WandaVision Series Review (Spoiler Free)

Strange things are happening in Westview, a small suburb in New Jersey, with Wanda & Vision right in the midst of it. But exactly what is happening & who is responsible?

Genre: Action / Comedy / Drama

Created By: Jac Schaeffer

Cast: Elisabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany, Kathryn Hahn, Teyonah Parris, Randall Park, Kat Dennings, Josh Stamberg, Julian Hillard, Jett Klyne & Evan Peters.

Network: Disney+

Average Run Time: 38 min.

No. of Episodes: 9

Release Period: 15 January - 05 March 2021

With the launch of Disney’s own streaming service and the finale of the Infinity Saga, Marvel launches its fourth phase, beginning its new chapter as a nine-episode miniseries centring on two of the most powerful Avengers. While the trailers didn’t really hook me, I was nonetheless looking forward to what this new format might offer to the MCU. After having seen it, I need to confess that I was a little disappointed. 

Following the events of the “blip” resolved in Avengers: Endgame, superpowered being Wanda and the nearly omnipotent android Vision live an ideal suburban life in Westview, New Jersey. However, not all is as it seems, as the sitcom-like routine begins to show cracks. But who is pulling the threads of the mystery surrounding this suburban town? 

Taking inspiration from the “House of M” comic book arc, the “Vision and Scarlet Witch” miniseries of the 80s, as well as Tom King’s “The Vision” run of 2015, this show’s plot distils the essence of those graphic novels, binding them into a grief-processing arc. The result is narrative escapism in the form of classic sitcom eras used as metaphorical defence mechanisms for Wanda's post-Infinity War trauma.

Then there is the mystery surrounding Westview as a location, keeping the stakes intimate and tense. The structural pacing is unusually bold, yet plays it off confidently, and it is that stroke of creative genius that pays off in later episodes; however, audiences are still forced through the first three episodes of a bizarre 50s/60s style sitcom that, while containing glimpses of unease, feels incoherent without obtaining any real answers. It is during episode four that things start to pick up immensely, as a lurking danger is slowly unveiled.

Unfortunately, the finale undoes all the unique build-up by trading its deep exploration of mourning for a 50-minute-long, CGI-heavy superhero battle. The end also disappointingly brushes over the effects that the last days had on the Westview residents. Finally, there is the big issue of disappointing easter eggs sown throughout episodes that turned out to be nothing more than dumb jokes. 

The dialogue is quick-witted, funny, and accurately reflects the different periods of sitcoms with a sense of carrying love. The further the episodes progress, the more double meanings are interwoven into the lines, carrying hints of underlying horror plus sadness. The best example of this is Wanda and Vision's philosophical debates on loss. Regrettably, it also suffers from exposure to heavy conversations by outside military personnel.

Elisabeth Olsen returns as Wanda Maximoff, carrying the entire show through the magnificent range she gives the tragic heroine. Her character arc, shaped by her grief, pain, and love for the android Vision, is well-earned, finally transforming her into the Scarlet Witch. When it comes to Vision, Paul Bettany absolutely nails it as the synthetic hero. He balances the dramatic aspects of his persona well with humorous relief of the sitcom genre. He serves as a moral guide to the show, while their romance feels genuinely tender. 

Kathryn Hahn has been cast as Agnes, a fun, charismatic secondary character with a twist that I won't spoil here. Hahn does infuse every scene she is in with vibrant energy, having solid chemistry with Olsen. Unfortunately, her character damages a lot of the uniqueness in the finale. 

Teyonah Parris, portraying Monica Rambeau, the now grown-up daughter of Maria Rambeau from Captain Marvel, is an agent of S.W.O.R.D., serving as an empathetic sidekick who can relate to Wanda’s sorrow. But her character arc is rushed, while Parris can sound too preachy at times.

The return of both actors Randall Park and Kat Dennings further bridges the gap between the new TV format and the MCU films, making it feel like an interconnected world. Both add much to the comedic value, playing off each other well. 

Tayler Hayward, depicted by Josh Stamberg, as the slimy director of S.W. O.R.D. - S.H.I.E.L.D.’s spiritual successor, is nothing more than a lazy, one-dimensional villain. 

From a technical perspective, the camera plus photography fully lean into the authenticity of each television decade, with the first episode even using a live studio audience. Aspect ratios, vintage lensing, plus rigid cameras are all being used, slowly moving towards digital handheld equipment, as a metaphor for reality slowly bleeding in. That said, as creative as the switches between styles are, specifically the screen dimensions, it can be distracting at times.

Equal to the cinematography, the effects used are decade-specific, evolving from early practicals to more computer-generated effect scenes, once reality breaks through. Sadly, the finale is an overbloated CGI combat scene, losing its unique visual originality. 

The sound effects use acoustic shifts, as well as distorted vocal processing, whenever reality breaks through the hex, or characters start glitching. However, the sitcom sound effects can be overused at times.

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Verdict: Maybe it was the weekly wait for new episodes, or maybe it is the TV format, but something did not fully click with me while watching WandaVision. The first three episodes dragged on, even though they were mere thirty minutes long, and that might be due to the lack of answers and weird sitcom-style storytelling. Thank god for the fourth episode, in which the plot started to thicken, with audiences obtaining some explanation about what is happening in Westview. Elisabeth Olson is as charming as ever in the role of Wanda, giving her arc a bittersweet turn. Paul Bettany gives Vision a fun, innocent twist, yet he can be quietly menacing when pushed. The cinematography adapts to the many sitcom formats throughout the decades, though it loses its originality in the finale, when it sacrifices creativity for a massive blockbuster showdown. In the end, I will give it no more than a 7.5 out of 10.

So, the first MCU show - did you watch it? What did you think of it? Leave a comment below & as always, thank you very much for reading!