** WARNING: THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS SPOILERS**
Marvel Studios’ limited series WandaVision just concluded its run on Disney+ last month, becoming one of the most talked-about shows of 2021 so far.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sj9J2ecsSpo&ab_channel=MarvelEntertainment[/embed]
WandaVision picks up after the events of Avengers: Endgame (2019) following Wanda Maximoff and The Vision, who actually died in Avengers: Infinity War (2018). Throughout the series, audience members are given the chance to know more about Wanda while she tries to understand the true potential for her powers. Along the way, we meet Agnes and Monica Rambeau who are set up to be key characters in future Marvel movies.
The format of the show is what makes it compelling; WandaVision is a show within a show. Each episode is inspired by a popular sitcom in each decade—the first one being set in the 1950s taking inspiration from The Dick Van Dyke Show, all the way to the 2010s where The Office and Modern Family are paid homage. Questions pertaining to the series set up get answered later on in the series, however, despite not directly making mention of the main conflict in the series, it still serves to move the story forward. There are even fake commercials during the episodes which serve as easter eggs derived from Avengers: Age of Ultron and Captain America: Civil War—films that had a focus on Wanda and Vision’s characters.
Most know the Marvel Cinematic Universe for being action-packed with explosions and fight scenes, but WandaVision was the total opposite. The lack of action was substituted for emotional conversations and confrontations with Wanda’s grief and self-exploration— a character development concept that is quite foreign in most Marvel films. The series is essentially crafted to portray the stages of grief within the 9 episodes: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. It’s safe to say the writers executed the discussion of grief quite well considering how successful the quote “What is grief, if not love persevering?” became, causing audience members on Twitter to become emotional and, of course, create memes of it as well.
The show has captured the attention of millions and has even attracted new fans to the Marvel Universe. One of the biggest takeaways of the show has been the theories curated by fans regarding easter eggs presented within the series. The idea of discussing theories with other viewers only supports how Disney’s format of releasing new episodes weekly rather than all together, is attempting to keep the idea of TV alive. Since a new episode WAS released weekly, it caused #WandaVision to trend every week with nearly 500,000+ tweets, creating conversation, and expanding the fanbase. Some might say the release format was a drag, but this execution made WandaVision the #1 show in the country during its 8-week run.
Perhaps it was the fan theories and teasers made by cast members that made the series finale of the show feel underwhelming. Many believed the show would serve as a crossover with X-Men or even an introduction of another comic book superhero. However, fans were left to wonder what Wanda is to do next and won’t know until 2022, where she’ll make an appearance in Dr. Strange: Multiverse of Madness.
Marvel Studio’s Phase Four has just started. Fans eager to find more content won’t need to wait any longer as the next limited series, The Falcon & The Winter Soldier, is now streaming on Disney+.
