WandaVision: Marvel’s First Sitcom Series

How Marvel changed the pace of the Avenger universe with their first miniseries on Disney+. 

By Isabelle Delostrinos 
Culture Columnist

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is kicking off phase four with WandaVision. With the last Marvel movie released in 2019, fans have been yearning for any type of superhero content. The company’s first sitcom debuted on Disney+ on January 15 with two introductory episodes to the series. Each episode after was released each Friday, following the organization of traditional TV. Marvel’s specialty in action packed movies didn’t hold them back from creating a miniseries. Their expertise in storytelling was evident in WandaVision, gaining a 91% on Rotten Tomatoes’s Tomatometer along with an 81% audience score. 

WandaVision begins in a 1950s style television show. Inspired by shows like I Love Lucy, the couple is featured in a black and white world featuring silly comedy gags and old fashioned clothing. Much of the episode feels very scripted, making no reference to the past happenings of Infinity War and Endgame. Wanda and Vision still have their powers though, showing Wanda’s abilities to cook dinner by levitating multiple objects and Vision’s ability to transform into a human. With little known about how they got there and the reason behind why they are acting so strangely in a 1950s environment, the series starts off with a puzzling pilot. 

As the series goes on, we can see how Marvel producers pay homage to popular sitcoms throughout the years. Each episode moves through each decade, starting from the 50s, 60s, and so on. Things like the theme show song and character mannerisms demonstrates the era that they are set in. The show even features commercial breaks between scenes, making witty references to past events related to Wanda’s reputation in the MCU. These commercials also aligned with the given era, making sure to include details and production styles relevant to the setting. Although the plot of the show seems to feel like an incomplete puzzle, the series offers a nostalgic feeling to viewers with references to The Brady Bunch and Full House. Each episode begins to slowly unravel the truth about Wanda’s and Vision’s life in these television shows. 

Following Endgame and Spiderman: Far from Home, Marvel fanatics had to make adjustments to this new series structure. After watching twenty three action packed movies and rapid plot lines through the years, fans were left with a weekly series of episodes and a slowly progressing story. Although this wasn’t ideal, WandaVision provided viewers with a new experience into the Marvel universe. The wait between episodes served as an opportunity for fans to theorize about what was to come in the next week. It also allowed time for fans to dissect and hunt for easter eggs in the episodes, which is something Marvel is best known for. 

Many superfans and comic enthusiasts used these opportunities to create content and get fans more engaged with the series. Youtubers within the comic realm released videos that broke down each episode and what the different scenes could actually mean. They also made predictions about future episodes based on the trailers that were released. An abundance of fan theories also took over Tiktok feeds. Fans quickly got over the agonizing wait in between episodes and used that time to further investigate the plot and how this story contributes to the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 

Although the anticipation for WandaVision has ended, the series will remain available on Disney+ for fans to revisit. Marvel will continue to fill the void between movies with a second miniseries release. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier premieres on Disney+ this March 19th. This series focuses on the partnership formed between Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Their trio with Captain America was broken after the life changing decision he made in the conclusion of Endgame. As the series unfolds, we will get to see how these shows play a role in the upcoming phase four movies to come this year.