“WandaVision: The Complete Series” 4K, Blu-Ray Review

 

One of the many highlights of The Marvels was getting to spend more time with Monica Rambeau, the grown-up version of “Lieutenant Trouble” from Captain Marvel. But it wasn’t the first time we had the pleasure, as the adult Monica was actually introduced in the Disney+ show WandaVision.

Newly available on 4K and Blu-ray, WandaVision: The Complete Series presents all 9 episodes of this engaging and inventive show, as well as some cool extras. Which makes it as good for people who loved it on Disney+ as those who haven’t had the pleasure.

For those who didn’t see it on Disney+,

WandaVision finds Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany) living a happy life in Westview, New Jersey. Except their life is like an old sitcom.

Think The Dick Van Dyke Show and I Love Lucy. And then Bewitched and I Dream Of Jeannie. And then The Brady Bunch.

After a couple of rather entertaining episodes, though, it becomes apparent that something else is going on. Something that made me think less of classic family sitcoms and more of that episode from The Simpsons — Season 3‘s “Treehouse Of Horror II” — in which everyone has to pretend to like Bart and everything he does because he has god-like powers and, when displeased, can turn someone into a jack-in-the-box.

Except that instead of playing it for laughs, WandaVision uses this conceit to explore Wanda’s pain and loss from losing Vision in Avengers: Infinity War.

Where it goes from there…

is something I won’t spoil, except to say that — thanks to its writing and inventive approach to structure and filming — WandaVision is exceptionally clever, the most clever Marvel show until She-Hulk came along.

It also perfectly sets the stage for Wanda’s behavior in Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness. And Monica’s appearance in The Marvels.

It’s also during the non-sitcom parts that Olsen really shines. Pain is easy to ape, but not easy to get right, and Olsen does a great job of making you really feel hers in the latter episodes (something this shares with Madness, as well as Wanda’s confrontation with Thanos towards the end of Avengers: Endgame).

Though she’s not alone in being really good in WandaVision. Paul Bettany is her rock, as much as he can be, while Teyonah Parris, who plays Monica, shines whether she’s playing the neighbor in one of the sitcoms, or as herself.

And how can we forget…

the delightful Darcy (Kat Dennings) and the always in need of a deep sigh Jimmy Woo (Randall Park).

Though the real stand-out — aside from Olsen — is Kathryn Hahn, who plays the nosy neighbor Agatha in the sitcom parts, but, like the show itself, is so much more. And no, not just because Hahn is a total scene stealer, and chewer, which is why she’s getting her own spin-off, Agatha: Darkhold Diaries.

As for how these episodes look and sound on WandaVision: The Complete Series, that somewhat depends on the quality and popularity of your Internet access. For me, watching this on Blu-ray (and, it’s safe to assume, 4K), it had none of the minor glitches that happen when you stream a show when other people are streaming shows.

More importantly, it’s way easier to rewind, which is very handy in a show like WandaVision that’s full of, “Wait, what was that?” moments.

Along with the nine episodes,

WandaVision: The Complete Series also has some new and interesting extras that fans will appreciate. And one they’ve seen before.

First up on WandaVision: The Complete Series is “Through The Eras,” a seven-minute-long featurette on the sitcom aspects of the show. As you’d expect, if you’ve watched the extras on any TV series set, it has the usual behind-the-scenes footage and cast and crew interviews, though it’s still informative and entertaining.

Though also a little weird given how, at the end, it turns into a short promo for Agatha: Coven Of Chaos (the original title for Agatha: Darkhold Diaries).

Next,

the WandaVision: The Complete Series 4K and Blu-ray sets present a gag reel. Which, like every gag reel, is full of funny fuck ups.

The WandaVision: The Complete Series 4K and Blu-ray sets also have a pair of interesting deleted scenes, ones I can’t talk about without spoiling things in the show, except to say they’re interesting, though one would’ve only worked if they had cut something else out, so…

Lastly for the extras is the hour-long “Assembled: The Making Of WandaVision” special you probably already watched on Disney+. Your basic making-of special, this also has the cast and crew talking about how the sausage got made, and in the same way these featurettes always do.

As cool as the extras are…

on WandaVision: The Complete Series, though, they could’ve been better.

For starters, the “Through The Eras” featurette, the gag reel, and the deleted scenes should’ve been on the second disc, not the first, since you shouldn’t watch the first two until you’ve seen every episode.

More importantly, the deleted scenes need some explanation of where they were cut from, and why.

WandaVision: The Complete Series also doesn’t have any episode commentaries, a real loss given how much fun it would’ve been to hear Olsen, Parris, Hahn, and Dennings hanging out.

It also doesn’t have any of the original trailers or the “First Look” promo, even though they’re still up on Disney+.

Despite these shortcomings, though,

the 4K or Blu-ray versions WandaVision: The Complete Series are still worth buying if you loved this show. Or you loved Wanda and Vision being all lovey-dovey in Avengers: Infinity War.

That it will also make you want to rewatch Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness, and then The Marvels, is just a burden you’ll have to bear.

SCORE: 8.0/10