ENTERTAINMENT
Cristal Rincon
Entertainment Editor
Marking the beginning of Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, “WandaVision” premieres as the first major Marvel release on Disney+. After a strong-performing premiere on Jan. 15, “WandaVision” continues to trend week after week with each new episode.
The show revolves around the two characters of its namesake, Wanda Maximoff (Scarlet Witch) and Vision, starring as a married couple living their idealized suburban life through the lens of various vintage-style sitcoms. However, as their life together progresses, it becomes clear that not everything is as picture perfect as it seems.
At first, the slow pace of the show bothered me. I didn’t find the premiere as exciting as I was expecting. Lack of fast action didn’t really make it feel like a Marvel show, but it’s this unique set up that really sells the series as what it’s supposed to be – an homage to classic television. It’s amusing seeing serious superheroes filling in classic TV tropes like the ditzy housewife and the nosy neighbor.
It wasn’t until the most recent episode that the show began to pick up it’s pace, proving that it wasn’t just a silly parody, but something worth the wait of the build up. What at first came off as over the top is becoming a quintessential Marvel comedy of the likes of “Ant-Man” and “Thor: Ragnarok” thanks to the mix of action and humor, while at the same time adding in moments of surreal horror that sets “WandaVision” apart from anything else Marvel has released.
After months of bingeing entire seasons, it’s nice to have a show like “WandaVision” that premieres weekly on a streaming platform. Considering how notorious Marvel is for their easter eggs and foreshadowing, the weekly releases allow for enough time to comb through all the hidden details. It also stirs a lot of connection between the fan base on social media. Every Friday, fans exchange theories and share details, creating anticipation for the next week’s episode.
Finding details like the references laced into the fake commercials and seeing the appearances of characters like Darcy Lewis and Jimmy Woo were really exciting for me. While it isn’t necessary to have watched or read previous Marvel works to enjoy the show, I can see how it could be a confusing watch for viewers who aren’t devoted Marvel fans, and who wouldn’t be able to identify some of the smaller details that really make the show.
With the series now picking up it’s pace, I would recommend any Marvel fan who hasn’t already started, or who turned away after the premiere, to give “WandaVision” a chance and catch up watching before the show finishes.