WandaVision: the SitCom of Madness

At first glance, fans of the MCU and even general viewers may be put off by the unconventional format Disney has chosen to take with their latest addition to the long-running and increasingly packed extended universe. The example I have of this is anecdotal, but I imagine it's not a unique case. Hearing my dad tell the story, not a fanboy by any stretch but a consumer of MCU content nonetheless, he managed to get through fifteen minutes before he had to turn it off. The period-sitcom style did not sit well with him.

Now, as a fan of not only the MCU but of comics in general, I thought it my duty to set things right. Here was a fantastic show that really allowed the producers, directors, and cast to experiment within the Marvel bubble while still keeping things moving in an interesting direction. What my dad couldn't see was where this direction was coming from, or where it was going. It just didn't appeal. The laugh tracks, the jokes - it all fell flat because this wasn't what he expected from the MCU. And why should he waste his time when there is an abundance of other content out there to be viewed?

This is where I came in.

Donning my cap and mask I did what any MCU fan would do: I explained why he was wrong. The last time we saw the Scarlet Witch she was having some anger management issues, taking them out on Thanos for killing her lover/partner/romance-assistant-robot, who, as far as we all remember, is very much dead. Then, BAM! We're transported to the 50's. Vision's alive. Wanda's cooking dinner. Everything is hunky dory.

Except it isn't.

This is a show about deep psychological trauma. From watching the first few episodes, this trauma will not be apparent to all, especially if you're taking it at face value. By the end of the third episode, much more apparent. Cracks have surfaced in Westview, dragging us down the rabbit hole to find out what is really going on. But getting through the first few episodes can take some coaxing. (From here on out we will be getting spoilery. You have been warned.)

So, the first big thing that I had to explain in my 'the MCU is great' speech, was that Vision is definitely dead. 100%. Still a broken toaster.

"But how is he alive in the show?" you ask.

He's not.

"But I saw-"

You saw what they wanted you to see.

"But-"

Enough!

Wanda didn't suddenly get time-travel powers. They're not actually in the 50's, or any other time period except the present. What Wanda can do is alter reality to suit her needs (even subconsciously), and her needs right now are to create a nice safe place for her fragile mind. A simple idyllic world where Vision is alive and she doesn't have to worry about end-of-the-world type scenarios, running for her life, hiding from the government, and all that jazz. This is much more aligned with her powers in the comics, which have also changed over time as they have in the MCU.

So what we're really seeing is a dramatic visualization of Wanda's mental breakdown, and if that's not interesting I don't know what is. We could dive further into why she's chosen this particular asthetic. Why America if she's from Sukovia? Why the sitcom style? Why reach for that perfect nuclear family? All great questions and I'm sure they'd be great to discuss. But not here.

My job is to convince people to get through the first few episodes.

Other comic readers have probably already surmised that Vision is dead, but what about the other people in the Westview? This is a trickier question because it doesn't have a direct comparison in the comics, but I would guess that these are real people, hostages if you will, forced to act out Wanda's desires lest they suffer in some unexplained way. I'd wager it's not done on purpose, unconsciously maybe, but these people know they have to keep up appearances. Episode 3 alluded to this with the conversation between Vision, Herb, and Agnes. Maybe the further they are away from Wanda the more freedom they have? I don't know, but the mystery sure is exciting.

Ok. Home stretch. Nothing is real. It's all an illusion being created by someone who is suffering deeply, someone who needs her life to be filled with things other than death. And what's the opposite of death? Birth! Twins to be exact. Glorious times. Granted we have to get to the end of episode 3 to meet them, but they're here. Well, sort of, but not.

Even the twins, as cute as they might be, are not real. They're a part of the safe place that Wanda has built herself, manifesting probably because she wants to be normal, have a family, and not die fighting super villains. The coming of the twins echoes what happened in the comics. Granted not everything is the same, and it's a safe bet Marvel will simplify things for the sake of the show, especially the Master Pandemonium baby hands thing (Look it up. It's weird.), but there will be enough similarities to keep comic readers happy. The real question is, what will she do when she realizes these things aren't real?

Cue dramatic music.

At some point, Wanda will learn that Vision AND her children aren't real. They might simply fade away, or something far more dramatic might happen, but we can be sure that Wanda will not take that news well. We know a little about what she's capable of from the comics: killing Avengers, bringing more mutants into the world, taking most mutants away from the world. The grief of losing what she's created might even be enough for her to break down the walls of reality itself, releasing a multiverse of sorts. Ahem. Cough. Where's Doctor Strange when you need him?

There are so many paths this show could take, and with the new movies around the corner, you can bet what happens here will tie in somehow. The Multiverse of Madness connection is a given, but what else? Will the release of her powers be enough to summon a celestial and wake the Eternals? Will Mephisto saunter in to offer a deal to bring her loved ones to life? So many possibilities. So many mysteries. Doesn't it make you want to watch it?

It's unfortunate that the first episodes didn't capture everyone's attention as they did mine, but like I said, I understand. It wasn't everyone's cup of tea. Maybe what I've talked about here has helped change your mind a little. Maybe not. And if not, WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?!

Sorry. Not sorry.

At least I know I convinced one person to watch on. Cheers dad.