The third episode breaks the mold in more ways than one. “WandaVision” In Color does play with the 70s sitcom tropes, but the facade is starting to fall apart at an exponential rate.
Comedy is quite present in the episode, but there’s a sense of dread to the proceedings that envelopes an episode dealing with pregnancy. The fast pregnancy is a marvel to Vision in the episode. I quite enjoyed watching Vision trying to calculate the due date.
In Color is the first episode of the series to really give us the Wanda Maximoff persona that threw down with Thanos in Avengers: Endgame. Elizabeth Olsen and Teyonah Parris as Geraldine are tremendous in a sequence that starts comedic and turns into a tense affair. Parris sells her terror well, but it’s Olsen’s intensity with just a look that makes you want to run from the screen in horror.
The one issue is that we are three episodes in and there still aren’t any answers as to why this is happening. Yes, there are clearly more characters aware of this surreal environment, but we don’t know why Wanda created this simulation. Luckily, the next episode should provide some answers.
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Special shoutout to the wallpaper backgrounds used for the exterior scenes.
With all of the non-spoiler details out of the way, here’s a deeper dive into the episode. WandaVision is currently streaming on Disney Plus.
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WandaVision In Color: Sitcom Highlights
The episode dives into outdated medical advice, casual sexism and pregnancy coverups which are sitcom staples.
“Wandavision” In Color begins with a doctor checking Wanda’s pregnancy. Some funny exchanges between Vision and the doctor leads the doctor to compare pregnancy terms to different fruits. Vision is more concerned about the pregnancy than Wanda and at one point he tells Wanda that something is wrong. The exchange leads Wanda to rewind the scene.
There’s a delightful conversation between Wanda and Vision about whether to name their son Tommy or Billy. Wanda eventually gives birth to twins. The doctor makes an obvious, sexist comment that Geraldine would make a great nurse.
Geraldine comes over to the house to share some important career details with Wanda. Since the pregnancy is occurring so fast, Wanda’s trying everything to cover up the pregnancy including raincoats and bowls of fruit. Wanda’s powers go Haywire causing a stork mounted to a wall to come to life. Wanda tries to get rid of it but fails. This whole sequence is a blast
Breaking the Wall
The weak spots in the simulation begin early in the episode and mostly involve Vision. After Vision escorts the doctor out of the house, Vision notices his neighbor sheering some shrubs and begins cutting into the wall. He keeps cutting even after Vision points out that the neighbor is cutting a little too close to the wall.
Later, while Geraldine is inside with Wanda, Vision heads outside. He discovers his neighbor and Agnes discussing something in hushed tones. Agnes is worried about Geraldine being left alone in the house with Wanda. The tone of dialogue from Agnes is quite the departure, but before divulging too much to Vision, she abruptly exits the scene by issuing a sitcom appropriate line.
Meanwhile, inside the house, everything is going fine between Geraldine and Wanda until Geraldine mentions Ultron. Wanda’s face changes and begins pressing Geraldine on who she is and where she’s from. Geraldine protests to no avail. Wanda magically kicks Geraldine out of the sitcom faster than Star Lord’s Milano jumping to light speed.
Final Thoughts on In Color
“WandaVision” continues to be a fantastic series full of layers. Unlike the previous episode, the comedy didn’t hit as well. The surreal nature of the pregnancy felt more horrific than comedic.
The pacing is close to perfect as it seems like we will finally get some answers in the next episode.
What did you think of WandaVision In Color?
The Review
WandaVision In Color Review
PROS
- Elizabeth Olsen and Teyonah Parris are outstanding.
- The 1970s wallpaper backgrounds are just another example of this show's impeccable production design.
- Tension continuing to build throughout the episode.
- The stork is awesome.
CONS
- Comedy doesn't land as well as previous episodes.
- Still no answers yet as to what's actually going on.
