This week’s episode (March 5) concluded the nine-part Marvel spin-off series WandaVision on Disney Plus, with many fans questioning: what’s next?
In the beginning, we were introduced to a harmless Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) in her 1950s home alongside her newlywed husband Vision (Paul Bettany). As we progress through the episodes, we are on a journey through time as we flash through the 60s, the 70s, the 80s, the 90s and then the early 2000s – all in the format on a classic television series.
After the fourth episode, we discover all is not what it seems as Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) is kicked out of this “fictional universe” Wanda has created, and we find out Monica works for S.W.O.R.D. As the series progresses, we are introduced to some familiar characters including Jimmy Woo (Randall Park) and Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings) as they try to discover how and why Wanda created this multiverse, or as Darcy likes to refer to it as “The Hex” – a name which catches on with the others.
Even before the series was released, fans speculated how this could be possible for Wanda to have a life with Vision – as we saw him killed in Avengers: Endgame. However, it was this series that answered these questions for us to put our minds at ease. Each episode was executed well, with each having a cliff hanger leading to the next episode.
A standout positive from this series was the emotional impact and emotional attachment you have from the characters, both new and old. Wanda for example, we experience the pain she had – and still is – going through for the loss of her Vision. I will admit, I teared up at moments, especially the ending scene (no spoilers, don’t worry) as we could see Wanda going through this deep pain once again.
Out of all the Marvel characters, Wanda is my favourite just by the presence she has on screen and because of the meaningful relationship she has with Vision. It makes it hard to not see her as a standout character of the franchise.
A smart idea I loved from this series was the way they made it into a television series in Wanda’s mind, and the way they show it through the different decades is something I love as well. The emotional impact tied in well with this, as well as finding out Wanda loved to watch these sorts of shows when she was younger with Pietro.
The changing backtrack through the decades was an additional positive to the show because in a way, it was ironic as the music represented this idealistic fictional world, when in reality this was a fake reality created through deep pain that was no where near ideal for anyone.
It is hard to think of any drawbacks to the series as it was executed so well. Perhaps the only pitfall I can pick out is that in some places it felt unanswered such as the entrance of Pietro and in the last episode where he was revealed to be a normal guy called Ralph Bohner. This plot hole particularly confused me as Evan Peters who plays Pietro also plays Quicksilver in the X-Men franchise, and I was thinking this was the X-Men entrance into Marvel. However, just like Marvel always does, they leave these unanswered questions open to be answered in their up and coming films and series.
Ultimately, WandaVision was another great Marvel series that gave us a great insight into the deep love between Wanda and Vision, and a new pathway into phase four of Marvel.
By Katie Green
Feature image: IGN