There is no denying that Marvel Studios continues to reign supreme over the world of geek and superhero entertainment, which is perfectly fine with me. Amongst other well-deserved accomplishments, the success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (or MCU for short) has generated some of the most amazing and emotionally resonating works in modern entertainment. After releasing their magnum opus, Avengers: Endgame, providing the epic and triumphant conclusion to their grand storyline, which they had built up for over ten years, Marvel Studios ended up taking a step back to do what they do best; plan their next big move.
While there are still a good number of new Marvel movies on the horizon, there have been a few mini-series released on Disney+ that, while not perfect, still retain the level of commitment and quality that has become expected of Marvel Studios. Now that all episodes of both original shows are available for streaming, I think it's high time I provide my thoughts on them both.
It should be noted that while these shows are well made in their own rights, and newcomers might get something out of them, these shows are best suited for fans of the MCU who have been following these characters and stories since the beginning or have managed to catch up on the events prior in whatever way most convenient for them. Fans of the MCU will undoubtedly enjoy these shows (mostly), while casual observers may feel a bit lost when presented with references to past events they haven't yet caught upon.
Also, in the interest of giving these shows their due, I will not be spending too much time recapping the stories or going into too many details about their narrative relevance to the MCU overall. I will focus primarily on their thematic elements, their intended goals, and rather or not they succeeded in accomplishing them.
This is TheNorm's take on Marvel Studios' original shows on Disney+.
We begin with the first show to hit the platform:
WandaVision is an unusual blend of homage, parody, and unusual methods for managing trauma. Nearly every episode of the show is presented as a classic sitcom from specific decades of American television. Opening with an homage to a 1950s classic like I Love Lucy and progressing to the next decade with almost every subsequent episode: Bewitched from the 1960s, All in the Family from the 1970s, Growing Pains from the 1980s, Malcolm in the Middle from the 1990s, all the way to recent sitcoms such as Modern Family. Each subsequent episode (mostly) replicates the look, style, and tone of every decade of television, with occasional hints that things are not as rosy as they might appear.
When it comes to well-observed mimicry, the show is amazing. The homages and references to their respective sitcoms are spot-on and clever. The filmmakers must have had tons of fun recreating all of the television shows classic style and atmosphere, right down to featuring a live studio audience for a few of the episodes. It's a level of authenticity one can only expect from Marvel Studios.
However, what really makes the show so interesting and ultimately drives the narrative is the true reason these characters find themselves in these perfect recreations of old-fashioned entertainment. Without going into too many details for the sake of those who have not yet watched the show, the entire situation is the external result of a compelling character struggling with trauma and grief. This character finds comfort in the shows she recreates as she deals with the loss of loved ones. It's a fascinating and heartful presentation of how grief can literally take you over if you're not careful.
While I still enjoy and appreciate this show for all of its good graces and well-delivered execution, it is not without its flaws. It still suffers from what I refer to as "MCU-Syndrome," where it will fall short of an excellent conclusion in favor of setting up the next series or movie. Most of the time, these moments of set-up for the next thing are relegated to post-credit teasers, but every once in a while, Marvel will get too excited and put a few of them inside the presentation a bit too early. Thereby depriving, however unintentionally, the intended impact of the story's conclusion.
Mind you, this was not so heavy-handed as to demolish the show's overall quality, as the whole show still delivers the expected goods, but it was enough to make me wish it had handled some things just a little differently.
Overall, WandaVision is a thoughtful and delightful exploration of the best ways (and not-so-best-ways) to face your grief and overcome trauma. Absolutely check this one out.
Moving right along to the next show that recently dropped its final episode on Disney+.
I have always said that Captain America is my favorite of the original MCU Avengers, including his entourage of supporting characters. The character of Captain America has always represented what America as a nation should be: flexible, empathetic, strong in the face of adversity, and always willing to do the right thing regardless of how challenging or dangerous it may be. These values may be difficult to spot in the real world, but that's why we have characters like Captain America; to remind us that not only can we do better, we should.
The story takes place about six months after the events of Avengers: Endgame and "The Blip" have been reversed. Long story short, "The Blip" refers to an event where a big evil guy wiped out half of all life in the universe, including The Falcon and Winter Soldier, and was gone for five years, only to be returned to life by The Avengers in a fantastical plan that could only happen in the world of comic book science. Anyway, at that time, people who were given homes and supplies due to "The Blip" were suddenly expected to simply leave, now that the original owners had returned to life. In response, a group of people calling themselves The Flag Smashers have taken it upon themselves to fight world governments and restore things to the way they were during "The Blip."
In case you're wondering why Steve Rogers, a.k.a Captain America, isn't in this story, that's because he's since grown old and passed away, leaving behind his shield in the capable hands of his good friend, The Falcon, whom Steve hoped would take up the mantle as the new Captain America. The Falcon has too much respect for Steve and does not think he's worthy of the honor, so he donates the shield to the Smithsonian. Things take an unexpected and poorly thought-out turn when the government suddenly decided that they want Captain America back. Hence, they give the shield, along with a new costume, to a highly decorated soldier in the hopes that he can fill the void left by Steve Rogers.
All of these events send The Falcon on a journey where he will learn some dark secrets, find old friends, and rediscover why he needs to become the next Captain America and what it means for him.
The greatest and most commendable aspect of this show is its commentary on the black condition, patriotism, PTSD, and what it means to choose to wear the stars and stripes. It's a story that dives deep into many aspects of American history and modern-day practices that continue to disenfranchise and divide. The show presents tons of hard questions that need to be answered.
This, incidentally, brings me to one of the show's problems: it tries to do too much. While the thematic elements and social aspects presented in the show are relevant and worthy of exploration, the show sometimes feels as if it doesn't have enough time to address them all. Sure, it comes full circle on a few of the issues it raises and does it well, I might add, but there are other aspects and story beats that seem to be a bit rushed and/or forgotten entirely. Resulting in, however unintentionally, a show that, while still entertaining and thoughtful, doesn't seem as if it has a lot to say.
Again, this is not intended to be a complete downer, nor do I intend to imply that the show is a failure because it isn't. The show succeeds in delivering a decent and timely commentary on the black condition in America and asks us to reconsider what being an American should really mean. I only wish that some of the other elements of the story and characters could have been handled a bit better, at least in my opinion.
Overall, these are both fine shows that mostly deliver the promised goods and are indeed worthy of your attention. If you have a Disney+ account or access a free trial, check them out.
Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading.
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