It is 1:06 AM at the time that I am constructing this, so it’s going to be all over the place.

Then again, everything I put out kind of is, as is customary when you’re a novice.

But I just finished up the finale of the MCU’s debut Disney+ original series, WandaVision, and let’s dive into my raw, mostly unadulterated thoughts.

So, spoilers? I mean if you didn’t give two or just haven’t seen the finale yet, you wouldn’t have even pulled this up. But it’s within the culture to spoiler warning everything Marvel so…

SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!

First things first, we’ll lay some groundwork.

This is the first Marvel anything we’ve received in terms of the MCU since Spider-Man: Far From Home back in July of 2019, a notion that barely even seems real at this point. Of course, the Black Widow film I’ve been lobbying amongst friends and family should’ve been released on Disney+ at any point during the 2020 period of the pandemic to save us from insanity (I gagged typing the fact that a full calendar year has passed since we first locked down) was supposed to have been released May of last year, but due to health and safety is projected to be bestowed upon us in some capacity May 7, 2021.

I’m not holding my breath, and will continue to scream that I will pay whatever Kevin Feige and Disney are charging if they would just release the damn thing on Disney+. But I guess in the grand scheme of things they played their cards right holding it till after these first two series (WandaVision/The Falcon & The Winter Soldier) and then hitting us with Loki shortly after the supposed Black Widow release date for a cavalcade of MCU goodness to reward our patience.

The point is, take my opinions and all those you read from here on out with that “grain of salt” mentality in mind. We’ve been deprived for so long, some of these reviews are going to be overflowing with hyperbole and overblown praise, but also the alternative takes from the die-hards or stubborn fucks who were expecting more might be much harsher than necessary.

Again, also take into account I have viewed Episode 9 once, and my eyes and brain grow more and more weary by the second.

Anyways, back to Wanda (insert heart-eyes emoji).

To start, what a gutsy call by Feige and Marvel to release WandaVision as their kickstarter into the world of the original series. MCU nerds like me are broken records when we holler how every movie we watch is unlike anything we’ve seen thus far in this universe, but this show takes the cake in similar ways that the first Guardians did.

The initial Phase 4 lineup slated The Falcon & The Winter Soldier to release prior to WandaVision, however as stated the coronavirus shot any and all plans to hell for the lot of us. So that forced WandaVision to take point. Based on the early bits of footage we received leading up to Episode 1, it was clear WandaVision would stray far away from the “meet good guy, see bad guy, punch bad guy, beat bad guy, set up next Avengers movie, laughs throughout” blueprint we’ve fallen in love with.

Not to say Marvel has done any wrong with that recurring narrative, everything they touch turns to pure gold; I’m just saying, we were prepared, and due, for a breath of fresh air.

And an invigorating breath it was.

Naturally, one can do much more with a series as opposed to a movie, as the total runtime is obviously much larger, allowing for scenarios to be more elongated for added dramatic effect. Every episode, although some more than others, left me guessing, and seeking knowledge from every corner of my MCU archives to see what the heck was happening, and what the experts thought might happen next. (For quick context on my MCU credentials, movies know like the back of my hand, deep comics info hopelessly in need of expert help.)

I’ll admit I felt I waited juuuust a bit longer than I would’ve liked a big-time payoff, especially in the final episodes, but I wouldn’t say that ruined the show for me in any sense. The only thing that would have completely changed the tone of this post would be if the finale was a total flop, which it was far from. Aside from not being action-packed, again excluding the final witch-off, the show shrouded us more in mystery and confusion rather than feeding us the usual superhero action sequences and interactions were used to (again, all in a good way).

Despite this perhaps urging a casual MCU fan (you know, the one’s that only saw Endgame) or younger children seeking more of that reduced action to turn away, I know the rest of us found Marvel’s 2021 leadoff hitter to be everything we’ve needed during these trying times. I had zero issues waiting a week in-between episodes. The time-off let me sit on fan theories and theories of my own, and gave me something to look forward to every Friday. Although I’m a little after it’s true peak years, I remember hanging by a thread waiting for the new episode of my favorite shows to come out week by week. It was fun, and although the age of bingeing has kept old shows alive and works for a lot of people, including myself when I recently plowed through Grey’s Anatomy, it was nice to be left guessing again for a change.

Reprising performances from Elizabeth Olsen (triple heart-eyes emoji) and Paul Bettany as Wanda Maximoff and The Vision, respectively, were on par with their solid portrayals from the big pictures, with Olsen getting to display her range a lot brighter this time around being the apex character of the show in nearly every facet of the word going through psychological and mental turmoil throughout the series. The aforementioned Hahn, who got her feet wet in the fantastic world of Marvel voicing Doc Oc in Spiderverse, shines as Agatha Harkness, and I think she naturally nailed the quirky neighbor role, but also the threatening witch-side as well.

The biggest wrench was obviously Evan Peters showing up as Wanda’s brother Quiksilver mid-way through, and we all lost our shit drooling over X-Men crossovers and what not. I clocked after the next consequent episode that it was just a cheeky bit of casting by the producers, and although we envisioned more, I liked being thrown for that loop at least for a week or two. I’m also an Evan Peters guy ‘cuz American Horror Story is a jam.

Speaking of envisioning more, here’s where I might agree with some who will say the finale wasn’t the payoff they sought after.

Some of the disappointment that some people might report is due in large part to what was said in interviews by the title stars. Olsen teased a “Luke Skywalker in Mandolorian” level cameo in the show, which is now confirmed to be Peters’ Quiksilver, but does it count if it wasn’t really him? I thought the Skywalker-type appearance was surely Benedict Cumberbatch’s Dr. Strange, as no other Marvel hero would really be of any use in coming to Wanda’s aide in this situation.

Bettany went on about “finally getting to work with an actor he’d always dreamed of working with,” whom again I thought would be Dr. Strange, as the two’s characters never met in prior MCU films. But turns out the bastard was talking about himself, which was ultimately a bummer, but also ultimately hilarious trolling to the most obsessive fanbase in cinema.

I gotta say, looking back, it would’ve been a disservice to the characters of Wanda and Vision, particularly Wanda, if all people remembered from her title short-series was how someone cool came in at the end, rather than Wanda did something awesome at the end, you know? She kind of took a page out of Strange’s book to seal the win, in all honesty: outsmarted the opponent on some mystical stuff and walked away an even more lethal wizard than when we started? Badass, man.

So with the overhype generated by off-screen comments and the MCU content drought in mind, I won’t crucify people who weren’t totally satisfied with how the show ended, with Wanda going back into solitary isolation from the world as she masters the Darkhold. I mean, you gotta forgive people who saw Thor’s Wakanda entrance in Infinity War and Cap lift Mjolnir in Endgame for feeling even a little let down after WandaVision didn’t end in major explosions and fan service cheese.

But I’m certainly not going to stand for any slander either; this was a really different project from what we are accustomed to from these guys on all fronts, and they knocked it out of the park. Not to mention, after a great deal of illusion and magic, anyone in need of their superhero action fill is getting all of it in 2 week from Bucky and Sam Wilson, who I’m ready to see take turns on that beloved shield. The contrast back-to-back is going to be just, (chef’s kiss).

In all, I’m giving WandaVision a resounding stamp of approval. We dove deeper into characters we couldn’t do so with in the bigger team-up films thanks to the short-series format and got a better understanding of their past and future influence on the MCU. And with a character like Wanda, now crowned the illustrious Scarlet Witch, who’s implications on the universe in the comics can open so many more doors for the on-screen one, and who has endured perhaps the most emotionally devastating backstory in the MCU, AND who is indeed the strongest Avenger (will love to Thor and Captain Marvel), you’re going to want to know what makes her tick going forward.

So job well done Marvel, once again you blew me out of the water.

I’ll end with some sputtered thoughts from all over the place, and feel free to hit me with anything you think I overlooked, anything I might be on to something with, or anything that’s a complete dead end.

-Obviously bubble Vision’s interaction with White Vision was something. By unlocking all his old memories, or whatever the hell he did when he touched him, in what is technically his old body, could White Vision basically be the original Vision in time? Wanda did say bubble Vision was a piece of the Mind Stone that’s within her, so maybe he put himself (the piece) in White Vision, or at least a little of himself, that can now live on in the MCU. Consequently, would Wanda wanna rekindle their flame if that’s the case? Or would Wanda date me? Huge questions that need answers.

-Monica’s powers seem sick, and obviously the person the Skull pointed up at that said wanted to talk to Monica is in reference to Nick Fury, who we last saw up in the big ass Death Star space station at the end of Far From Home. Only question is going to be when and where are we getting more of her? Gotta be Captain Marvel 2, but since its space, can’t rule out Guardians or Thor or honestly anybody at this point, since space is so accessible now thanks to said Guardians of the Galaxy. But I’m in on Monica’s Photon, who I’m shamelessly also kind of in love with. Lucia is having a tough time with me gushing over all these beautiful MCU heroes like Wanda and Monica but, honestly, she got a decade of Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, and co. so it’s my time to shine. Also every mention of Carol Danvers in this series, Monica wasn’t too hype on her, so maybe there’s going to be some beef they have to squash, which is going to be even cooler now that they’re both flexing big-time abilities. Early guess is Carol played a role in why Monica’s mom and Carol’s bff, Maria, ultimately got sick and died, and Monica is holding a well-deserved grudge.

-Agatha seemed pretty adamant that Wanda “had no idea what she’d done” by assuming the Scarlet Witch title and all it entails. Cool they didn’t kill her off too, you know she’s going to wiggle her way out of Westview at some point and be a pain again. But it begs the question to Wanda’s next move, which is all but confirmed to be in the next Doctor Strange movie. I can’t ignore when Monica urged her not to be made out as a villain, to which Wanda responded, “maybe I already am.” I’m thinking she’s going to bite off more than she can chew when materializing her sons, who we heard off in the distance as the show closed for good. Obviously Dr. Strange is going to really tackle the multiverse after we’ve been fed teeny tiny scraps about it in Far From Home and Ant-Man & The Wasp, and that’s the popular opinion on how the likes of the X-Men, Fantastic Four, and others will find their was into the MCU since the licensing rights to a bunch of people was all over the place when Iron Man kicked this thing off. I’m lukewarm on everything X-Men, I’m even one of those weirdos who wasn’t floored by Logan, but it does need a serious rewatch, as I faded in and out of it on a plane ride once. The Fantastic Four and a lot of these bigger villains are what I’m really in on, so hope everything starts picking up at Dr. Strange 2. But back to Wanda being a villain, I think seeing her clash with Strange, at least initially, would be a dream matchup. Two supreme sorcerers going at it? I’m already foaming at the mouth. But I’m thinking again Wanda kind of let’s the multiverse stuff get out of hand and Strange and her help remedy it, or similar dilemma of WandaVision where she’s figured out how to bring her sons to life, but maybe she opens the door too wide and something gets through that Strange needs to eliminate (Nightmare, Mephisto), but in doing so has to also eliminate Billy and Tommy which obviously Wanda won’t stand for? Or maybe the Westview residents will take to the media and make Wanda out to be the villain since they suffered in the hex, so she’ll just say screw it and assume villain duties?

Man so much set up for Feige to give us! Can’t wait.

See you again for an All-Star Break Laker assessment later this weekend.

Proofreading has begun, 2:52 AM.

God bless Marvel Studios.

Cheers.