WandaVision - Episodes 7-9, The Series Finale

 By Ephraim Belnap

WandaVision uses its star power, spectacle, and unique setting to tie up its loose ends, but leaves its story up for grabs. 

    Answers. What the whole series has been building to. Why are they in TV-land? How do they undo it? How will Wanda handle it? The questions have been explored in a way that the movies never could. And now, they end it in a way the movies never could - refusing to answer and pushing the answers into the next installment. 

Just kidding, the movies did that all the time, but not as egregiously as here. 

    The Marvel franchise often operates on assumed informedness, assuming enough of their audience is aware of the characters that they needn't explain every little thing. Usually, this works. By the third Captain America, we don't need the character's backstory spelt out again. But here it almost feels like a detriment. Everything is as good as ever - Episode 7 mocks Modern Family conventions, Episode 8 does some good character work, 9 delivers an action-packed finale - but some storytelling fake-outs kill momentum a little bit. A casual fan will likely be satisfied, but a discerning viewer may be bothered.

    We get a fantastic bunch of performances though - Elizabeth Olsen (Scarlet Witch) is more in the spotlight than ever before, and makes great use of it. Paul Bettany (Vision) combines urgent concern and eruditeness for a charming combination. And the supporting cast shines with their short screentime. The visual effects are as great as ever, and the plot combines humor with genuine gravitas.

Regardless of any story quibbles, WandaVision ends things in a more-or-less agreeable way, with the usual seed-planting for future installments is done in the usual manner. People might be getting bored of Marvel by now, but as long as they keep finding good talent to make their shows (like WandaVision's amazing Jac Schaeffer), they're going to keep winning. And even if it flounders at times, there's always the next thing. Next, we have The Falcon And The Winter Soldier!

WandaVision is available to stream on Disney+