Filmed Before a Live Studio Audience

When Marvel said they were going in a new direction with "WandaVision," they were not kidding around. At first, it does seem a little odd to find these well-known characters in this '60s-sitcom setting, but it quickly becomes clear that they are the perfect characters for a format like this. Their powers make for wonderfully odd sequences that twist the classic nature of a show like this, although with heightened personalities that can make you miss the more serious side of them both. The first episode does not offer up much on story details, but the quirkiness is enough to get the audience through it with enough excitement to want to follow along. If anything, Marvel has surely crafted something fun and unique for their first live-action Disney+ series, and I like seeing these two talented actors in a weird space like this.

It is clear that everything that happened so far is part of a parallel reality, that at some point (I hope not long) the truth of what is happening will be revealed. But ... two episodes with this? Really..? With half an episode of this kind of introduction I was fine. Also, the sitcom attempt may seem novel, but the truth, beyond the recorded laughs, is very boring. I'm going to give it the chance of one more episode; if it persists with this boring and corny parallel reality line; bye.

So some people are reviewing this first episode and saying special effects look janky. Yeah, that's the whole purpose, well done! In my opinion this episode was actually really nice. I'm not a huge Marvel fan but this is genuinely entertaining exactly because of the odd setting. Nothing like the predictable movies Marvel has made during the last few years. Love the mysteries and until now, however it does feel a bit short, guess that's part of the old sitcom vibe it's supposed to give. Looking forward to the rest of the season, I do hope that somewhere around the third or fourth episode there will be some actual plot development, but for now I like the mysterious hinting at them being in some weird dimension.

This is an odd Marvel sitcom. The Scarlet Witch and Vision have their own show and it is a homage to The Dick Van Dyke Show and Bewitched.

The first episode has the two superheroes living in 1950s suburbia. With sitcom staples such as the boss coming round for dinner but the wife does not know about it due to some misunderstandings.

It is a loving recreation of the era with a nosey neighbour who loves to gossip. There's even a fake advert for a toaster. It is shot in black and white with canned laughter.

It is very meta but not really funny and very left field. There are hints of something else is going on. Wanda and Vision realise that they know very little about themselves.

The first episode gave me a Pleasantville vibe.

Shakman & company do a very fine job of juggling satire,affectionate tribute to the 1950s sitcoms and well-matched setting up of the Marvel show's premise in this preem episode. What makes it all work is the enthusiastic efforts of the lead players.

Instead of taking a condescending approach, the filmmakers get into the spirit of the material - quite often i felt like this could be a real period sitcom with a fantasy theme. I've been watching a large number of 1950s TV episodes lately, both for entertainment and nostalgia value, and "Wanda" captured the technique quite accurately. The humor fits - it plays honestly per the parameters of the show's definition of aliens fitting in, and still has a bit of an edge coming from the criticism of the frivolous nature of so many 1950s concerns.

For me, the trick will be if the series can sustain a fair amount of recognition that we are today no automatically superior to what came before, as unfortunately reality has a say in the matter. The Golden Age of Television had a serious side, including the wealth of anthology series, some purely escapist, but many with meat on their bones like "Playhouse 90" and other Plays for Tv, a lost art. It wasn't all sitcoms, and from Gleason to Lucy true classics were being made. And since this is a Marvel production, back then, movies still had plenty of serious productions, not dominated at all by comic strip adaptations apart from Saturday Morning kiddie shows.