WandaVision

It should be fair to say we all grew up on TV sitcoms. Whether you caught the shows live, saw them as reruns, or picked up on the lingering nostalgia ingrained in pop-culture, those little TV waves have floated around without fear of cancelation long past the end of the show's lives.

The resurgence of the nostalgia craze has found no more of a cozy home than in the confines of the internet. Memes and pop culture rendered down to single images and phrases tattooed in the consciousness of the masses find new meaning in a variety of ways. That's what brings us to WandaVision. Like a meme, each episode features a prominent style of television sitcom transformed into something new. There is comfort in the resemblance of something familiar.

Episode 1:

The prominent Marvel Characters Wanda Maximoff, played by Elizabeth Olsen, and Vision, played by Paul Bettany find themselves in a black and white household within the suburban town of Westview. The relationship dynamic follows closely with the structure of I Love Lucy or the Honeymooners. A middle class man attempting to impress his boss while his homestead spouse struggles to keep everything together, while being her own worst challenge. The slapstick and tongue in cheek humor really mesh well with the characters relationship.

Episode 2:

Despite the initial antics of the first episode, not much is learned about this world. Knowing it is a Marvel property one is assuming it is set in the modern day timeline, but the late 50's early 60's style and esthetic continues in the format I Dream of Genie. The plot once again is simple, and the themes identifiable. However this is when the unsettling notion that somethin deeper is going wrong comes to the forefront.

Episode 3:

By episode three the timeline continues to jump forward almost by decade as the setting takes place in a near identical Brady Bunch house. The show has transitioned from black and white to color, and this time the challenge is a rapidly developing pregnancy which experiences all the trimesters in a single day.

Episode 4:

Up until this point the structure of the show has matched an old sitcom with far and between notions that this is in-of-itself, not the real world. Episode four is when the divergence of perspective really takes effect and the Marvel timeline finally matches up to something familiar within the Marvel Universe. The episode recaps the other episodes in an almost X-Files manner, with government agents attempting to decrypt the series of events.

From episode four and on, two realaties are being shown to us the viewer; one within the sitcom and one in modern day attempting to make sense of what is being seen. The WandaVision show continues with episodes resembling Family Ties, Malcom in the Middle, and Modern Family. Each cleverly depicted with the same family members in situations and styles matching the source materials 'episode of the week' style, while threading through a larger science fiction plot that urges you to watch more. It covers every genre and it does it well. Their is a mystery to the larger picture, and it feels great when you taste those breadcrumbs.

As of this moment, only seven episodes have been released, taking a more traditional weekly airing, rather than the binge-watching era of dropping whole seasons and series in a single day. This adds to the excitement and conversation among fans, dissecting every reference and action. WandaVision is clever, rewarding eagle eye viewing. Re-watch-ability is high with enjoyable writing, charismatic acting, and incredible show design. The characters portray themselves in a relatable manner while still maintaining the essence of TV sitcoms through the years. If you've loved any sitcom through the years, there will be something for you here, and you'll love WandaVision too.