When Marvel released the “Avengers: Endgame” in April of 2019, some fans thought that the MCU had its last big hurrah, ending a beloved saga forever. Fortunately, this was not the case as Marvel announced the fourth phase of the MCU: a plan to release shows and movies that went beyond the classic Avengers films. 

On par with true Disney+ form, Marvel’s newest show WandaVision releases one episode each week, with the pilot airing in early January 2021. What is the purpose of this style? To keep viewers on the hook? To beat back the hunger of a content-craving society? 

Regardless of the reason, Marvel fans sit on the edge of their seats, eagerly awaiting the next episode. Observer critic Brandon Katz writes, “WandaVision works best precisely because it’s unlike anything the MCU’s model has ever produced.” 

WandaVision is a Russian-nesting doll of a series; it’s a show within a show. The story centers around Wanda, played by Elizabeth Olsen, and Vision, played by Paul Bettany. The two portray a young, married couple in a surreal sitcom version of reality. 

This premiere episode, filmed in black and white, plays on tropes from famous shows like “I Love Lucy,” “I Dream of Jeannie” and “Bewitched.” 

Of course, woven into this facade of innocence and comedy is an ominous tone—only apparent in the occasional odd phrase, awkward silence or obscure MCU reference. 

Because of both these aspects, the show is equally enjoyable whether you’re a hard-core Marvel fan or simply familiar with old sitcoms. 

“Whatever is it, ‘WandaVision’ is the weirdest entry yet into the MCU, and a significant artistic step forward in its storytelling,” says Detroit News critic Adam Graham. 

With each episode, viewers get little bits of information and more unanswered questions. The main one is of course: is Vision really alive? 

Since Vision’s death in “Avengers: Infinity War,” many thought the character was gone forever. In this way, the show is “reshaping expectations for what is possible in the MCU,” says critic Jeffrey Lyles. 

It is this fresh and creative style that earned WandaVision a 93 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. 

Tension builds when characters start seeing through the sitcom reality. Suddenly, in episode 3, the show becomes colorized, clearly moving eras from the fifties and sixties to the seventies—the clothes, makeup and film quality all change to fit the time period. 

Episode 4 shocks viewers with the revelation that Wanda is not the victim of this fake reality, but its creator. 

It seems that a grief-stricken Wanda somehow brought the Vision back to life, figuratively speaking. Wanda’s agony over losing the love of her life causes her abilities to grow beyond anything shown in the Avengers movies. 

Allegedly experiencing a psychotic break, Wanda creates a new bubble reality called Westview: an idyllic town where she and Vision can lead ordinary lives. The internet now swells with outlandish vlogger theories about Wanda’s abilities and her intentions. 

In the episode 5, it becomes clear that Wanda’s fake reality keeps innocent people hostage, and her intentions may not be all that heroic. 

News of Wanda’s switch to the dark side resulted in an explosion of theories ranging from ‘Wanda is under Hydra’s influence’ to ‘she has developed a Smeagol-Golem type personality split.’ 

If “WandaVision” sets a precedent for the ‘MCU Phase Four’, then Marvel Fans eagerly expect something equally thrilling for its other, soon-to-be-released series: “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” (airing March 19, 2021) starring Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan and “Loki” (airing May 2021) starring Tom Hiddleston. 

The only thing that critics, vloggers and internet trolls all agree on is that no one is quite sure what to expect from this unique TV series, but everyone is tuning in.