After an unexpected break in 2020, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is back; and with everything slated for 2021, it's with a vengeance. But before we hopefully return to the theaters to see "Black Widow" this May, we finally kick off Phase Four with the first Disney+ series, "WandaVision". While there have been plenty of TV series set in the MCU, "WandaVision" marks the first one produced by the proper Marvel Studios; this means more connectivity as the shows and movies will play off each other instead of seemingly happening in separate continuities.
Based on comics like "House of M" and Tom King's Vision series, "WandaVision" follows Wanda Maximoff and the seemingly revived Vision shortly after the events of "Endgame", the couple now married and living a simple life in suburbia with things playing out like a TV sitcom. While that concept may seem silly, what lies beneath is mystery and insight into a troubled mind.
First and foremost, the way the show is filmed as a sitcom is done brilliantly. Paying homage to shows ranging from "The Dick Van Dyke Show" to "Modern Family", the situations and jokes hit the mark and do feel like they come from the decade they're referencing. What's done even better though are the moments when reality comes creeping in, bringing about a feeling that's just as unsettling as the overall situation of the series. And the longer the sitcom goes on, the more complicated the format gets and the harder it becomes to keep reality out.
Elizabeth Olsen shines in her reprisal of Wanda as she is given the main focus, and damn it if she doesn't deserve some kind of award for her performance. In the sitcom, she plays the role well of the ideal housewife and mother. As we dig deeper though, we see just how much trauma Wanda has gone through in her life and learn what kind of power she truly has inside of her. "WandaVision" is essentially her breaking point as she takes her coping mechanism to the extreme, and it tragically makes her the villain of her own story (and even the other villains of the series are just playing off of Wanda's actions).
The rest of the cast is great as well. Paul Bettany's return as Vision is just as entertaining, showing him as the loving goofy husband and the altruistic hero he was made to be. Plus, his chemistry with Wanda is still on point from the films and the spotlight on them shows how deep their love is.
Returning characters from the films like Jimmy Woo (played by Randall Park) of "Ant-Man and the Wasp" and Darcy Lewis (played by Kat Dennings) of the Thor films are given more pivotal roles rather than just be the comedy relief, and it's a nice change of pace for those two. Monica Rambeau, seen as a child back in "Captain Marvel", is all grown up (now played by Teyonah Parris) and is just as strong as her mom and Aunt Carol; Parris brings a stellar performance that makes me look forward to Monica's future appearances in the MCU.
While I won't spoil their characters' identities, Kathryn Hahn and Evan Peters turn in performances that play well to their strengths and bring a lot of fun to the series.
Right from the opening logo and fanfare that I know we've all missed, "WandaVision" brings the MCU out of hibernation with a thunderous roar. With great characters and performances, the series never lets up from its' humorous start to its' emotional if somewhat clunky ending. As the inaugural Disney+ series, "WandaVision" hits it out of the park for Marvel with what will hopefully be the start of a winning streak when we come back for "The Falcon and Winter Soldier".
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