WandaVision 1×04, “We Interrupt This Program,” lives up to its title by literally interrupting the sitcom we’re now accustomed to in order to add a larger context to the show. “We Interrupt This Program,” doesn’t offer any overt answers to larger questions, but fills in smaller gaps instead. The show does this through the familiar faces of Monica Rambeau, Jimmy Woo, and Darcy Lewis. It’s through these characters from the MCU that WandaVision makes us, the fans, more active participants in the show. This all allows for a better understanding of what we’ve seen, leaving what’s ahead an even bigger mystery for all of us.
Old Friends & Familiar Faces
Marvel Studios seamlessly weaves characters we haven’t seen for quite some time into WandaVision. This makes it feel as if these characters have been there all along, because, well they have. We just didn’t know the details of their involvement until now. “We Interrupt This Program,” is a big enough step backwards that things start to piece together. What’s unique about WandaVision is that the audience learns things along with the characters. It’s very meta to see Woo keep a running list of all the questions we have. It’s just as meta to watch Darcy fawn over the newly-wed couple as they take on the 1950s. Darcy and Jimmy are just like us! TV is already a really personal medium. It’s fun to see WandaVision lean into that.
Not to mention, it is so freaking nice to have Kat Dennings back as Dr. Darcy Lewis. She lights up every scene she’s in. Her partnership with Jimmy Woo is one Marvel should capitalize on, because they’re an iconic duo. It’s also refreshing that all of the women of WandaVision are the ones figuring stuff out. More of this, please!
In the case of Monica Rambeau, this is in an introduction to her character. We’ve only known her as “Geraldine” until now. The Blip (the explanation for everyone coming back to Earth after being snapped out of existence for 5 years) is an interesting way to bring Monica into WandaVision, because it conveys a lot without anyone coming out and saying it. The Blip is a traumatic experience that follows yet another traumatic experience (the Snap) that not only our favorite heroes but everyday civilians have to process. This makes it fit right in with WandaVision as Wanda is clearly working through her own traumatic past in the form of the Westview anomaly.
Not only that, it throws us right into the mess with Monica Rambeau as our guiding light. We have to learn alongside her that someone she loves, who we have also come to love over the last few years, has passed away. Maria “Photon” Rambeau, founder of S.W.O.R.D. and a whole longer list of accolades to her name is no longer alive. That’s huge. There’s still a lot to learn about Maria and S.W.O.R.D. and I hope there’s time for that story somewhere. If not WandaVision, we do know Teyonah Parris will reprise her role as Monica in Captain Marvel 2. Then again, it would be disappointing if the show doesn’t tell us more about the organization before the end of the season. It would be beneficial to know what they’re actually doing — how they monitor people/things.
Answers Come with Time
“We Interrupt This Program” lets us know how Monica got inside of Westview, how S.W.O.R.D. is involved, and how Darcy and Woo fold into it. Yet there’s still so much to know. We only get one side of the story leading up to the present, because we still don’t know how Wanda started this (if she did). We also don’t know about the lasting effects of Westview on people. There’s still time for all of this to be revealed. Does that mean we’ll have to wait until the series finale for everything to make sense? If that is the case and WandaVision wants us to play the long game, I’m ready to do that. I just hope that the show drops substantial hints at what’s happening from here on out.
Similarly, now that WandaVision has established the plot outside of Westview it would be amiss to balance the storytelling between the sitcom and reality moving forward. It would be unfortunate not to pay attention to that as well, especially with powerhouses like Kat Dennings, Teyonah Parris, and Randall Park holding down the fort. Since the sitcom is so stylized, it will be interesting to see how WandaVision handles a balance moving forward. The transitioning between the two could be harsh if it’s not done carefully. This doesn’t include Wanda resetting the sitcom at the end of “We Interrupt This Program” because that is meant to be jarring from Wanda’s perspective. WandaVision has expertly played with the screen ratio so far. It would make sense for them to amplify that for the rest of the season.
It’s All Wanda
Speaking of that jarring shift back to the sitcom, Wanda is going through it. The women of WandaVision know what they’re doing, so I’m going to take their word for what’s really going on. Monica says that “it’s all Wanda,” and Wanda promises Vision she has everything under control. While the latter is evidently not entirely true, the former is starting to become the only explanation for all of this.
This largest reveal comes before Wanda resets the sitcom. She uses her powers to throw Monica out of Westview. Not her dialed back, finely polished for the times powers. No, we see her actual hex spheres again. We haven’t seen those since Avengers: Endgame when she took on Thanos. Wanda’s face after she notices this says a thousand words. She knows that her world is slipping around her, which is only further proven when she sees Vision as he truly is. This is one of the most heartbreaking moments of the season, and that’s saying a lot.
Elizabeth Olsen has proven herself to be a formidable talent. She continues to do so each and every week. The final moments of “We Interrupt This Program” are yet another assertion that she should be nominated for some kind of award for her performance as Wanda Maximoff. Olsen’s delivery of the line, “No, we can’t,” is heartbreaking and unnerving all at once. Wanda’s desire for peace, happiness, and control supersedes whatever could be happening because of her actions.
All of this begs the question of whether Vision is living in her head or if she’s spelled Vision’s corpse to be animated. The latter is more possible since Vision has interacted with other Westview townies and we know that they truly exist. If that is the case, I have faith that some part of Vision will make it out of WandaVision alive. He seems to be growing more concerned for Wanda. That doesn’t seem like something a dead sentient robot is capable of — meaning there’s something already in motion here. Vision doesn’t have a human body. He’s powered by a lot of things but mostly the Mind Stone.
Wanda’s powers have the same source. She’s the most powerful Avenger; I believe there’s a way she can make her magic work for him. Most importantly, Wanda will have to learn more about herself and her powers for that to happen. If that’s WandaVision’s endgame, I am in for the ride.
Other Dazzling Moments:
- Woo with his close-up magic! Scott Lang would be so proud.
- Agnes is the only one without any real-world identification (so far).
- Did anyone ever get Darcy her cup of coffee?
- You can hear a bunch of dialogue from Captain Marvel when Monica comes back from the Blip. My favorite is Carol calling her Lt. Trouble.
What did you think of this episode of WandaVision? Let us know in the comments below!
New episodes of WandaVision drop weekly on Disney+!
