Blog #4: The Television Series “WandaVision”
By: Julia Brubaker
The captivating new series WandaVision, directed by Matt Shakman, is a blend between the MARVEL cinematic Universe and classic sitcoms. The show’s main characters, Wanda Maximoff (Actress Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Actor Paul Bettany) are two super powered beings trying to live ideal suburban lives, constantly under the fear of being discovered. “Westview, NJ” is where the characters are living, a false reality powered by Wanda herself and she is in control of everyone in her world.
As the series goes on, each episode looks and feels different, and time doesn't make sense. Viewers will notice their lives unfold over the decades of television tropes, taking us into the style of sitcoms from the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s.
Head writer Jac Schaeffer explained, “We find Wanda and Vision living a blissful suburban existence, trying to keep their powers under wraps.”
Things out of the ordinary begin to appear, and a peculiar take is when the show when Wanda starts to experience a weird phenomena and color starts to appear... along with other strange surprises.
"WandaVision" also takes place after the events of "Avengers: Endgame." Vision should not be there because he was “killed” in “Avengers: Infinity war” by Thanos. Vision's reappearance is just the first of many hiccups on the show telling viewers that something's not right in Wanda and Vision's perfect fairy-tale.
The show overall, is an intriguing element to the Marvel Universe, and the popularity of the show has greatly increased since it has been aired on Disney plus.
Some questions to discuss: (no need to respond to all of them)
Why do you think the director and writer of WandaVision decided to add color? What was the purpose?
What are the different conspiracies about the show that people might find interesting?
Or what do u think the show's effect on the Marvel Cinematic universe will have?
Here are some websites to dive deeper into the multiverse:
https://www.cbr.com/
https://www.msbreviews.com/tv-
Trailer:
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Julia, I am considering this a solid recommendation--as I've never seen it! But it looks very interesting and I love the concept of the various decades and sitcom aesthetics. That alone intrigues me. Now, my question to you (and everyone who has seen WandaVision) is: do you have to be up to speed with the Marvel stuff to follow the story? I'm so out of touch with this 'cinematic universe' as it's referred.
ReplyDeleteAwesome post! Images alone grab my attention and pique my curiosity.
Since it seems as though several different things start to happen to signify that something isn't right within this universe, I'd imagine that the director and writer of WandaVision decided to add color to the show to help the viewers understand this process, and to differentiate episodes from each other. For example, if one episode is set in a certain time period without color, the presence of color would signify the start of something going wrong, and it could suggest that Wanda's power is diminishing, since it is mentioned that the world they exist in is "powered by Wanda herself." Coming from someone who isn't familiar with the Marvel cinematic universe, I don't entirely know how this would impact the timeline, but it seems very intriguing nonetheless! Although I can only guess at the different conspiracies people may have, I'm sure there are many.
ReplyDelete– Antonia Sussina.
I am not personally familiar with the aspects of the Marvel cinematic universe, however, Wanda vision seems to portray the extent of mental delusion that forms from tragic occurrences. Wanda has the superior power to control all elements of her surrounding environment which weakens when the film turns into a vibrant color scheme versus the typical black and white hue. This reality is essentially a coping mechanism for Wanda to deal with her grief filled circumstances. She is living within a massive illusion that is prompted to change every time she feels not in complete authority of her world. Each travel she takes through different eras signifies her digging herself deeper into a mental hole.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the writers decided to add color to indicate the passing of time. They start as a black-and-white film to signify that the show takes place around the 1900s. As color is introduced, the viewers understand that the time period changed. I am not an avid follower of Marvel's comics and productions, but I've become intrigued after watching the trailer and reading some of the conspiracies. Specifically, the inkling that it is all in Vision's head because he is supposed to be dead. Wandavision is a different TV experience that I have not seen from Marvel before, as it starts off as a sitcom and slowly becomes more serious and complex.
ReplyDeleteThere are several conspiracies of the television series " WandaVision." The first conspiracy that I find interesting based on what I've seen in the series is Wanda creates a pocket universe in which Wanda alters reality to create a more peaceful life for herself. Another famous conspiracy is that this is all in " Visions head" and that Wanda is innocent and not doing anything at all. Some say that this is all taking place in the Visions head, and everything is based on his thoughts. I also think the director decided to add color to signify change and a shift in the story/plot.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I've never seen any Marvel or Dc movies/Tv shows, I have seen clips of WandaVision all over my tik tok. From what I've seen and heard about it, WandaVision seems like a super intriguing show and I can definitely see why there is so much hype around it. Even though I'm not in the fandom, I can really tell just how different and how well written it is. Film wise, I love how it starts off in black and white and slowly shifts into different styles of film based on different decades the characters are in. If I had to guess why the director and writer decided to slowly make the show's visuals more colorful, I'd say to maybe make the shifting into another time period more noticeable or more fun and dynamic to watch. Also, seeing a show experiment with different types of styles really inspires me as an artist!
ReplyDelete- Emily Smolock
I have never watched any of the Marvel movies nor Wanda Vision, but the show seems to have a very cool concept! I always get recommended Wanda vision videos on Tik Tok and Youtube. I have to say all the fan theories seem super interesting! Although i don’t understand them, i can admire the detective work. The most interesting theory I've come across has to do with an old 2000’s show called “Yo Gabba Gabba” playing on a TV in one of the episodes. There are five main characters within the show, but strangely while it was playing within Wanda’s universe only four of the characters were on screen. The Robot character seemed to be missing. I’m not sure what this is supposed to imply about Wanda Vision, but I found this to be an interesting way to clue viewers into the idea that something is not right within the show.
ReplyDelete-Sara Smolock
The show so far has been amazing, and I think it’s going to set up a fire in the Marvel cinematic universe’s upcoming movies. I think the director decided to add color after the first three episodes to continue with the different decades of sitcoms, but also, I think the colors get brighter as the show gets darker. By the end of the show, it will tie into the next Doctor Strange movie since it has to do with the multi-verse, and in the comics, the scarlet witch can travel to and control elements of the multi-verse. Where ever the show goes, it has me hoping and wondering what will happen next.
ReplyDelete-Anthony Villanella
Although I haven't watched the WandaVision television series yet the director and writer behind the series adds color because it seems to work as a way for the one of main characters Wanda to realize that the world she created isn't real. The episodes that are filmed in black and white but there's a mysterious object that is of color seems to act as a clue that Wanda’s world isn't real. The episodes that are filmed in color seem to also provide a different perspective than the black and white episodes. The color enhances more of the dramatic aspect of the series because of its richness and uniqueness that looks to be captured within the television series. The effect that the show will have on the Marvel Universe will most likely be positive due to the fact the Marvel Universe not only has a strong fan base but also because of the interesting and relatable characters that Wanda and Vision are. The fact that the main character Wanda is creating a whole world of her own in order to escape the reality that her lover interest is actually dead will create a lot of buzz of its own. The show also provides a certain outlook on the concept on how far someone will go in order to protect themselves from reality.
ReplyDeleteI have personally never heard of WandaVision so my opinions on the show might not be at all accurate. Using the information that I have gathered, I think that the writers are putting color into the show is to show the audience that time is passing by as they skip another decade. Although I am not familiar with the WandaVision, the theories make a lot of sense regarding the episode descriptions I have read through.
ReplyDeleteThe trailer looks very different and confusing, but I do like the mix with past v. future. I have never watched the series before, but all i can get from this is that they (producer) want to the viewers to feel like they are being thrown back to the ol'days, and just jumping around in time and space. All that seems pretty cool.
ReplyDeleteI am a huge fan of big screen superheros such as superman, batman, iron man etc. I don't recall familiarizing myself with other super heroes other than the popular ones. But i have been seeing numerous ads of "WandaVision" all across many different platform. Judging from the teasers, I can see why it has caught a lot of attentions, and it has fans in all ages. Writers of marvel comics first introduced Wanda and Vision around 1985, and acquired a lot of fans. As marvel introduced new arcs, so did the popuilarity of theses heroes increased. Decades have passed, and there very little changes made to attract the young generation. I think it's a clever tactics by the writer and the producer of "WanadVision" to add some color. This rejuvenates the plot of the story, opens the door for new viewers to create their own theories about the series. Vision is supposed to be dead according to the avenger's end game. The adding of color also indicates passing of time and may well be hinting towards new arc in marvel universe.
ReplyDelete- kholilur Rahman
I think that viewers find this show so interesting because it is an interesting mix. I do not watch Marvel movies, but I can see WandaVision has an attractive element to it. Maybe the purpose of the director adding color was to take away from the fantasy/fairytale aspect, especially since Vision is not supposed to be alive, but this is a very creative and unique show it seems.
ReplyDeleteI believe it would have major impact on the marvel cinematic universe. Personally, I'm very excited for Spider-man 3, I heard that wandavision, spider-man 3, and doctor strange would be part of a multiverse trilogy. The concept of the multiverse is very much an exciting concept to me. But within the universe, in order for that to happen, I think Wanda should have some implications on the multiverse with her powers.
ReplyDelete