While the MCU is known for its blockbuster cinema success, WandaVision was still a gamble. Taking the widescreen thrill and chills of the MCU to the small screen was a risk, but WandaVision succeeded admirably, defying expectations and even breaking the sometimes formulaic nature of the movies with a show that was as much about grief, loss, and how one dealt with it as it was about superhero action. There was a lot riding on WandaVision, and it was able to reach some dizzying highs.
Marvel had brought its properties to streaming services a lot before WandaVision, with the Netflix shows Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and Defenders gaining critical and public acclaim. However, there are many ways that WandaVision is superior to those shows.
10 WandaVision's Gimmick Brought In People Who Wouldn't Otherwise Care
When fans first saw the commercials and concept art for WandaVision, it got a lot more eyes on the product than otherwise. The whole thing seemed novel--Scarlet Witch and Vision in sitcom-inspired worlds grabbed everyone, making them wonder exactly what was going on and how it would all tie together.
The sitcom homages let viewers know this wasn't going to be typical MCU fare, and that feeling permeated the show. Each episode had a unique feel that was indebted to the shows that were their inspiration and worked to set the whole thing apart from what viewers expected.
9 Even With Its Differences, It Still Felt Like The MCU
The Marvel Netflix shows never quite felt like they were a part of the MCU. From the stark violence and profanity to the overwhelming darkness of the plots, and the more grounded approach to storytelling, they might've been Marvel, but they didn't feel like the MCU. This was a mark against them as many MCU fans just weren't interested in them.
While WandaVision broke a lot of the MCU clichés that sometimes render the movies a little staid and predictable, it still felt like an MCU product, with the humor and heart intact. It even used mid and end credit scenes to its advantage, cementing that MCU feel in a way Netflix Marvel never did.
8 It Added To The MCU
While the Netflix Marvel shows had a following, with many demanding that their actors be brought into the MCU, the shows really had nothing to do with the movies. They didn't forward the story of the MCU and were only tangentially related. WandaVision, on other hand, was definitely related to the MCU and added things to it.
From the introduction of Monica Rambeau to Agatha Harkness and her use of the mysterious Darkhold book of magic, WandaVision added all kinds of new aspects to the MCU, giving viewers a glimpse into the post-Endgame MCU and setting new plot points up for the future.
7 The Emotional Core Of The Story Tugged On The Heart Strings
The Netflix Marvel shows were mostly spectacles of violence, with only Jessica Jones going really deep due to her abuse at the hands of the Purple Man. Most of the other shows were just fun beat-em-ups but that's it. WandaVision was quite different, as it dealt with things like love, grief, and how people dealt with it.
The show was able to hit viewers right in the hearts, using its narrative to let readers into the tragic world of Wanda Maximoff and how it affected her. The show did an amazing job of playing with the audience's emotions.
6 The Love Story Between Wanda & Vision Was Sweet & Touching
Fans had gotten glimpses of Wanda and Vision together in Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War, but in large ensemble pieces, it was hard to really focus on their relationship and what made it special. WandaVision was able to give them time together and show viewers who may have questioned their relationship why they belonged together.
There was something sweet and touching about their interplay and the lengths that Wanda went to so that she could get back the man she loved. It was unlike anything in the Netflix Marvel shows and really set the show apart from the usual MCU fare.
5 The Spectacle Of The Final Battle Felt More Like A Movie Than Anything In The Netflix Shows
While some were a bit disappointed with the way WandaVision turned out in the end, the final battle between Wanda, Agatha, and the two Visions was pure MCU all the way and a stark change from the brutal, intimate violence of the Netflix Marvel shows. While both types of battles have their place, the sheer spectacle of the end of WandaVision gave the show a big-screen feel.
The Marvel Netflix shows had a lot of cool fights but none of them captured the big-screen flavor like WandaVision did. It was pure spectacle and looked amazing, a nice denouement for the show.
4 It Wasn't As Grim As The Marvel Netflix Shows
The Marvel Netflix shows had a grim and gritty flavor to them, as they dealt more with street-level crimes and such. While this is definitely a part of superhero comics, it's not for everyone, and the MCU has mostly eschewed this sort of thing. While WandaVision had its moments of darkness, it wasn't nearly as grim as the Netflix shows.
This was a huge feather in its cap, as MCU audiences have proven that they aren't as into the grimmer side of superheroism. While WandaVision still dealt with some grim subject matter, it did so in a way that felt almost hopeful at times, and the show's humor helped offset any darkness in the narrative.
3 It Showcased Characters Who Never Got Enough Spotlight
Scarlet Witch and Vision were always around post-Avengers: Age Of Ultron, but they never really got much of a chance to shine as characters. Sure, they had their moments in some of the battles and viewers got glimpses of them as characters, but when it comes right down to it, they were never fleshed out too much.
Scarlet Witch and Vision were both fan-favorite characters in the comics, and moviegoers wanted to see more of them. However, they often got lost in the shuffle because of the more "important" MCU characters. WandaVision finally put them in the spotlight, letting viewers see what comic readers had known for a long time--that they were great characters.
2 It Changed Scarlet Witch & Set Her Up For Bigger Things
In the comics, Scarlet Witch has gone through a lot of growth and change. There have been multiple times over the years where she was one of the most important characters in the comics, her reality-altering powers making her the focus of many storylines. On top of that, the trials and tribulations of her life made her into a multi-faceted and interesting character.
WandaVision has a similar effect on the MCU's Scarlet Witch, expanding her powers and making her into more of a player in the MCU, setting her up for greater things in the future and opening up all-new storytelling possibilities.
1 It's Actually A Part Of The MCU
Over the years, there have been a lot of questions about whether the works of the now-defunct Marvel TV were part of the MCU, which was run by Marvel Studios. For a long time, they were two separate entities, and while the shows sometimes used parts from the movies, the movies never used anything from the shows.
WandaVision, on the other hand, is most definitely and unquestionably a part of the MCU. It has the MCU feel and production values and uses events and characters from the movies to create a compelling, powerful narrative that opens up all-new avenues for the MCU to explore. This alone makes it vastly superior to the Marvel Netflix shows.
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