If you enjoy reading my Spoiler-Free reviews, please follow my blog @ https://www.msbreviews.com (Based on the season’s first three episodes handed to press) Marvel delivered an unprecedentedly successful superhero universe that culminated in the record-breaking Avengers: Endgame (Spider-Man: Far from Home is actually the last movie of the Infinity Saga, but let’s ignore that). With the first overarching story ending after twenty-three films, the MCU now begins a new Era. Basically, Phase Four is truly another Phase One, where viewers will meet new heroes to root for. However, there are dozens of Avengers still in the game, including the astonishingly powerful Wanda. Television will play a massive role in the upcoming saga, with miniseries starring key superheroes having a significant impact in the movies. Obviously, this raises the question: do viewers need to watch the TV shows in order to understand and follow the films? I believe so. Some series might not have as much impact as others, but WandaVision will undoubtedly affect Wanda’s path in the MCU. From being one of the most powerful Avengers to the possibility of Wanda being the next big villain, this character has limitless potential. In addition to this, Elizabeth Olsen is arguably one of the best actresses in the franchise, and honestly, of her entire generation. Therefore, even though I always try to keep my expe…

If you enjoy reading my Spoiler-Free reviews, please follow my blog @ https://www.msbreviews.com Original Review (based on the season’s first three episodes handed to press) Marvel delivered an unprecedentedly successful superhero universe that culminated in the record-breaking Avengers: Endgame (Spider-Man: Far from Home is actually the last movie of the Infinity Saga, but let’s ignore that). With the first overarching story ending after twenty-three films, the MCU now begins a new Era. Basically, Phase Four is truly another Phase One, where viewers will meet new heroes to root for. However, there are dozens of Avengers still in the game, including the astonishingly powerful Wanda. Television will play a massive role in the upcoming saga, with miniseries starring key superheroes having a significant impact in the movies. Obviously, this raises the question: do viewers need to watch the TV shows in order to understand and follow the films? I believe so. Some series might not have as much impact as others, but WandaVision will undoubtedly affect Wanda’s path in the MCU. From being one of the most powerful Avengers to the possibility of Wanda being the next big villain, this character has limitless potential. In addition to this, Elizabeth Olsen is arguably one of the best actresses in the franchise, and honestly, of her entire generation. Therefore, even though I always try…

So many missed opportunities in this series makes for a disappointing watch, although the series does end on a higher note. The premise is sound - a powerful mutant (oh, we're not allowed to use that word) - sorry, witch, is grieving for her love and reverts to what she thinks is the idealised family - based on TV sitcoms. Here you could do so much - an episode per decade (nup, some are randomly skipped), add in creepy themes (this is started, but never really done well), expound on the puppet-master theme, explore grieving, or having a family as a Supe, or trying to be normal. You could mash up the Truman Show with Pleasantville and the Incredibles with a touch of the Stepford Wives (and even have them caused by the antagonist of the series to either try to gain a friend, or to unnerve and outdo Wanda - seriously, is the antagonist just evil with no human desires?). But we got this average slump of a series which wants to be more...a whole lot more. Plusses - Olsen and Bettany are on form and seem to relish the increased screen time for the characters - their magic show is a highlight of the droll early episodes. The minor cast are great too with Caulfield and Hahn being highlights. Remarkably, Dennings is held back which (compared to her last showing in the Dark World) we are all thankful for. And the set design and score are masterful showing true homage to the show…

_WandaVision_ is a fairly standard MCU entry disguised as a unique MCU entry, and its biggest problem is a lack of commitment to the bit. The eerie set-up of an idealistic, suburban rom com used as a false life for Wanda to live is genius(!!) and deserves **so** much better than being knocked to the curb by the final few episodes in exchange for more bland concepts. The scattered focus with all the characters means that not one idea really gets as much development as you would hope, which is especially prevalent once the whole thing wraps up. By the time you really get a grasp of the true extent of Wanda's struggle, you're pretty much at the final episode, and the established style through TV shows of the era is absent. It's too bad, because I didn't really dislike any of the plot threads either, they just sort of come and go? I think Darcy Lewis adds plenty to the series, but there needed to be more of her to prevent her from just seeming like a front for a boatload of exposition. Jimmy Woo is **always** a treat, but I don't know why his run-in with the "surprise" antagonist was made out to be as big a deal as it was when it's really only a temporary inconvenience that adds nothing to anything? Wanda's entanglements go all over the place, from memories of her husband, her brother, to even her desire for kids. It's a lot to tackle, and I just don't think the writers stuck the…