Wow. Okay, well I’ve thought about it for a few days and as much as I prefer writing spoiler-free reviews, there’s really no way I can talk about episode 4 of WandaVision without going into spoiler territory. So, look away now if you’re yet to watch the episode!
Episode 3 of WandaVision finished with Geraldine (Teyonah Parris) being thrown from Westview and back into the ‘real world’, we assume by Wanda, and providing us with yet more questions about what the hell is going on. Luckily, episode 4 of WandaVision, gives us the answers to almost all the questions we’ve had so far from the previous episodes, as well as bringing some new elements in to an already fascinating series.
The opening scene of this week’s episode is one of the most intense sequences the MCU has ever produced, as we witness the results of Hulk’s ‘snap’ from Avengers Endgame (2019), immediately separating us from the show’s sitcom style of previous episodes. From the start, we learn that Geraldine/a grown up Monica Rambeau (from Captain Marvel) was snapped out of existence 5 years ago, and during that time her mother, Maria (Carol Danvers’ BFF), died. We see Monica panicking as more and more people return to the world after ‘the blip’ and there is a real sense of chaos, giving some proper disaster movie vibes and showing just how crazy and scary this experience was for people.
The first half of this episode has us following Monica in the days preceding episode 1 of the show, as she gets back to work at SWORD (Sentient Weapon Observation and Response Department), which is a new addition to the MCU, having been hinted at in the post-credits scene of Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019). After being sent on an assignment to escort a surveillance drone to help out the FBI with a missing persons’ case, Monica meets with Agent Jimmy Woo (Randall Park), who fans will recognise from Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018), who in a blink-and-you-miss-it moment introduces himself in a brilliant way which is a throwback moment to that film (truth be told I didn’t notice it until my 2nd viewing, shame on me!). The duo learn that something strange is going on in Westview, New Jersey, and this leads to Monica being dragged beyond the strange barrier she flew out from in episode 3, and into the sitcom world of WandaVision.
From here, things play out almost like a classic X-Files episode, as a bunch of suits try to uncover the mystery behind what is really going on in Westview. A group of scientific experts are brought in by SWORD, including a certain Dr. Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings), who’s not been seen in the MCU since Thor: The Dark World (2013). Her reintroduction further shows that no character is beyond coming back in this universe, something which may happen a whole lot more in this show if certain rumours are to be believed! Darcy brings some much needed laughs to an episode which is probably the least comedic of the series so far, and her chemistry with Woo as they watch episodes of the in-show WandaVision sitcom bodes well for any future episodes of the series they share together.
Many mysteries from previous episodes are solved, such as the beekeeper who emerged from the sewers, the voice calling Wanda’s name through the radio, and the bombshell that it is in fact Wanda behind the creation of this bizarre sitcom reality. Some may complain that by revealing so much, there is little mystery left, but I feel that the Wanda reveal may in fact be a red herring with the true conspirator still out there somewhere (my money is on Mephisto still). As I get towards the end of this review, I almost forgot to mention one of the best moments of the episode! We finally see the full confrontation between Wanda and Monica, and oh boy, Elizabeth Olsen can be terrifying when she wants to be! This standoff leads to Monica’s expulsion from Westview, but we also get a haunting look at Vision, looking the way we last saw him in Avengers: Infinity War (2018) after Thanos had removed the mind stone from his head. It’s a horrifying image which sticks with you long after watching for sure.
With many questions answered, and a number of new (returning) characters introduced, this is the most exciting episode of the series so far, and yet again the wait for next Friday feels too long!
9/10