One of the biggest film franchises is finally returning as Phase 4 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe begins like never before. WandaVision premiered on Disney+ as the first television show to be a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 

WandaVision stars Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany reprising their infamous roles as the superpowered couple Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch and the Vision. The nine-episode miniseries also features Kat Dennings reprising her role as Darcy Lewis, previously seen in the 2013 film Thor: The Dark World, and newcomers to the Marvel family such as Kathryn Hahn as the nosy neighbor, Agatha Harkness, and Teyonah Parris as the adult version of Monica Rambeau, who was first introduced as a child in the 2019 film Captain Marvel. 

In the show, the newly-wed couple is living their ideal suburban life in Westview while trying to hide their secret of being superheroes from the rest of the community. The show not only features their ongoing struggle to fit in but also the mystery of how they got there. When watching there are so many questions that need to be answered, but unfortunately are not given. Each episode is set in a different era, starting with the 1950s and eventually progressing to the modern-day. 

The show truly is “a visionary new age of television” as it is comical, creative, and incredibly complex. The television show is nothing like any viewer has ever seen and is a shift from what typical Marvel viewers are used to. 

The show’s director, Matt Shakman, does a wonderful job of recreating the classic eras of American sitcoms that are shown within the first two episodes. During the first two episodes, the show takes place during the 1950s and ’60s and features skits, costumes, and sets much like those time periods. Not only does the miniseries capture the light-hearted and comical elements of said eras, but it also includes several references to many famous shows from such times. For instance, the second episode seems to be a clear nod to the classic television show Bewitched as it features a cartoon opening sequence almost identical to the one of Bewitched. The devotion to the periods continues as the episodes were filmed in front of live audience members and filmed in black and white. Shakman’s directorial genius does not stop there as the series also alludes to a handful of MCU easter eggs that Marvel fans may recognize. 

The main cast of the show does an incredible job of bringing the previously mentioned eras to life. Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany’s on-screen relationship is charming and lighthearted. Despite the tragic ending the two had during the previous Marvel films, the two bring a new kind of romance and humor to life. Their unusuality as a couple is put on display but that does not take away from the fact that they are happily in love. 

Although they seem to be living their ideal life as a newlywed couple, something still seems very off, which brings in the stereotypical Marvel spark where things aren’t as they seem. To avoid spoilers, let’s just say viewers will not understand a thing going on at first, but there’s no doubt that as the show continues things will be clarified. However, answers will not be given right away as only one episode is released each week. Yes, viewers were pleasantly given two episodes on the premiere date, but they will have to wait in anticipation as the show will only release one episode every Friday. This release schedule may seem a bit irritating to some who are eager to binge-watch the show, but the wait increases the mystery around the story and gives viewers time to create their theories on what is going on. 

WandaVision kicks off the newest phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and is a positive and crazy way to excite viewers about the future of the franchise. As stated by Kevin Feige, the President of Marvel Studios, “That’s what we play into in this show in ways that are entirely fun, are entirely funny, somewhat scary, and will have repercussions for the entire future of Phase 4 of the MCU.” The effects of WandaVision will lead into future films as it is already confirmed that the end of the series will directly lead to the next Doctor Strange film, Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness, with Elizabeth Olsen once again appearing as Wanda Maximoff. There is no doubt that WandaVision is going to be so chaotic and impactful that it will affect the future of the franchise. 

Don’t miss out on the magic that is WandaVision as it brings fans into a new era of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, now available to stream on Disney+.