Re-Porter Blog: The Porter Report #6 (Wandavision Retrospective)

 

By: Brandon Porter

    It's a whole new ball game for the Marvel Cinematic Universe in more ways than one. This past weekend saw the conclusion of Marvel Studios' first-ever original series created exclusively for Disney +. Wandavison served as the official kick-off of Marvel Phase 4 and was the first piece of a slew of Marvel content that is releasing in 2021 (seriously, Marvel has something for us every month this year). The show brought an engaging mystery element to the MCU, highly entertaining sequences involving callbacks to classic TV sitcoms, introduced new characters to the universe while bringing back old ones, and gave Wanda Maximoff the spotlight in the best possible way. There is a lot to unpack about what went down in the 9 episode arc of the show but we will try and piece together all of the loose threads and connective tissues as well as give you my thoughts on the show's implications on future stories moving forward. 

Given the enormously depressing drought we had in terms of MCU content especially after Endgame and Spider-Man: Far From Home, It was nice that Kevin Fiege and company were going to make up for lost time with the enormous line up starting with the ambitious and trippy adventures of one miss Wanda Maximoff. Though skepticism did creep up about the show, after a very solid duel episode debut, it was still unclear if the series was worth the investment. From my perspective, I have always admired Marvel for swinging for the fences and trying new things that add new elements to the universe they are building. It was that reason why I went into Wandavision with such an open mind and a willingness to play along. After all of it, I'm glad I did. It was super fun to go on a journey with these characters especially Wanda who is really coming into her own as a bonified fan favorite among fans including myself. Credit goes to Elizabeth Olsen for giving her all and truly growing and progressing into a leading lady worthy of the spotlight. Despite what happened to Vision in Infinity War, Paul Bettany played opposite Wanda very masterfully showcasing his range. The chemistry between the two characters is what gives Wandavision its heart and valor and Olsen and Bettany should be proud of what they have contributed to this franchise to this point. 

That said, Wandavision also succeeds thanks to its incredible cast of supporting characters as well. The
majority of the supporting casts made up of new and returning characters give the universe a lived-in feel and a fresh one as well. One of my favorite new additions to the MCU and the show itself is Lt. Trouble herself, Monica Rambeau. Played by Teyonah Parris, Rambaeu became an instant fan favorite among many fans including myself. It isn't just the fact that she is a woman of color that I fell in love with this character. It's what the character goes through and how she progresses in her own hero's journey within the show itself that makes her such an engaging presence every time she is on screen. Rambeau obviously has connections to Captain Marvel but Wandavision shows her story is deeply connected to one of the most iconic moments in MCU history. It's heartbreaking and allows us to see a moment in the franchise in a terrifying new light after it was shown in a joking matter in Far From Home. 

For Monica, the news of what happened to her and her mother Maria thrust her into the forefront as one of the most compelling characters in the story alongside Wanda herself. Her interactions with franchise veterans Darcy Lewis and Jimmy Woo made for some unique and fun banter between the three as they forged a formidable trio that never dragged the story down. Because of that, I became just as invested in her journey as I did the title characters. Credit goes to Parris for crushing it and creating someone likable, confident, badass, sexy and a joy to see week to week. 

She excels at showcasing Monica's humanity, incredible resolve, and moral fiber which manifest into hands down one of the most iconic moments in the show with her officially getting her powers via entering Wanda's hex. This could also have obvious implications on her progression in future MCU storytelling given that we will see her next in Captian Marvel 2 alongside Brie Larson and newcomer Iman Vellani. One thing is for sure, this is not the last time we will see Lt. Trouble and I can't wait to see what is in store for her as she gets "off the ground" and into some bigger action moving forward. 

But if we are talking about iconic, we can't leave out Kathryn Hanh as Agnes aka Agatha Harkness. Coming in with unmatched wit, sinister charm, and possibly the best damn theme song in the MCU, Hahn crafts a character that is every bit as comedic and deliciously villainous. It's no surprise that Hahn pulls of the villain role so effortlessly given she played the role of gender-swapped Doctor Octopus in Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse. Kathryn Hahn's character and the name did cause some Marvel fans to correctly speculate that she was the primary antagonist ALL ALONG. But that doesn't mean the performance wasn't fun or engaging. 

It also helps that Hahn looks to be having an absolute blast playing the role. It's always awesome when 
an actor is enjoying themselves and it shows in her performance. Agatha's involvement in the show also allows for some emotional development for Wanda as we truly learn how deeply she wants to escape her trauma. Of all of the characters in the MCU, Wanda seems to have had it the roughest out of everyone. From seeing her parents get killed to losing her brother, to witnessing Vision getting killed twice by Thanos, Wanda's story is tragic and the desperation she exhibits to escape the cold reality she lives in isn't just sad and heartbreaking. 

It is easily relatable for people also trying to cope with the emotional strain of reality in the midst of COVID-19. So much loss over an extended period of time can do major damage to one's sanity. That is one of the big reasons why I think Wandavision hit such a chord with people. A lot of us can relate to Wanda's desperate attempts to just escape and not deal with what is going on in the real world. Sometimes creating a bubble where we feel more in. As we see in the show, Wanda's pain and loss greatly affect those around her.  The people trapped inside the hex suffer at her expense. She isn't evil or even trying to be. But her actions can definitely be villainized despite the fact we understand how she feels. Credit to Olsen again for using this show as a platform for her versatility. I enjoyed seeing her in the various eras of television showcasing her range and truly reminding everyone she is an acting force to be reckoned with. 

As the series reached its conclusion, we really start to see that all the events that Wanda has gone through
are actually calculated steps in her taking the namesake of the Scarlet Witch, the prophecized chaos bringer who is destined to destroy the world. To make matters more sinister, Agatha states that Wanda's power is matched only by the sorcerer supreme thus officially tie her to the events of next year's Doctor Strange in The Multiverse of Madness. To finally see Wanda establish herself as one of the most powerful characters in the MCU was equally satisfying and exciting to see with it all being capped off with one of the sickest costume reveals in the franchise!!!

Even though it was emotional to see, it was very gratifying seeing Wanda grow and accept that she can't control what happens to her. Seeing her let go and start the healing process knowing she may never have Vision back or see her children Tommy and Billy again is a true testament to her growth over the course of the series.  In life, you can't control what happens to you, but you do have control in how you respond to what comes next. But as we've seen, her newfound confidence and enhanced powers can come with consequences given she is taking a particular liking to a specific piece of literature.

The series did have a few lulls, to say the least, however. Though entertaining throughout, the show did kind of get predictable near the tail end. However, the engagement factor made up for it. In addition to that, a few red herrings did take the sting out of some of the episodes know they were built up in the previous chapters. None of which are deal-breakers but it would have been nice to see some epic payoffs. Overall, Wandavision was a fun ride from start to finish and a great way to kick off Marvel Phase 4. With so many characters set to appear in other MCU properties, the direction of the post-endgame MCU is off to an intriguing start. Marvel continues to push the envelope in terms of what they are willing to do and the franchise continues to be better for it. As for Wanda, her future could be tied directly to her eventual team-up with Steven Strange. But following her stellar transformation into a major player in the MCU, the Scarlet Witch's next big endeavor could bring a new explosive element to the heroverse that could have everyone in her path seeing red.