As the first MCU series made for Disney+, there was a lot of uncertainty in this new venture. However, there was plenty of optimism due to the production value and more direct connection to the films. Fortunately, this show delivers in a unique way while expanding on the stories of established characters. While this series doesn’t have the usual superhero action seen in the films, there’s plenty of action and humor in its homages to sitcoms old and new.
The core of the series is Wanda and Vision, as their relationship is allowed to flourish. Despite their differences in anatomy, their chemistry is stronger than ever before. Their interactions with each other are extremely compelling, as their relationship reflects the ups and downs from living in Westview. Despite the different eras of sitcoms, their dynamic is consistent throughout and gradually becomes more tense as Vision begins to question what’s outside of Westiview. Elizabeth Olsen is able to express a great range of emotions as Wanda, as she’s able to convincingly convey happiness while suppressing her character’s trauma. Wanda’s gradual descent into accepting her grief is the most interesting part of her arc, as her world is literally and figuratively falling apart. This series also expands the history of Wanda, with an entire episode dedicated to filling in some of the gaps of her life and explaining her love of sitcoms. Vision is also great due to his outgoing but eccentric personality. While he doesn’t steal the spotlight as often as Wanda, he still has the same compassion as before and is able express himself in a lighthearted manner. Their children, Billy and Tommy, are also memorable once they’re able to experiment with their powers.
Asides from Wanda and Vision, there are other notable characters that stand out. After being introduced as a child in Captain Marvel, Monica Rambeau finally gets her time to shine. Despite all that she went through, she’s an amazing character that has empathy for Wanda and plenty of determination. A couple of nice additions to the cast are Jimmy Woo and Darcy Lewis, as they manage to work well off each other. Darcy is much more likable and compelling in this series, and a step up over her appearances in the first two Thor films. Jimmy Woo is more or less the same as he was before, but that doesn’t make his presence any less interesting. New characters such as Agatha Harkness (a.k.a. Agnes) and Evan Peter’s Pietro help to shake things up in Westview. Agatha works wells as a frenemy of sorts to Wanda, as she helps Wanda to admit her grief but has her own evil intentions with Wanda’s magic. Meanwhile, Pietro works as a comic relief character and creates some confusion for Wanda, while serving a nice nod to Evan Peter’s role as Pietro in Fox’s X-Men films.
Out of all the elements in this series, the storytelling is the most unique aspect, as reality gradually seeps into Wanda’s world. While the trips through different eras of sitcoms is relatively linear, those episodes are mixed in with elements of what’s happening in the real world. Even with this back-and-forth structure, it works to build up the emotional weight and keeps things interesting as the plot unravels. All the homages to various sitcoms (past and present) are done well, as it provides a variety of comedy and encapsulates the evolution of these types of shows. The fictional commercials are a nice touch, as they reflect the eras of their respective episodes and also serve the purpose of highlighting Wanda’s past.
Like most of the MCU, the production value and visuals are impressive, as there’s plenty of creativity from the homages to various sitcoms. There’s a variety of small details to appreciate throughout the series, ranging from the different aspect ratios to the sets reflecting the different time periods. While the series isn’t as action-oriented, the handful of action scenes are a delight and impressive by TV standards. Music plays a large role, as the original themes written by Robert and Kristen-Anderson Lopez (of Frozen fame) are memorable, with “Agatha All Along” being the main musical highlight.
Overall, this series is a strong start to expanding the MCU on Disney+. Having a show like this allows for more character development outside the films, while maintaining a consistent tone and production value akin to the films. It’s rewarding to see an MCU show have more significance, especially in comparison to the previous MCU shows that only alluded to the events from the films. This show stands out with its creativity in action and humor, as it blends old and new elements with ease.
SCORE: 9/10
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