Back in 2019, the Marvel Cinematic Universe added not one, but three iconic films to its stream of content, but "Avengers: Endgame" was the one audiences worldwide anticipated the most.
My favorite part of the movie was when Scarlet Witch, aka Wanda Maximoff, faced Thanos head-on in an effort to avenge her deceased love, Vision.
So, you can imagine my excitement when Disney+ announced the release of a new sitcom titled "WandaVision" in 2021 starring the couple.
As a MCU fanatic, I was a little skeptical about the show. I'm usually a bigger fan of its cinematic work, but I was eager to see how the show played out thanks to never-ending fan theories.
The show takes on a '50s sitcom style at first.
In this alternate reality, Vision, played by Paul Bettany, is alive. He and Wanda, played by Elizabeth Olsen, are married and living in the suburbs of fictional Westview, New Jersey. They live a relatively normal, happy life at the start, but something is a little bit odd.
"WandaVision" has the same staples as any old sitcom — the housewife, the working husband, the eccentric but friendly neighbors, among others. So, it's a little off-putting for those of us who know the history of these heroes.
Wanda has always been one of my favorite characters due to her fiery personality.
The Wanda Maximoff I'm used to could save the world on her own. But the Wanda in the first episode is frail and devoid of all her strength. As the series moves along, however, we learn there is much more going on with Wanda than is seen on the surface.
Each episode is different, showcasing a new decade from the 1950s to the 1990s. The first two episodes are black and white, with a few splotches of color thrown in. Interestingly, the objects that are shown in color are ones foreign to the world we're seeing on screen.
There's an air of mystery to the show. Vision is supposed to be dead, after all. And in the MCU, it's 2023.
There are hints throughout the show that there's something bigger going on. At the end of the first episode, instead of the camera zooming out onto a TV screen, the audience can clearly see Wanda and Vision on the screen and someone turning off an old television.
At this point my theories began to flow: Has Wanda lost her mind? Are they being held captive? Is this a simulation?
My mind ran rampant for the first three episodes, and it was absolutely thrilling.
Eventually we get back to the world outside of Westview. Monica Rambeau, daughter of Maria Rambeau (Carol Danvers' best friend), has "blipped" back to reality post-Endgame.
She works for a corporation called S.W.O.R.D., which fans can only guess is the antithesis of S.H.I.E.L.D., and is quickly dispatched to the edge of Westview, a nonexistent town according to local law enforcement.
Monica teams up with another familiar face: Darcy Lewis. The pair discovers the area is emitting not only leftover energy from the Big Bang, but a broadcast frequency — meaning Wanda is in control of Westview and all the people in it, creating her own personal reality.
This is one of my favorite things about the show. They keep the continuity we're used to on the big screen going.
We see characters we already know and love, albeit in different ways than before. We also see references to other occurrences from previous films. This element of the universe doesn’t stand alone — it's perfectly integrated.
The timely elements within the show were also absolutely impeccable. Each decade came with a new theme song to match the era. It was confusing at first, yet still enjoyable to watch. With each episode, I wondered what personality and stylistic changes the program and its characters would take.
I started the show a bit skeptical, but I ate my words very quickly. This series not only revives one of my favorite couplings, but it illustrates the magnitude of Wanda’s grief over losing Vision and her brother, Pietro.
The sixth episode aired last week, and of course the writers left it on a total cliffhanger.
I may have been doubtful before, but rest assured I will continue watching at the very edge of my seat.
Reach the reporter at skenoun@asu.edu and follow @sabrinakenoun on Twitter.
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