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Update: March 5, 2021
Dragonlord’s Review WANDAVISION (No Spoilers)
Bottom Line: Wandavision is a fun, mystery-filled drama with lots of zany turns and boasts an exceptional performances by Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany
(Warning: This review will contain major spoilers. Please skip this if you have not watched the series yet)
Marvel Studios has dominated the theaters and is now poised to conquer the television side as well. With an impressive production values, Wandavision is the first of many Marvel Studios live-action television series. Each episode features the main characters in TV sitcom from various decades, paying homage to classics like I Love Lucy and Bewitched to modern hits like Malcolm in the Middle, The Office and Modern Family. Its unique premise kept viewers entertained and guessing the mysteries behind the set-up each week.
If you don’t like the first few episodes, I recommend that you reach episode 4 first before deciding to drop the series altogether because episode 4 will explain the events leading up to the weird sitcom situation.
Elizabeth Olsen was far from my choice for the Scarlet Witch role but after seeing her journey through the MCU and her outstanding dramatic performance in Wandavision, she owns the character and I am now having a hard time envisioning another actress in the role. Her chemistry with Paul Bettany, who also gave a terrific performance as well as showcasing his comedic abilities, is just amazing and effortlessly carries the show on their backs.
The supporting players were mostly positive. Kathryn Hahn was enjoyable as the nosy neighbor Agnes and then the big bad witch Agatha Harkness. Randall Park was endearing who reprises his role of Agent Jimmy Woo. Kat Dennings was absolutely adorable as now-astrophysicist Darcy Lewis and her acerbic style of humor was most welcomed.
Teyonah Parris as the grown up Monica Rambeau was pretty good for the first half of the series but found her a bit dislikable during the second half. Her final look was just terrible with her hairstyle (making her face look fat) and her silly Star Trek-like uniform was unflattering. S.W.O.R.D. director Hayward (Josh Stamberg) was building up to be a good antagonist but just fell short and ultimately became a one-dimensional villain. He just needed a few scenes to show his rationality for his actions.
The show had a lot of Easter eggs and water cooler moments but none bigger than the meta casting of Evan Peters as fake Pietro. Nothing came out of it in the end but that was still one of the funniest WTF moments of the MCU almost at par with Nick Fury’s post-credit scene in the first Iron Man. Another awesome moment was the appearance of Vision and Scarlet Witch’s vintage costume. It also proves that their classic costumes are doable with a few tweaks here and there.
One of the strengths of the show is that the episodes are released on a weekly basis. It gives viewers time to catch up with one another and discuss the events of each episode as well as speculate on their theories and predictions. It’s the reason why Wandavision is currently the most popular show for the past few weeks. But the weekly release format also has its disadvantages as the hype, fan theories and conjectures have gone out of control and cause disappointment when their expectations are not met. I am guilty of this also. I believe that this show would be received by casual viewers who will binge watch it. I also feel that fans will be less harsh and more accepting of the show when rewatching in the future as they now know what to expect and can just enjoy the show for what it presents.
The aftermath of Wandavision has some huge ramifications to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Wanda has officially become the Scarlet Witch and one of the, if not the most, powerful character in the MCU (sorry, Hawkeye). Last we saw her, Wanda was studying the Darkhold which could lead to more crazier stuff down the line as we’ll soon find out in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and possibly Spider-Man: No Way Home. The original Vision is back and he has retained some or all of his memories. Monica Rambeau gains superpowers and will eventually become Spectrum. She’s going to space and possibly be part of Secret Invasion. The powerful witch Agatha Harkness makes her debut and will no doubt serve as the Loki to Wanda’s Thor in future appearances. The personal journey of Wanda is tragic for sure as she lost loved ones but she has inadvertently caused a lot of death and suffering wherever she goes as well. She could be the creator or the destroyer of worlds in the future.
Better than the current CW superhero trash shows, better than most of the boring Netflix-Marvel shows, better than the awful YA Marvel shows on Freeform and Hulu, Wandavision is a tragic love story and coping up with loss at its core. It has been a fun ride and I’ve enjoyed reading people’s posts and discussing the show every week. See you all two weeks from now when The Falcon and Winter Soldier arrives (which I’ve said from the start would be better than Wandavision bleh)
Rating: 7.510
______________________________________________________
Update: September 20, 2020
First Trailer for WANDAVISION Starring Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany [Updated]
______________________________________________________
Update: September 18, 2019
Loki, Scarlet Witch and Other MCU Characters to Get Their Own TV Shows on Disney Streaming Service
Disney is enlisting Earth’s Mightiest Heroes as the company prepares to launch its upcoming streaming service. The entertainment giant is in early development on an ambitious plan for a number of limited series centered on popular characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. These series will likely include shows centered on Loki and the Scarlet Witch, along with other beloved superheroes who have yet to appear in their own standalone movies.
There’s an important distinction from other Marvel small screen efforts, however. The actors who portrayed these heroes and villains in the Avengers films and their spin-offs, such as Tom Hiddleston and Elizabeth Olsen, are expected to play them in the streaming shows. Moreover, though sources close to the production are staying mum on the cost of the programming, the budgets are expected to be hefty rivaling those of a major studio productions. Each series is expected to include six to eight episodes. Marvel Studios will produce the shows and Kevin Feige, the guru of all things MCU, is expected to take a hands-on role in their development.
The pricey gamble with one of the crown jewels of the Disney film empire is a sign of how much the company has riding on its direct-to-consumer platform. As companies such as Netflix and Amazon continue to grow their user base, Disney is trying to find a way to establish a toehold in the streaming revolution upending Hollywood. The company has kept the details of the service close to the vest, beyond saying that it will likely cost less than Netflix and will launch at some point in late 2019.
Disney has already started to unwind its licensing deals in order to put as much premium content on the platform as possible. That’s meant that the company is forfeiting billions of dollars in profit, as well as shouldering the cost of developing the technology. The company has announced a number of high-profile projects, including a Star Wars series overseen by “Jungle Book” director Jon Favreau, a show based on “High School Musical,” and a live-action “Lady and the Tramp” film. The company also plans to offer several new releases when it launches, including its live-action “Dumbo” film and “Captain Marvel.”
Many of these projects are expensive bets. The Star Wars series will reportedly cost $100 million and the movies are expected to carry budgets north of $25 million. However, Disney has to spend big to make an impression. Netflix, its main rival, has 125 million subscribers globally and has lured top talent like Ryan Murphy (“American Horror Story”), Kenya Barris (“Black-ish”), and Shonda Rhimes (“Grey’s Anatomy”) to its platform with record-setting deals.
The Marvel series are in early development and writers have yet to be attached to the projects. Marvel TV Studios and Disney have been active with shows that include ABC’s “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” and Netflix’s “Daredevil,” but sources say those shows will stay under Marvel TV banner with these limited series set under Marvel Studios.
Storylines for each series are still being teased out, but Disney appears to be holding back some significant fire power for the big screen. Insiders stress the Avengers that have gotten their own movies like Iron Man and Captain America will not be featured in the series with the studios focusing on characters who have served as second tier characters in the MCU.
When all is said and done, the Avengers shows could be the streaming service’s most ambitious project both in terms of their scope and budget. Most important, it gives the service something that will attract comic book fans and represents the type of content Netflix would love to get its hands on.
https://variety.com/2018/film/news/...s-marvel-disney-streaming-service-1202947551/
Dragonlord’s Review WANDAVISION (No Spoilers)
Bottom Line: Wandavision is a fun, mystery-filled drama with lots of zany turns and boasts an exceptional performances by Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany
(Warning: This review will contain major spoilers. Please skip this if you have not watched the series yet)
Marvel Studios has dominated the theaters and is now poised to conquer the television side as well. With an impressive production values, Wandavision is the first of many Marvel Studios live-action television series. Each episode features the main characters in TV sitcom from various decades, paying homage to classics like I Love Lucy and Bewitched to modern hits like Malcolm in the Middle, The Office and Modern Family. Its unique premise kept viewers entertained and guessing the mysteries behind the set-up each week.
If you don’t like the first few episodes, I recommend that you reach episode 4 first before deciding to drop the series altogether because episode 4 will explain the events leading up to the weird sitcom situation.
Elizabeth Olsen was far from my choice for the Scarlet Witch role but after seeing her journey through the MCU and her outstanding dramatic performance in Wandavision, she owns the character and I am now having a hard time envisioning another actress in the role. Her chemistry with Paul Bettany, who also gave a terrific performance as well as showcasing his comedic abilities, is just amazing and effortlessly carries the show on their backs.
The supporting players were mostly positive. Kathryn Hahn was enjoyable as the nosy neighbor Agnes and then the big bad witch Agatha Harkness. Randall Park was endearing who reprises his role of Agent Jimmy Woo. Kat Dennings was absolutely adorable as now-astrophysicist Darcy Lewis and her acerbic style of humor was most welcomed.
Teyonah Parris as the grown up Monica Rambeau was pretty good for the first half of the series but found her a bit dislikable during the second half. Her final look was just terrible with her hairstyle (making her face look fat) and her silly Star Trek-like uniform was unflattering. S.W.O.R.D. director Hayward (Josh Stamberg) was building up to be a good antagonist but just fell short and ultimately became a one-dimensional villain. He just needed a few scenes to show his rationality for his actions.
The show had a lot of Easter eggs and water cooler moments but none bigger than the meta casting of Evan Peters as fake Pietro. Nothing came out of it in the end but that was still one of the funniest WTF moments of the MCU almost at par with Nick Fury’s post-credit scene in the first Iron Man. Another awesome moment was the appearance of Vision and Scarlet Witch’s vintage costume. It also proves that their classic costumes are doable with a few tweaks here and there.
One of the strengths of the show is that the episodes are released on a weekly basis. It gives viewers time to catch up with one another and discuss the events of each episode as well as speculate on their theories and predictions. It’s the reason why Wandavision is currently the most popular show for the past few weeks. But the weekly release format also has its disadvantages as the hype, fan theories and conjectures have gone out of control and cause disappointment when their expectations are not met. I am guilty of this also. I believe that this show would be received by casual viewers who will binge watch it. I also feel that fans will be less harsh and more accepting of the show when rewatching in the future as they now know what to expect and can just enjoy the show for what it presents.
The aftermath of Wandavision has some huge ramifications to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Wanda has officially become the Scarlet Witch and one of the, if not the most, powerful character in the MCU (sorry, Hawkeye). Last we saw her, Wanda was studying the Darkhold which could lead to more crazier stuff down the line as we’ll soon find out in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and possibly Spider-Man: No Way Home. The original Vision is back and he has retained some or all of his memories. Monica Rambeau gains superpowers and will eventually become Spectrum. She’s going to space and possibly be part of Secret Invasion. The powerful witch Agatha Harkness makes her debut and will no doubt serve as the Loki to Wanda’s Thor in future appearances. The personal journey of Wanda is tragic for sure as she lost loved ones but she has inadvertently caused a lot of death and suffering wherever she goes as well. She could be the creator or the destroyer of worlds in the future.
Better than the current CW superhero trash shows, better than most of the boring Netflix-Marvel shows, better than the awful YA Marvel shows on Freeform and Hulu, Wandavision is a tragic love story and coping up with loss at its core. It has been a fun ride and I’ve enjoyed reading people’s posts and discussing the show every week. See you all two weeks from now when The Falcon and Winter Soldier arrives (which I’ve said from the start would be better than Wandavision bleh)
Rating: 7.510
______________________________________________________
Update: September 20, 2020
First Trailer for WANDAVISION Starring Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany [Updated]
______________________________________________________
Update: September 18, 2019
Loki, Scarlet Witch and Other MCU Characters to Get Their Own TV Shows on Disney Streaming Service
Disney is enlisting Earth’s Mightiest Heroes as the company prepares to launch its upcoming streaming service. The entertainment giant is in early development on an ambitious plan for a number of limited series centered on popular characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. These series will likely include shows centered on Loki and the Scarlet Witch, along with other beloved superheroes who have yet to appear in their own standalone movies.
There’s an important distinction from other Marvel small screen efforts, however. The actors who portrayed these heroes and villains in the Avengers films and their spin-offs, such as Tom Hiddleston and Elizabeth Olsen, are expected to play them in the streaming shows. Moreover, though sources close to the production are staying mum on the cost of the programming, the budgets are expected to be hefty rivaling those of a major studio productions. Each series is expected to include six to eight episodes. Marvel Studios will produce the shows and Kevin Feige, the guru of all things MCU, is expected to take a hands-on role in their development.
The pricey gamble with one of the crown jewels of the Disney film empire is a sign of how much the company has riding on its direct-to-consumer platform. As companies such as Netflix and Amazon continue to grow their user base, Disney is trying to find a way to establish a toehold in the streaming revolution upending Hollywood. The company has kept the details of the service close to the vest, beyond saying that it will likely cost less than Netflix and will launch at some point in late 2019.
Disney has already started to unwind its licensing deals in order to put as much premium content on the platform as possible. That’s meant that the company is forfeiting billions of dollars in profit, as well as shouldering the cost of developing the technology. The company has announced a number of high-profile projects, including a Star Wars series overseen by “Jungle Book” director Jon Favreau, a show based on “High School Musical,” and a live-action “Lady and the Tramp” film. The company also plans to offer several new releases when it launches, including its live-action “Dumbo” film and “Captain Marvel.”
Many of these projects are expensive bets. The Star Wars series will reportedly cost $100 million and the movies are expected to carry budgets north of $25 million. However, Disney has to spend big to make an impression. Netflix, its main rival, has 125 million subscribers globally and has lured top talent like Ryan Murphy (“American Horror Story”), Kenya Barris (“Black-ish”), and Shonda Rhimes (“Grey’s Anatomy”) to its platform with record-setting deals.
The Marvel series are in early development and writers have yet to be attached to the projects. Marvel TV Studios and Disney have been active with shows that include ABC’s “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” and Netflix’s “Daredevil,” but sources say those shows will stay under Marvel TV banner with these limited series set under Marvel Studios.
Storylines for each series are still being teased out, but Disney appears to be holding back some significant fire power for the big screen. Insiders stress the Avengers that have gotten their own movies like Iron Man and Captain America will not be featured in the series with the studios focusing on characters who have served as second tier characters in the MCU.
When all is said and done, the Avengers shows could be the streaming service’s most ambitious project both in terms of their scope and budget. Most important, it gives the service something that will attract comic book fans and represents the type of content Netflix would love to get its hands on.
https://variety.com/2018/film/news/...s-marvel-disney-streaming-service-1202947551/
