a man in the hazmat suit coming out of the sewer. Upon seeing the stranger, Wanda rewinds time and goes back to the scene where she discovers her pregnancy, and then the world regains all its color.
This final scene was perhaps the most important of the two episodes. It emphasized the theme of children, which was widely discussed by the townsfolk in a cult-like manner, as they always say “for the children,” although there were no children to be seen. But now with Wanda’s pregnancy, we know this idea of doing things for the children is going to be crucial to the plot. Perhaps this whole dimension was created so that Wanda could live a normal life and have the family that was denied to her when Vision was killed.
Overall, this seems like the most exciting show Marvel has announced so far due to its sheer strangeness. The suspense mixed with comedy and nostalgia makes it far more entertaining to watch, and to be honest, I don’t miss the CGI battles.
