“WandaVision,” a new television show on Disney+, is an intriguing sitcom-style introduction to Marvel’s The Scarlet Witch. 

The show stars Wanda Maximoff and her husband Vision, as they live their lives post “Blip,” a time in the MCU where half the population of the universe was killed and eventually brought back by the Avengers. Each episode takes the viewer through a televised version of each decade, with episode one starting in the 1950s, all the way to the 2000s. We see Wanda and Vision living a cookie cutter life in the suburbs, attempting to keep their powers concealed from their nosy neighbors. After the events of “Avengers: Infinity War,” we know that the Vision was killed after the mind stone, the stone powering him as well as the stone we are to believe caused Wanda’s power, was removed by Thanos, the main antagonist of the MCU. The audience must now ponder who brought Vision back, if he is really alive, and how Wanda and Vision are living in this sitcom-like reality. Knowing of Vision’s death, we must wonder if everything is as it seems, or if there is something under the surface of this couple’s domestic paradise.

This show was a beautifully executed explanation into the aftermath of the “blip,” and how Wanda must cope with the loss of her beloved partner, the Vision, as well as the earlier loss of her parents and twin brother, Pietro. Elizabeth Olsen delivers an excellent performance as Wanda Maximoff, successfully emulating the grief and sacrifice that Wanda encounters. Alongside her, Paul Bettany, playing Vision, shows a side of Vision that viewers had never seen before, portraying Vision as less android, and more human. Olsen and Bettany continue to blow the audience away with their chemistry, almost to the point where you forget that they are not married in real life.

Not only does “WandaVision” have an incredibly talented cast, it’s cinematography and visuals impress its audience quite a bit. Costumes, sets, and props also stand out in this show during the decade shift, with many saying that they fit the time periods perfectly. Each decade represents a classic show from that time period, with shows like The Dick Van Dyke show, Bewitched, The Brady Bunch, Family Ties, Malcolm In The Middle, Modern Family, and The Office. 

The main problem with WandaVision is its first episode. Many viewers say they stopped watching the series after the first episode, saying its sitcom nature is not what they expected from a Marvel television show. Episode 1, titled “Filmed Before a Live Studio Audience,” shows us Wanda and Vision’s move into Westview, a small, quaint town in New Jersey. This episode, shot in black and white, channels The Dick Van Dyke show and I Love Lucy with slapstick comedy and other classic sitcom details. Throughout the episode things seem to move along in the way you would expect in a 50s sitcom until a moment at dinner with Vision’s boss where we get the first glimpse into the dark underbelly of this reality. But even with the reveal that something is off in Westview, many decided to call it quits after episode 1, claiming the show to be too boring, especially compared to the other action packed films of the MCU. If they had chosen to stick around, however, they would have soon been more satisfied with the climactic twists and turns of this show.

“WandaVision” takes its rightful place as the most watched show of February 2021. It’s combination of comedy and tragedy, as well as its homage to many classic sitcoms, makes it an extraordinarily well-rounded and charming television show. “WandaVision” starts “Phase Four” of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, generating excitement for all Marvel fans who want to find out what’s coming next for our beloved heroes.