Review: Marvel's "WandaVision" Episodes 1-3

Marvel’s WandaVision is proving to be one of the more divisive entries in the MCU. Critics have taken to the show, delighting in the zany sitcom antics that hearken back to I Love Lucy and The Brady Bunch. General audiences, though, are being a little more fickle. They seem taken aback by the lack of traditional superhero action and the slow, methodical pacing of the plot.

And this reaction makes sense, as WandaVision really is unlike any comic book based filmic adaptation to date. And it’s not just the lack of overall spectacle, either. The series is very much a slow-burn, and this is the opposite of what the Marvel audience is used to, and its resulting in a clash of expectations.

On the other side of that coin, though, WandaVision is, perhaps, the most like the actual comic books that it represents. Comics aren’t always scantily clad women and furious battles (though, those do always come back). Rather, they are generally long-form mysteries that play out over week or months, or sometimes even years. The answers aren’t always immediate, and that’s what keeps you coming back.

And that’s exactly what the creatives behind WandaVision are striving for, and, so far, they’ve hit the mark. Things are eerily perfect in the world Scarlet Witch and Vision inhabit, and it’s just enough to make viewers question the scenario, because it seems that it’s a world created by Wanda, due to her inability to deal with the death of her lover and partner, Vision, at the hands of Thanos in Infinity War. She has the husband she wants, a perfect house, and even a baby that’s born over the course of a single day. Everything points to this being exactly what Scarlet Witch wants out of life, and any time something starts to go awry, she wiggles her nose (ala Bewitched) or waves her hand to right the ship, so to speak.

And while this is certainly a possibility, it might not be the whole truth of the matter, especially because it’s clear there is some kind of protection agency, most likely the MCU debut of S.W.O.R.D., the intergalactic equivalent of S.H.I.E.L.D., and it appears they are trying to make contact to see if Wanda is alright. This paints a picture of Wanda having been abducted and put in this all-too-perfect reality against her will, or even that her powers are being used against her by some unknown entity. Moreover, there are constant hints at Hydra and Baron Von Strucker, which would be an odd thing to include if Wanda was the sole creator of the sitcom reality, as her idea of perfection wouldn’t have anything to do with the villains of her past. It’s likely, then, that these nods to Marvel villains are Wanda’s way of fighting back, her trying to leave a trail of breadcrumbs for herself.

The episodes themselves are rather self-contained, with each one telling a specific story that seems integral to the pairing of Wanda and Vision. The first sees Vision impressing his boss and setting the foundation for the future of the couple, while the second sees them make good with the Queen Bee of the neighborhood. And last week’s third episode saw the introduction of twins, which further cements the domestic tranquility that Wanda seems so attached to, largely because it’s the furthest thing from anything she could actually have, or ever had, for that matter.

Elizabeth Olsen, in particular, shines here, seeming equal parts content and manic. It’s like she knows she’s in a fake reality but doesn’t care because it’s better than what she left behind, so she’d rather stay, even if it’s all just smoke and mirrors. It’s a nuanced performance that is well-balanced by Paul Bettany’s perpetually confused and over-eager Vision.

All things considered, the first three episodes of WandaVision set the groundwork for a mystery that will likely have ramifications far beyond this limited series. There have been subtle references to everything from Stark Industries to the famed House of M storyline, which saw Scarlet Witch rewrite reality for the entire world, and even the X-Men. The show certainly isn’t what anyone expected, though it’s clear that few, if any, had a good grasp on what this series would really be in the first place. Either way, it’s a welcome shake-up to the Marvel formula that looks to be building the future for the entire franchise. The first few episodes are lacking in action, but they more than make up for that with intrigue and a complex story that’s weird in all the right ways.