In this television series, Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany), two super-powered entities leading idealized suburban lives, begin to believe that all is not as it appears in this combination of classic television and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Marvel truly delivered an incomparable universe to their viewers with the first twenty-three films covering an overarching story, ending with the record-breaking Avengers: Endgame. The Marvel Cinematic Universe now begins a new phase with a new story, and perhaps, a new set of heroes. Elizabeth Olsen plays Wanda Maximoff, an astonishingly powerful being that will come to play a vital role in the next phase of the MCU. Television will also start to play an important role in the MCU, and so the question of whether viewers need to watch the TV shows in order to understand the movies arises.

 I believe the answer to this question is yes. While some series might not have that large of an impact, WandaVision definitely affects Wanda Maximoff’s role and journey in the MCU. Wanda’s character has infinite possibilities, from becoming one of the strongest Avengers to the likelihood of being the next great villain. 

The first three episodes of the series immersed the audience in a black-and-white comedy, where it becomes very apparent that all that is happening is taking place within Wanda’s own world or something close to which she is solely responsible for. Given what happened to Vision in his previous film, it appears that this series will focus on delicate topics including sadness, loneliness, and toxic escapism. However, the first few episodes are firmly rooted in the humor genre. 

WandaVision is much more hilarious than most expected it to be, with lots of references to the respective time of classic television. The funniest parts are a series of apparently simple but effective jokes about Wanda and Vision’s powers and existence in a “normal” world. The central plot centers around Wanda’s seemingly perfect life with Vision. How is it that that reality exists?  That is the fascinating mystery, which becomes increasingly more interesting and entertaining with each episode. From the very first episode, a certain sign is hinted to refer to an organization that would certainly make Marvel fans jump with excitement.

 The next six episodes were fantastically made as well. The decade-long tribute to sitcoms persists, but the attempts at comedy and silly slapstick have decreased exponentially. As predicted, the plot shifts to a much more intense, emotional tone, with each episode becoming closer to answering the hundreds of questions posed by previous episodes. With the introduction/reveal of characters that will undoubtedly leave the viewer thrilled, a few more mysteries emerge, but it’s the emphasis on Wanda’s emotions that elevates this series to some of the finest material in the superhero genre. Wanda’s depression and what she did to cope with the suffering of the people she cared for the most were by far the show’s most mysteriously interesting feature. Even though most of Wanda’s acts seem predictable from the start, the scripting choices and paths that Matt Shakman and his screenwriting team devise are very creative. Every single viewer would recall a particular sentence for the rest of their lives and it is so strong that it will also help those suffering from pain comparable to Wanda’s. From the pilot to the climax, the scripting is fantastic.

Overall, WandaVision appears to be as strange, mysterious, and enthralling as it claims to be after just three episodes. The directors put on an unexpectedly funny show with just the right amount of clues as to what’s really going on. Despite the fact that the main plot follows a predictable course, the theory-inducing side stories and secondary characters keep the viewer in a state of perpetual doubt, resulting in an absurd amount of anticipation for the next episode. All is surrounded by artistic qualities that pay homage to the era of classic tv, from the gorgeous black-and-white to Wanda and Vision’s seemingly perfect life. WandaVision captivated my interest for the remaining series, which would undoubtedly contain significant surprises, as it was the first MCU material in more than a year. It’s still uncertain how much of an effect it’ll have on the film’s universe, but I can only hope it’ll be important. Don’t miss it!