A Sitcom Starring Avengers?: WandaVision

Dad jokes and family life are not exactly the content viewers expect from Marvel. Fans are loving “WandaVision,” a strange show which is truly breaking the mold and venturing into unexplored territory for the superhero genre. It will be the first of many shows in the MCU as Disney has announced more than 50 new movies and shows based on past property, the bulk of them falling under the MCU and Star Wars. 

“WandaVision” is the first of the new MCU releases on Disney+, and it became the most popular show in the world after the fifth episode was released. This is partially due to Disney+’s weekly release of the episodes on Friday, which enables shows to build more support over an extended time.

The show’s premise is that Wanda and Vision have mysteriously started living in a sitcom. They seem to have no or limited knowledge of their past, but the characters begin to piece it together as eerie events start occurring. The show creates an unsettling and suspenseful tone as more of the past is revealed. It contains multiple plot twists, but a lot of comic fans have already formed very accurate theories.

The story is innovative for Marvel in several ways. The nine episodes are each set in a different time period. The introduction and theme song is tailored to fit what was popular in TV sitcoms at the time the episode is set in. An ad is also featured in each episode to further add to the realism of WandaVision being a show within a show. 

The first episode is set in the ‘50s and is very reminiscent of “I Love Lucy.” Episode seven is set in the 2010s and contains obvious nods to “Modern Family,” as well as “The Office” in the theme song. The episodes in between contain their own references to shows such as “I Dream of Jeannie,” “The Brady Bunch” and “Full House.” The show is also packed with references and easter eggs for die-hard MCU fans. Other MCU characters appear in episodes as well such as Dr. Darcy Lewis and Agent Jimmy Woo.

The only critiques I had of the show were that the constraints of a new time period for each episode made the pacing feel off at times. There were episodes where it seemed like the plot should develop more but couldn’t until the next episode, during the next decade. The episodes are also very short, with the first three being only 30 minutes each.

Overall, the show was very interesting and different from anything viewers have seen from Marvel before. It was fascinating to watch the style of TV shows evolve over time and see how the industry has changed. The show also allows for a further exploration into Wanda’s character and more of her internal conflict. Actors Elizabeth Olsen (Wanda) and Paul Bettany (Vision) also get to showcase their talent with a range of emotion unexplored in previous Marvel films. It will be interesting to see where screenwriters go with the MCU characters in new shows.

Sierra Lastine is a sophomore

English literature major from

Grand Junction, Colo.