Following the 2026 Golden Globes, Hamnet director Chloe Zhao was asked about the core message she intended for viewers to take from her work. “What is grief, but love persevering?,” she stated, with the cast nodding in agreement. This profound maxim, though seemingly Shakespearean, actually originated from the Marvel Cinematic Universe — a fact Zhao would know, as she herself directed an MCU film.
The source of this quote, Jac Schaeffer’s show WandaVision, was the first MCU TV series to debut on Disney+, setting a high standard for the franchise. Its influence led to a movie, two spin-off series, and numerous comparisons to other shows.
WandaVision features a straightforward premise: confronted with the loss of her beloved Vision (Paul Bettany), Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) instead retreats into denial, using magic to craft a nostalgic, black-and-white world where she can live an idyllic suburban life with Vision, free from worry. Meanwhile, FBI Agent Jimmy Woo (Randall Park), Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings), and Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) investigate an unusual anomaly in New Jersey.
WandaVision begins as a classic black-and-white sitcom, reminiscent of I Love Lucy. However, episode by episode, the show’s format updates, parodying the 1970s’ Brady Bunch, the 1990s’ Full House, and eventually modern sitcoms like Modern Family, complete with talking head interviews. In this television-induced dream, Wanda and Vision marry, start a family with their twin boys, Billy and Tommy, and experience various antics with their neighbor. But, as many realized in 2021, their neighbor Agatha (Kathryn Hahn) was the antagonist all along.
By the time WandaVision reaches its ninth and final episode, it transforms into typical Marvel fare, yet the preceding eight episodes were unparalleled. The deep affection for television history was evident, alongside numerous Marvel Easter eggs, including Evan Peters’ appearance as a “recast” Pietro (who was later revealed to be a random individual named Ralph Bohner). Moreover, the term “Scarlet Witch” was finally uttered in the MCU. This period also marked the peak of fan theories, and while some did not materialize (certain reveals would have to wait until Ironheart), it was an exciting time for Marvel fans.
WandaVision’s impact on the MCU was immediate. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ primary weakness was arguably its heavy reliance on WandaVision’s plot, and Agatha All Along quickly cemented Kathryn Hahn’s status as a character actress for the ages. Now, five years later, Paul Bettany will return as the newly resurrected White Vision in the upcoming series Vision Quest.
It represented a perfect fusion of content and medium, demonstrating that superhero television didn’t have to be merely a film fragmented into parts, while simultaneously honoring its predecessors. Everything that followed has existed in its shadow, either through direct comparison or canonical connection. After all, what is a spin-off but a successful show continuing?