The vision of Marvel's future
Wanda and Vision find themselves in the odd town of Westview where life is built like that of a 1950’s sitcom. (Staff photo)
By Clayton Richardson | Staff writer
I was excited when Chief Creative Officer of Marvel Studios Kevin Fiege announced WandaVision in 2019 to be slated for release in 2021. Experiencing a slight Marvel fatigue at the time I was anxious to see what Marvel Studios was capable of with a longer runtime. As two years passed the announcement had slipped from my mind and my expectations with it. Upon release I decided to give WandaVision a chance, and boy am I glad that I did.
Without spoiling too much of the plot, WandaVisions timeline is set two years after the previous Marvel movie, Avengers: Endgame. Wanda and Vision find themselves in the odd town of Westview where life is built like that of a 1950’s sitcom. Although the show has very comedic overtones it is quick to point out that not all is what it seems to be in the town of Westview.
At key points the dramatic tension rises and simple shots are replaced with modern day camera angles. The balance between comedy and suspenseful storytelling kept me wanting more.
“You laugh at all the comedy tropes but then something very serious and creepy happens. Every episode ends on a cliffhanger and I just want to see what happens next.” says Augusta University Alumna, Erin Downs.
The spot-on storytelling is just one praise I have for WandaVision, the other would have to be the cross generational appeal. I was easily able to watch WandaVision with my grandparents. They Pointed out many of the references that I would have easily missed.
“I liked the characters and the makeup effects.” said my grandmother, Barbara Richardson, “It was neat seeing how the characters adapted to the different time periods and it kept you wanting more.”
If this is the kind of storytelling Marvel has in store for the future, then I cannot wait for the titles to come. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier premieres on March 19, 2021, tackling race, patriotism and the mantle of Captain America. Loki will follow shortly after, releasing on June 11, 2021. It appears we will be following the antics and consequences of Loki as he jumps through time, altering human history along the way.
If you have not seen WandaVision, then I highly recommend you give it a chance. The complete series can be found on Disney Plus. Drama, comedy, suspense and relatability all rolled into a very original package. Marvel’s “vision” for future content is proving to be very marvelous indeed.
