Marvel Studio’s “WandaVision” S1E5: Maggie’s Review

Streaming now on Disney+ is Episode 5 entitled “On a Very Special Episode” of Marvel Studio’s “WandaVision”. Following revelations in the last episode that the mysterious happenings in Westview were being monitored by S.W.O.R.D., this installment returns to Wanda’s point of view as her sitcom journey ventures into the 1980s. Vision begins to suspect that Wanda may have something to do with the odd goings on after Agnes reveals she may be playing a part, but is quickly distracted by their rapidly aging twin boys. Meanwhile, Monica Rambeau debriefs the situation with S.W.O.R.D., discovering that Wanda stole Vision’s body and resurrected him in a fit of grief. When he receives a communication from outside Westview, Vision confronts Wanda about the control she is exerting over him and the thousands of people in town before they are interrupted by a guest from her past.

Episode 5 is the longest yet in the series, and uses every minute well. This installment synthesizes the familiar Marvel Cinematic Universe with the 80’s sitcom setting to great effect, creating truly unique and uncomfortable moments as the real world starts to creep in on Wanda’s fabricated one. The building tension of the episode is only interrupted by a S.W.O.R.D. officer’s painfully “pulled from Wikipedia” recap of Wanda Maximoff’s history with Hydra and the Avengers. Elizabeth Olsen and Kathryn Hahn (Agnes) sway seamlessly from laugh track gags and sitcom lessons-of-the-week to chilling proclamations and creeping self-awareness. While the prior episode of the series lived too much in the established MCU, this one strikes the just the right balance to leave viewers off kilter.