WandaVision Review
BY EDDIE WANG '21
WandaVision is a show taking place post-Blip (more on this later) starring two romantically-linked Avengers: Wanda (human) and Vision (synthezoid). Anyway, WandaVision. Quite a clever title. On the outside it seems quite simple—a combination of Wanda and Vision (duh). However, you’ll soon realize that it holds a deeper meaning. The name Wanda means “wanderer,” while Vision stands for Television. The show is about both Wanda and Vision “wandering” around in a television show (in WandaVision) living in magical creation. Even more clever is the setting, a small New Jersey Town named Westview. Notice the W’s and V’s in Westview and Wandvision 😉.
Read at your own risk, potential spoilers ahead for other Marvel movies. Minimal Plot to Understand the Rest This story occurs a few months after the Blip. The Blip refers to the disappearance and reappearance of half of the world’s population thanks to the Avengers’ efforts—for a better explanation, watch the Marvel movies! While Wanda returns, Vision remains dead in Avengers: Infinity War with only Vibranium left on his lifeless body. Wanda and Vision had planned to marry and reside in Westview prior to Vision’s death, so the devastated Wanda travels to Westview and uses her magic (which comes from an infinity stone) to mold Westview to her imagination, a rom-com set in the 1950s. She recreates Vision, too. They are essentially living their lives in a show (with fun but realistic commercials). An Original SitCom on its Own, Inspired by a Classic Yes, Wandavision is awfully funny. Especially the first few episodes. Wanda bases her show off of the Van Dyke show, which she used to watch as a kid. Thus, she sets her show in the ’50s and goes up by a decade each episode. So, we start in black and white and eventually move to color. The era also shifts forward in time, so we get to see Wanda’s kids grow up 😀. Even without knowing anything about the Marvel Cinematic Universe, you’ll find this show a fun watch because it intertwines comedy with tragedy, deception with reality, and sadness with joy. Why I Loved This Show It’s a show on its own, and it’s one that connects to the rest of the Marvel movies. Your enjoyment does not depend on whether or not you understand where the Marvel Cinematic Universe is going. It’s honestly so funny that you’ll be unable to resist the laughter that follows. I personally also watched it because of Kathryn Hahn (who wouldn’t want to watch an alum from their university? 😁). Her character is so funny yet so believable. Vision, in this show, is hilarious as well, but also possesses this sense of sincerity. I find some of the philosophical things he says to be very valuable for real life. The episodes are broadcasted very late at night, which brings you back to the past when people often stayed up late to watch television. Such a nostalgic yet romantic comedy that touches upon themes of family, separation, love, loss, and memories. Remarkable Lines “Oh Wanda, I’m incapable of forgetfulness. I remember everything. That’s not an exaggeration, in fact, I’m incapable of exaggeration.” - Vision, episode 1 Vision’s just being Vision. You’ll get used to it. “In a real magic act, everything is fake” - Wanda, episode 2 Yep, this one’s funny yet precisely the truth. “What is grief, if not love persevering” - Vision, episode 9 This one hit me. You’ll tear up when you get there. Conclusion Whether you’ve watched Marvel movies before or not, you should definitely watch this one. You’ll laugh, you'll cry, and you might even be scared! The storyline is remarkable, with twists and turns, sweet and bitter moments—you'll never be bored. Rated at a 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, this masterpiece will enthrall you the same way it has captivated both critics and audiences. |