Review "WandaVision" by Jac Schaeffer: episodes 1 and 2 – a convincing introduction

We are finally there. After more than a year and a half of waiting, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is finally back on the screens. Due to the Covid_19 pandemic, no Marvel Studios production has seen the light of day since Spider-Man: Far From Home. This is simply the longest pose since the creation of the MCU. Fortunately, the firm can now count on Disney + support, and has just unveiled the first two episodes of WandaVision. Jac Schaeffer's series opens Phase 4 of the MCU. For the occasion, he recalls the two actors Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany to reprise their respective roles of Wanda Maximoff and Vision. The story promises to be quite convoluted, and should reserve its share of surprises. Apparently, Wanda used her powers to create an entire alternate reality in which her great love Vision didn't die at the hands of Thanos like in Avengers: Infinity War. WandaVision is an opportunity to discover the extent of the power of The Red Witch, able to reshape reality as she sees fit. The series will have serious consequences on the continuation of the MCU, especially on Spider-Man 3 and Doctor Strange 2.

WandaVision – episode 1

For the moment, the series remains quite timid. Jac Schaeffer seems to want to keep some under the elbow, and finally does not reveal much. In any case, these first two episodes, tributes to the sitcoms of the 1960s, do not take a lot of risks, remaining in fairly marked paths. Too bad, especially when we hear for months that WandaVision will be a new and eccentric proposal. However, these first two episodes promise that the sequence of events will be explosive. A first episode in black and white of 25 minutes that naturally serves as an introduction. Jac Schaeffer is content to set the scene, and bring the duo back to the front of the stage. As the trailers suggested, Wanda and Vision don't seem to remember any details from their previous superhero lives. They are truly isolated from the real world. They evolve in their own cocoon, far from any consideration, and any link with reality. In this, the series promises to be interesting, and to develop a concept that could take the MCU to new localities. A first episode that serves as a sweet little candy, joyful and spontaneous comedy, which remains deliberately quite humble. Of course, the showrunner plays with the inherent clichés of the genre. It depicts a quiet suburb without history, friendly suburban residences, stereotypical neighbors. Everything is tidy, everything is voluntarily framed, everything is sanitized. An approach that sometimes recalls George Clooney's recent film: Welcome to Suburbicon, or even the oppressive Vivarium. The houses are well aligned, the gardens are perfectly maintained, the perfect couple, the egocentric boss. Bref, everything is there to reproduce the atmosphere of the sitcoms of the time. The creator of the show even goes so far as to invent ads of the time. He takes the opportunity to offer some references to the rest of the Marvel universe. Thus, the viewer discovers an advertisement sponsored by Stark Industries, and another by Hydra. Just to remind that we are in the MCU. It's hard to deny the aesthetic and writing effort of the series, which really seeks to take the Marvel Cinematic Universe to other horizons.

WandaVision – episode 2

A second episode that fits perfectly in line with the first. Jac Schaeffer continues to develop the sitcom in black and white, but is already starting to insert some clues for the sequel. If the pattern of the episode is practically that of the pilot, the showrunner is already beginning to infuse some elements of his plot. Already, the outside world is trying to communicate with Wanda. Reality is already starting to catch up with the Red Witch who uses her powers to remain in protective denial. A voice on the radio, a change of staging, the arrival of color, the showrunner uses expected but effective processes to remind us that all this is only illusory, created by the powerful mutant. Wanda is already beginning to see some inconsistencies, some holes, some inaccuracies in her reality. Jac Schaeffer is already introducing the S.W.O.A.D, this secret government organization responsible for dealing with paranormal events. The symbol of this institution slips everywhere in the first two episodes. And this beekeeper who arrives at the end of episode 2 seems to be one of their agents. Once again, Wanda decides to change reality, and seems to perceive this threat in a different way than her true nature. The powerful Red Witch then uses her powers to go back in time, once again. WandaVision will finally be an opportunity to see all the immeasurable powers of The Red Witch come to life. The perfect opportunity for comic book fans to appreciate this essential character at full power. https://youtu.be/-NhosBGuRRc