Summary
Three years after its initial release,WandaVisionhas had an undeniable impact on the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Premiering on Disney+,WandaVisionpicks up where Wanda Maximoff left off following the conclusion of the Infinity War saga, slowly unraveling the mystery of the town of Westview while struggling with the grief of Vision’s death. The series remains one ofthe MCU’s best TV showsthanks to its unique presentation and poignant themes.
One often underrated aspect of the series has been its significance to the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe as a whole. Introducing new characters, permanently altering the trajectory of existing ones, and introducing brand-new concepts into the MCU, each subsequent film of the MCU wouldn’t be the same withoutWandaVision’s influence. Bythe ending ofWandaVision, the Marvel Cinematic Universe had become a distinctly different franchise.
Marvel Studios' First TV Show Is Now Secretly Getting 2 Second Seasons
WandaVision opened the MCU’s Disney+ chapter, and years after the release of the first Marvel Studios show, it is getting two very different sequels.
10WandaVision Finally Made Wanda The Scarlet Witch
Classic Red Costume And All
Though she’s based on the Marvel Comics character Scarlet Witch,Wanda Maximoff is mostly referred to simply by her normal name in the MCU.Never getting a secret identity or even a real costume in her heroic journeythrough the franchise since her introduction inAvengers: Age of Ultron,referring to Wanda as Scarlet Witch couldn’t be done in earnest for the majority of the series. Luckily,WandaVisionchanged that by not only christening Wanda as Scarlet Witch, but putting some weight behind the name.
It turns out that Scarlet Witch isn’t simply a name, but a title, a revered way to refer to a prophesied sorceress of unimaginable power.WandaVisionexplained that Wanda has actually had her powers since birth, only being merely activated by the experiments with the Infinity Stone.Wanda even gets to wear a classic version of her comic book costume in the Halloween episode. This turning point was revisited with Scarlet Witch’s villainous appearance inDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
9S.W.O.R.D. Made Its MCU Debut In WandaVision
S.H.I.E.L.D. Isn’t The Only Secretive Organization In The MCU
For a long time, S.H.I.E.L.D. upheld the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the sole source of organization for the Earth’s heroes, protecting the globe against superhuman threats as best it could. But just like in the comics,WandaVisionrevealed thatS.H.I.E.L.D. wasn’t the only game in town when it came to shadowy organizations that deal with superheroes.Sometimes, the governments of the world need to strike first against threats like Wand Maximoff, which is where S.W.O.R.D. came into play.
Standing for Sentient Weapon Observation and Response Division,S.W.O.R.D. focuses on the development and creation of robotic and artificially intelligent weapons for use against alien and paranormal threats.This slightly differs from its comic acronym, Sentient World Observation and Response Department, which posits S.W.O.R.D. as more of an MCU version ofthe Men In Black. Regardless,WandaVisionexpanded the MCU with the addition of the new group, making the world feel larger than just the scope of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s authority.
8WandaVision Gave Monica Rambeau Powers
The Series Saw The Birth Of A New Superhero
Scarlet Witch’s abilities inWandaVisionare so incredibly strong that they can create new superheroes as a mere afterthought through the briefest of exposures. This was the case forMonica Rambeau, who, upon entering the barrier of the Anomaly surrounding Westview, exposed her DNA to a barrage of unstable radiation.The resulting bath of unstable chaotic energy gave Monica powers herself, eventually becoming the heroine Photon.
Monica Rambeau makes use of her powers inThe Marvels, joining forces with her old friend, Carol Danvers, as well as Ms. Marvel.This essentially madeWandaVisionmandatory viewing for anyone who wished to know Rambeau’s backstory going in toThe Marvels, proving the impact the series has had on the wider Marvel Cinematic Universe. Hopefully, Monica can continue to appear in upcoming MCU projects as Photon, using the powers Wanda accidentally bestowed upon her for good.
7The MCU’s Streaming Series Began With WandaVision
WandaVision Was The First Disney+ Show
WandaVisioncertainly wasn’t the first live-action series to fly under the Marvel banner. TheNetflixDefendersuniversehad already been well-established as an analogous MCU storyline long beforeWandaVision’s release, and shows likeAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D.andCloak and Daggerdid the same on network television even before that.ButWandaVisionwas the first to truly expand the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s catalouge of contentlike never before.
WandaVisionwas the first TV show produced by Marvel Studios to expand the world of the franchise beyond the films.
Previously, mainline MCU entries only existed in the movies, with shows like Netflix’sDaredevilandAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D.taking place in an unrelated sidestream. While the former was eventually retroactively canonized in the MCU,WandaVisionwas the first TV show produced by Marvel Studios to expand the world of the franchise beyond the films.This has had an undeniable impact on the series as a whole, exponentially increasing the breadth and scope of MCU stories being told ever after.
6WandaVision Experimented With The Typical MCU Formula
The Series' Unique Style Was A Creative Premise
If there’s one thing the movies of the Marvel Cinematic Universe can be criticized for, it’s their recurring formula. Much of the series' success revolves around a rather simple story template that has been repeated many times across the franchise. That being said,WandaVisionpresented one of the most original MCU stories thanks to its unique structure and sense of mystery.
Rather than being a straightforward comic book story,WandaVisionputs its style first,using the sitcom imagination of Wanda Maximoff as a framing device to obfuscate the true nature of Westview in plain sight.The first few episodes ofWandaVisionare particularly brilliant, drip-feeding information with small reveals while masking its true intentions with a charmingly retro surface.WandaVisionis also much more emotion-driven than most MCU fare, putting the Wanda’s struggle with grief front and center alongside some powerful ruminations on the nature of loss.
5WandaVision Created White Vision
Yet Another Hero Has His Origins In The Series
Monica Rambeau isn’t the only new addition to the MCU’s hero roster that got her start thanks toWandaVision.The series re-introduced Paul Bettany as the affable British android, though his presence as a magical construct fueled by Wanda’s grief meant he wasn’t long for the world. However,S.W.O.R.D.’s White Vision, crafted from the remains of the original model, was activated over the course of the series, and seemed to gain sentience thanks to a conversation with his simulacrum counterpart.
White Vision has sadly yet to return in the MCU after flying away from the streets of Westview,no longer a tool under S.W.O.R.D.’s control but also unsure of his own purpose.It seems as thoughthe follow-up Vision series, previously titledVision Quest, will finally see Paul Bettany reprise the role once more. Hopefully, White Vision will have a lengthy future in the next phases of the MCU thanks to his introduction inWandaVision.
4Wanda’s Series Demonstrated Just How Powerful She Could Be
WandaVision Took Her Power To The Next Level
Despite how immensely powerful Scarlet Witch is in the Marvel Comics,Wanda Maximoff was never quite able to reach the same levels of strength in the MCU.One of the more powerful superpowered characters in the series, to be sure, Wanda’s powers still seemed to cap off at basic telekinesis and mild telepathy, confusing and frightening the Avengers with visions of their biggest insecurities and fears. However,WandaVisionopened up a whole new realm of possibilities when it came to Scarlet Witch’s powers.
Wanda was able to completely re-write reality at a citywide scale, turning the entire town of Westfield into a playground of nostalgia to suit her whims.Not only that, but she was able to effortlessly mind control its entire population nearly subconsciously, forcing them to act out her fantasies whether they liked it or not. This incredible spike in power carried over to Wanda’s appearance inDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, allowing her to solo the powerful heroes making up the Illuminatti with little trouble.
3WandaVision Introduced Agatha Harkness
Another Character Introduction With Some Hefty Worldbuilding Implications
As great as additions as Monica and White Vision are,WandaVisionwas also able to introduce some proper villains into the mix of the MCU. Enter Agatha Harkness, an ancient witch hailing from Salem, Massachusetts. Agatha was bent on absorbing the powerful chaos magic of Wanda Maximoff, infiltrating the town of Westview under the moniker of Agnes. The reveal that she had been manipulating the events of the first few episodes was one of the best moments of the entire show.
Though she ultimately fails her mission to steal Wanda’s power and is cast out of Westview, Agatha is still very much a force to be wary of in the MCU.AnAgatha Harkness solo serieshas been confirmed to be in the works at Disney+, though the show has already gone through many title changes over the course of its development. This means that Agatha is sure to have a greater impact on the MCU than her actions inWandaVision, not done scheming for power by a long shot.
2WandaVision Saw The Birth Of Tommy And Billy Maximoff
Two Very Important Characters In Scarlet Witch’s Development
WandaVisionrevealed that Scarlet Witch’s chaos magic was strong enough to not only control life, but create it at a fundamental level. This was impressive enough with her revival of Vision, butthe creation of two all-new beings, Tommy and Billy Maximoff, was even more groundbreaking.Like their parents, Tommy and Billy seem to have inherited the Maximoff suite of powers, with Billy having his mother’s telekinesis and psionic powers and Tommy having his uncle’s super speed.
Although Wanda is forced to say goodbye to her beloved children by the end ofWandaVision,Tommy and Billy’s profound impact on her life isn’t to be understated.Searching for a new reality in which she can once again be with her children is Wanda’s motivation inDoctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,ultimately leading to Wanda’s descent into villiany. Even if Tommy and Billy never re-appear, they’ve made a profound impact on the MCU.
1WandaVision Was The MCU’s Most Meta Narrative Yet
The Series Began A Trend For Experimentation
One underrated aspect ofWandaVisionis its willingness to play with TV as a narrative, making meta-commentary on its story in several key ways. Most notably,each of the first few episodes parodies a prolific sticom from a certain era, includingI Love Lucy, Malcolm in the Middle,and evenModern Family.This include some fourth-wall breaks, such as in-person interviews and Agatha’s winking at the camera that played with audience expectations in a way Marvel hadn’t done before.
This kind of meta-commentary wasn’t always so overt either, with tongue-in-cheek choiceslike Peter Evans' re-cast as Quicksilver only for him to be revealed as an imposter playing off the actor’s fame for portraying the character inthe FoxX-Menfilms. It’s safe to say that movies like the upcomingDeadpool & Wolverineor moments like She-Hulk’s fourth wall break in her own series wouldn’t have a place in the MCU withoutWandaVisionbreaking new ground as a meta-commentary on media first.
WandaVision
Cast
WandaVision, the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s first TV show on Disney+, first aired in 2021. The series kicked off the MCU’s Phase 4 and brought back Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff, aka the Scarlet Witch, and Paul Bettany as Vision. WandaVision strayed away from Marvel’s typical formula, this time formatting itself more like a classic sitcom as Wanda struggles to cope with the death of Vision.
