On Friday, January 15th, 2021 Disney+ launched the first two episodes of their WandaVision series. Marvel recently announced that they were releasing multiple Marvel TV shows including WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki, Marvel What If, MoonKnight, Hawkeye, Ms. Marvel, and She Hulk. However, with WandaVision being Marvel’s first attempt at a TV sitcom, and receiving rave reviews, fans agree that future Marvel television has the potential to be a very successful component of the enterprise. 

WanadaVision is going to be the first Marvel release that we have gotten in over a year and a half! This show will kick off many amazing projects that are scheduled to come out in 2021. So far Marvel has introduced four phases to its cinematic universe, with each phase featuring different villains and characters. WandaVision is the second Marvel project that follows Avengers: Endgame. After Endgame, Spider-Man: Far From Home came out and was the last movie in phase three. WandaVision, Marvel’s first TV show in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), is also the kickoff to phase four of the MCU. 

Spider-Man: Far From Home was all about deceptions and illusions. Throughout the movie, fans were on the edge of their seats wondering what was fake and what was real. This theme ties into WandaVision very well. Fans know that the show takes place in Wanda Maximoff’s reality. She is imagining all of the scenarios that take place in the show. From the ending of the first episode, the viewer can also tell that someone is watching Wanda’s alternate reality from a TV screen. Perhaps someone or some organization is trying to break into the alternate universe? 

The first two episodes of the show follow a vintage themed script—the first episode is based on the late 1950s and the second in the 1960s. The directors, producers, and editors tried to replicate the camera angles, colorings, and editing software techniques of the fifties and sixties. Episode one follows the formatting of The Dick Van Dyke Show, with its laugh tracks, coloring, music, set, intro, and outro. Episode two is influenced and styled after the beloved 1960’s cult classic, Bewitched, featuring an intro and musical tract that replicates the iconic show. 

The first thing that we see in the very first episode is the iconic Marvel Studios intro. This intro had added scenes from Endgame while keeping with the nostalgic feelings by fading into black and white towards the end. The audio also slowly condenses to replicate an old television set, leading us into the mood a classic sitcom would create. Straight off the bat, the first episode gets right into the plot. There is no background information given and no “setup” to the story or time period. We get to see Vision and Wanda living their lives, and in the episode, they have to cook a meal for dinner for Vision’s boss and wife (Mr.and Mrs. Hart).  During these cooking scenes, Wanda is seen using her powers to prepare the meal. She gets help from her nosy neighbor, Agnes. As soon as Agnes comes into the show, she gives off suspicious and uneasy vibes. Fans speculate that she will potentially become a villain in the show—possibly based on the comic book character Agatha Harkness. 

During this episode, there is an in-show commercial for a toaster made by Stark Industries. The ad creates the slogan “Forget the past, this is your future.” This is one of many strange and spine-chilling “easter eggs” planted in the episode. 

While Wanda, Vision, Mr. Hart, and Mrs. Hart eat the homemade meal, Mr. Hart chokes on a piece of meat. His wife repeatedly says “stop it, stop it” while looking off into the distance. This could possibly be a glitch in an alternate reality or just a very weird coincidence. But one thing is for sure, this scene left the viewers very confused and uneasy. After a few seconds go by, Vision phases through Mr. Hart’s body to take out the meat. The couple abruptly leaves immediately afterward as if nothing out of the ordinary happened. 

In the second episode, they still adhere to the classic sitcom show theme, jumping ahead a decade to resemble Bewitched, all the way down to the animated opening. At the start of this episode, we can tell that Wanda’s alternate reality is trying to be infiltrated by someone/an organization. A “S.W.O.R.D.” logo pops up multiple times during this episode as well as the first. “S.W.O.R.D.” stands for the Sentient Weapon Observation and Response Division in the MCU (GQ). We also get a glimpse of a toy helicopter in full color, contrasting to the rest of this episode being in black and white. This random object must be very important, as Wanda is confused and put-off by this strange object appearing. Later, Wanda is invited to the planning committee meeting, where she meets Dottie. Dottie is the “leader” of the planning committee of Westview. Just like Agnes, Dottie also gives off a strange and creepy tone. While Dottie is talking about the upcoming talent show she says “the Devil’s in the details Bev.” This quote may possibly be hinting that she is related to Marvel’s universe’s devil “Mephisto.” Dottie also exclaims “all of this is for the children” and the committee replies by repeating “for the children,” in a very robotic and alarming way, again leaning towards a possible plot that mirrors the comics with Mephisto and Wanda’s children. While Dottie and Wanda are talking in private, the radio behind them starts to glitch. The radio is saying “Wanda, can you read me?” and “Who is doing this to you, Wanda?” This could be someone trying to reach Wanda in her pocket reality and maybe save/help her. It also lets the audience know that Wanda is not in full control of her reality. 

The episode continues with the town talent show. Wanda and Vision get an award for the inaugural comedy performance of the year and head back to their home. At their house they again say “for the children,” but this time it is referring to Wanda being pregnant. The couple hears a loud noise outside and goes out to see what had happened. A very ominous figure in a bee suit with the S.W.O.R.D. logo on it comes out of a manhole in the middle of the street. This sequence ends with Wanda simply saying “no”, and the show rewinding to where it was before they went out into the street. The abrupt and confusing ending leaves the audience wanting more and speculating what exactly will happen next. 

Marvel fans around the world are excited to see what is yet to come in the series! Cliffhanger endings and suspenseful scenes have left viewers anticipating the weekly releases. One student, Ethan Joo (9), said “The show looks like it has a lot of potential. If you’re looking for a show that’s Marvel-related and like shows with a mystery that gradually reveals the truth, later on, WandaVision is for you.” Marvel has a hit on its hands, and 2021 has suddenly become even more exciting!