WandaVision‘s two-episode premiere makes waiting a week for Episode 3 excruciating. WandaVision 1×02 “Just Like Magic” takes us deeper into the couple’s domestic life that’s spiced up by magic. There’s also intruders coming through manholes on the streets, but like Wanda, I want to ignore that for a little while longer. Season 1 Episode 2 follows Wanda and Vision through the 60s in a Bewitched-inspired episode that will leave you wanting Olsen and Bettany in more comedies. It’ll also leave you standing at the ready to protect Wanda Maximoff at all costs.
Everyone Has a Part
Bettany shines in this episode. Seriously, you can’t help but smile ear to ear with every second he’s on the screen. He’s an absolute gas! Vision getting gum in his gears results in a discombobulated, rambunctious Vision — unlike anything we’ve ever seen in the MCU. With that, WandaVision continues to deliver on what it promised. It’s also hilarious that he things he’s going to a meeting with a bunch of guys and they’re going to get down to business, and instead, they eat danishes and gossip. That’s yet another way WandaVision plays with gendered stereotypes of the time.
Vision’s lowered inhibitions introduce an interesting aspect to WandaVision. He flies, lifts a grand piano, and moves a hat through his body right in front of the town. Sure, Wanda covers him with ropes and mirrors, but it has to mean something that the crowd is so willing to play along. Vision’s right: Vision and Wanda lied to them and they believed them. But is it because humans are naive or is because they have a part they’re meant to play?
While both are likely true, the latter is the most plausible from what we know right now. Just like the previous episode, after stepping out of their characters for just a second, they’re pulled back into the format. This happens with Wanda and Dottie when presumably Woo comes over the radio. It’s hard to tell whether either party remembers being in and out of this moment, but it’s not the only time that it happens during the episode. Wanda does the same thing when she sees the S.W.O.R.D. helicopter — the only other thing in color besides Dottie’s blood. That has to mean something, because everything means something, right?
Let Wanda Be Herself
That being said, there is a lot of comedy for comedy’s sake on WandaVision so far. The show honors sitcoms beautifully and the jokes align with the format and era. It’s tongue and cheek, but there’s still some great character work going on at its heart. There’s a moment just before Wanda meets Dottie that she asks Agnes if she can just be herself and that be enough. Agnes and even the audience laugh it off, but it stuck with me throughout the rest of the episode.
Wanda keeps reminding Vision she wants to fit in since this is their home now. To do so, both of them have to dampen or hide parts of themselves. Wanda is actually really vulnerable with Agnes when she asks if it’s okay to be herself around these women. It’s telling thinks that isn’t a good idea. Maybe it’s because she knows something about Wanda (like Dottie teases) or maybe it’s because Agnes knows Dottie isn’t someone to be friends with. Either way, it’s impactful that WandaVision takes the time for a scene like this. This show is daring to tell grand stories about two (until now) minor characters. I hope that WandaVision continues on this path and doesn’t these touching character-building moments in the comedy. They can exist in a perfect harmony.
I have faith in WandaVision because of the scene that leads to a new era. Wanda sees that creepy beekeeper coming through the manhole and says, “Hell no.” She’s had enough of people wrecking her bliss, and I can’t blame her for rewinding the sitcom to make it right by her. You could believe that someone else rewound it and someone else ushered in the 70s, but the red magic screams Scarlet Witch. This gives me hope that even if Wanda and other characters can hop out of the sitcom story for a bit, Wanda is the one in charge. Then again, we’re only two episodes in.
Geraldine or Monica Rambeau
Monica Rambeau or Geraldine appears in Westview in this episode! I didn’t expect anyone else to pop up this early in, but it’s a welcome surprise. She fits into this world seamlessly, but that’s likely the point. Geraldine didn’t do much in this episode, but she did make her presence known. She also became friends with Wanda, and I hope we get to see their friendship grow as the season progresses.
Monica/Geraldine’s introduction is another part where we know more than Wanda and Vision. It’s only because Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios let us know about Teyonah Parris‘ casting, but it matters nonetheless. We as an audience are aware that Geraldine is not who she says she is — even if she’s not fully aware of that. This adds to that dark and twisty undercurrent. It makes you question who can trusted in Westview. Though this episode and the last aren’t as action-packed as Marvel fans are used to projects being, you can see the groundwork WandaVision is setting up. This is all building to something epic. Possibly something even more epic than two superheroes traveling through the decades via classic American sitcoms.
Other Bewitching Moments:
- The Bewitched-inspired title sequence is precious!
- The cabinet of mysteries has a picture of the Mind Stone on it.
- That Strücker watch commercial is a direct reference to Wolfgang von Strücker, Hydra, the Mind Stone, and basically all of Age of Ultron.
- I love that Wanda wears pants while the other women wear skirts.
- Herb and Norm are sweet. I like the Westview townies.
What did you think of this episode of WandaVision let us know in the comments below!
New episodes of WandaVision drop weekly on Disney+!
