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WandaVision

Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness: Emphasis on the Madness

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Have you ever had regrets in your life or made decisions that you wish you could’ve done differently? 

Now, what if you had the opportunity to go to any possible reality that you can think of? A place that would allow you to change anything that you’ve ever done or have whatever life you want. For those who struggle with guilt or shame, the idea would be very tempting.

Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr. Stephen Strange in Marvel Studios’ DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.

Following the events of Spiderman: No Way Home and WandaVision, Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness takes us on a trip through the horrors and wonders of the multiverse. With the universe seemingly falling apart Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), Wong (Benedict Wong), and Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) take on threats they’ve never faced before. In the wildest MCU movie to date, Multiverse really opens up the Madness of the live-action cinematic universe that Marvel has spent so long developing.

Directed by Sam Raimi, the creativity of the film is spectacular. Although the first Doctor Strange began to feel like an acid trip in places, the reality jumping that happens in Multiverse is absolutely nuts. Ranging universes of animation to one of paint, Raimi makes good use of the opportunity to push the boundaries of the MCU. (For what it’s worth, Marvel’s What If series is a good primer that prepares the viewer for all the different possible realities that the MCU can give us.) 

A scene from Marvel Studios’ DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios 2022. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.

Without question, this is the bloodiest MCU film to date. In fact, by leaning into its horror potential, Multiversebecomes not only becomes the first to attempt this style from the MCU, but the first successful attempt in the genre. (BrightBurn doesn’t count…) With her powers finally unleashed, Wanda is perfect at being horrifying. Broken by the loss of her kids in WandaVision, Wanda has become increasingly unstable as she pushes to get what she wants. Covered in blood and performing reality-bending witchcraft, she becomes almost an unstoppable ghost. (It’s worth noting that the magic fighting has also become more creative. For example, Wanda’s fight with the Illuminati is just horrific and beautiful at the same time.)

One of the best additions to the franchise is their new character America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez), a young girl from another universe who can travel through dimensions. Bringing great banter with Strange that balances out his seriousness and cool powers of her own, she’ll likely be key to setting up any major multiverse related stories in the MCU. 

(L-R): Xochitl Gomez as America Chavez, Benedict Wong as Wong, and Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr. Stephen Strange in Marvel Studios’ DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.

Personally, I also really am noticing and appreciating Marvel’s diversity initiative as well. Despite the controversy created by the fact that that America Chavez has 2 moms, Marvel continues to push forward towards inclusion. Handling her story with love by showing her parents and treating it as “normal” was great. It really normalizes same-sex marriage and I respect Disney for not cutting it out.

As they reach infinite possibilities for stories and universes, the overarching theme within Multiverse is the idea of regret and coming to terms with that decisions that we’ve made so that we can move on. In many ways, the journeys of both Doctor Strange and Wanda parallel each other throughout the film. Unable to accept her actions in Westview (see WandaVision), Wanda wants to find a reality where she can really have the family and life that she has always wanted. [Potential Spoiler] For her, the quest is so important that she’s willing to go out of her way to steal another version of herself in order to find the reality that she wants. [Spoilers end]

Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff in Marvel Studios’ DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.

At the same time, Doctor Strange’s regrets stem from a deeply personal loss that took place during the Blip. Similar to Wanda, his guilt consumes him, pushing him to become something sinister. As a result, both are living unhappily and are willing to take the lives of others in order to have the universe that they want. After meeting alternate versions of themselves, Multiverse shows that you never really know which choice was the “right choice” and living in regret because of your choices is foolish. No matter how terrible the little decisions may be, they lead you to who you’ve become now and accepting that these moments happened allows us to move forward.

Overall, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is a horrifying and beautiful trip into the multiverse. For his first venture into the MCU, Raimi steps up his game and offers us something that we’ve never seen before that I definitely recommend. Wild and weird, Raimi truly lets the Madness out of this Multiverse.

Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness is available in theatres on Friday, May 6th, 2022.

Loki: ReWriting Our Future

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Is anybody better at bringing people back from the dead better than Marvel?

Whether its Phil Coulson reappearing in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. or Natasha Romanoff receiving her first solo film posthumously (albeit as a prequel), Marvel knows how to maximize the characters that fans have grown to love, even after their apparent deaths. Now, after his ‘no more tricks’ fate in Endgame, Loki returns in his own series which promises to have a major impact on the future of the MCU. 

Directed by Kate Herron, Loki begins during the events of Avengers: Endgame and sets the beloved anti-hero off on his own adventure. After escaping from the Avengers and crashing down in Mongolia, Loki (Tom Hiddleston) is arrested by the Time Variant Authority (TVA), a bureaucratic organization tasked with maintaining the consistency of time itself. Because of his actions, Loki is charged with disrupting the primary timeline and sentenced to being ‘erased’ from time itself… that is, unless he helps Agent Mobius (Owen Wilson) to capture an even greater threat to the universal timeline.

After The Falcon and the Winter Soldier sought to challenge their audience, so too did they also lose the ‘appointment television’ vibe that made WandaVision such a success. Loki should change that. Instead of focussing on the weight of social issues or effects of grief, Loki provides a much-needed dose of levity back into the MCU. With an emphasis on fun and humour, Herron has created a series with a tone far closer to the wildness of Guardians of the Galaxy than the gravitas of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Fueled by wit and silliness, Loki has a comedic energy to it that is sure to excite fans of the franchise. (Though, it’s worth noting that the first episode is exposition-heavy as the series must explain the existence of an entirely different layer of reality that’s been added to the Marvel canon.)

Without question though, the centre of the show remains Hiddleston. After all these years, Hiddleston is more than ready to step into the limelight as his charisma has elevated the role from standard villain to one of Marvel’s most adored characters. (Has it really been 10 years since he first put on the horns?) Due to the time travel element to Loki, Hiddleston brings the character back to his more mischievous origins and clearly relishes the opportunity to bring back Loki’s shades of grey. What’s more, the casting of Wilson as Agent Mobius also provides a suitable foil for Hiddleston. Known for his more innocent charm, Wilson uses his likeability to balance out Loki’s more menacing humour and the two are instantly one of Marvel’s more likeable duos.

With the inclusion of the TVA, the Marvel universe has changed drastically. With the multiverse beginning to come into play, a realm such as the timestream has huge implications for the franchise moving forward. This is a place where ‘time moves differently’, superhuman abilities are rendered useless and Infinity Stones are literally used as paperweights. (The TVA is also the first official mention of the ‘Nexus’ after WandaVision’s famed commercial segments.) 

Of course, this sort of environment is both stunning and enticing to Loki himself. As he marvels (see what I did there?) at their unbelievable power, Loki is forced to realize how small he may truly be. In this world, time is sacred and the TVA are sworn to protect it from those who would dare to change it. As such, Loki is arrested because his escape was not ‘supposed to happen’, even if the Avengers can seem to pull it off without prosecution. (After all, their transgressions were supposed to take place…) In doing so, the series suggests that every character or person has a lane by which they much adhere. Villains are going to be villains. Heroes will save the world. For the TVA, there is little room for improvisation and everyone must behave as they’re expected to behave. 

However, at the same time, the series offers somewhat of a paradox. (That’s shocking for any time travel series, I know.) While Loki is branded a criminal for his decision to break the timestream, he is also offered the chance to make it right. Instead of seeing him solely as a villain, Mobius sees him as something more and suggests there may be another way. (“I can’t offer you salvation but maybe I can offer you something better,” Mobius says cryptically.) To Mobius, Loki’s criminal history does not negate him but instead highlights his craftiness and ingenuity and could provide a new direction for his life.

For Mobius, Loki’s future is not bound by his past.

With a return to its more mischievous tone, Loki is a welcome return to form for the MCU. With Loki, Herron, Hiddleston and Wilson have created a world of limitless potential that should be an instant hit with fans. It’s always most fun when Marvel takes risks and, while Loki doesn’t exactly stray from the style that has made them a juggernaut, it does provide its most unique character with a whole new box of toys to play with. 

Loki is available on Disney+ on Wednesday, June 9th, 2021.

Ravi Zacharias Revisited; WandaVision; The Bachelor

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your sunday drive christian podcast

The fallout continues after Ravi Zacharias’ sexual abuse is confirmed. In a new episode of the Your Sunday Drive podcast, we talk about the related issues, trying to come up with some hopeful takeaways for how we can heal and do better in the future.

We also take a few minutes to look at our current pop culture favorites, including WandaVision and The Bachelor, noting not to neglect pop culture’s role as a primary way people interact with philosophical and social issues.

Come along for Your Sunday Drive – quick conversation about current events, politics, pop culture and more, from the perspective of a couple of guys trying to follow Jesus.

Hosts: Matt Hill and Nate Polzin. Presented by the Church in Drive of Saginaw, MI, as often as possible. Please visit churchindrive.com and facebook.com/thechurchindrive

7.13 Wrapping Up WANDAVISION

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Previously on SF Radio, Heather Johnson, Miriam Ibrahim, and Dina Hamdieh joined me to talk about the first half of WandaVision. Now, the team reassembles to break the fourth wall and delve into the World of Westview once more. With the Series Finale in the rearview mirror, we discuss managing fan expectations and whether or not Wanda is the true villain.

You can stream the episode on podomatic, Alexa (via Stitcher), Spotify or Amazon Podcasts! Or, you can download the ep on Apple Podcasts!

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

7.13-WandaVision-FinaleDownload

WandaVision Episode 7: “Would You Rather Be Feared or Loved?”

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I’ll keep this short and sweet. 

I haven’t had a show that has kept me in a perpetual state of “what the heck is going on and what the heck will happen” since season 5 of Bones the way WandaVision has. (To be fair, that’s actually the last season I watched – another story for another day.) Most of my conversations over the weekend involved episode 7: “Breaking the Fourth Wall,” and, if they didn’t, I was googling #allthethings.

Friday’s format was my favorite yet. The show’s use of The Office and Parks and Rec interview style and direct character-to-audience engagement was hilarious. Kat Dennings’ Darcy Lewis gets funnier by the minute, and I squealed at those scenes with Monica. Of course, the ending blew me away (I’m still humming the tune), and be sure to stay tuned during those credits as the powers that be finally pulled a classic MCU move with a bonus scene. There was just so much to watch.

And so I ask one question: if you aren’t tuning in to WandaVision, just what are you doing?

While it’s no secret that this is leading up to the next phase of movies, there is still so much to enjoy on its own merit. Elizabeth Olsen’s acting is phenomenal, especially when Wanda’s control is slipping and sliding. Her comedic delivery in this most recent episode is just one more example of Olsen’s ownership of this character and personifying the depth of complication and humanity that is within Wanda’s psyche. So often we talk about what she is doing to others and her motivations, but these past two weeks especially have shown us the toll it’s having on her.

Now we know that she isn’t the only player involved, but it’s her relatability that makes her such a powerful character for me. We’ve talked a lot about her losses and grief and just how powerful she is, but something I don’t think we talk about is how normal Wanda can be. No matter how or why she is in Westview, at her core she just wants a happy life. She loves Vision. She loves her boys. She’s stressed and tired from being on her guard 24/7. Super human or not, she just wants peace. 

As we fly forward into the final two episodes that are sure to be even more riveting than the ones we’ve seen so far, I’m hopeful we remember this side of Wanda. I don’t think she wants to be feared. I think she just wants to be loved.

WandaVision is now streaming on Disney+

WandaVision Episodes 5 & 6: Coming Back from Cancellation

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[Caution: This post contains spoilers for Episodes 5 & 6 of WandaVision.]

Grief is a strange thing.

Whenever we lose someone that we love, our feelings can fly all over the place. Misplaced anger, sadness, relief or even joy can come at us in waves without prompting. We can fight with ourselves in disbelief or simply crumble under the weight of our emotions. Because everyone grieves differently, these feelings can be scary, causing us to ask whether or not what we’re experiencing is normal (or even acceptable). 

But WandaVision has taken this to a whole other level.

For those who aren’t keeping up (and, seriously, why wouldn’t you be?), WandaVision follows the marital bliss of beloved Avengers Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany). Playing out through the lens of classic television sitcoms, everything seems right in the world for the couple until cracks begin to appear in the façade that point to something more sinister.

Since it began, the show has literally stormed the globe. (Current reports suggest it’s the #1 series in the world.) What began as a history lesson in television nostalgia has edged ever closer into true horror with a conspiracy angle that’s driving the story forward. All this has blended together into something truly magical that has drawn in new audiences while connecting with those already heavily invested in the MCU. Regardless of your previous interest in Marvel, WandaVision has all of us asking the same question right now…

What’s going on with Wanda?

The most recent episodes have really leaned into the fact that Wanda is heavily involved in the machinations of this world. Neighbours ask her if she wants them to ‘take it from the top’ when things don’t go as planned. She can clearly control elements such as time and repair what’s broken when needed. She’s even brought back her brother from the dead (even if he’s not who she remembers). For her, Westview is a safe space where she has ‘everything that she wanted’ (as she indicated in her brief appearance to the S.W.O.R.D. installation).

But it still seems entirely connected with Wanda’s grief.

In the last few episodes, the series has specifically referenced Vision and Pietro’s deaths (even throwing Ultron’s name into the mix). When confronted with questions about her reality, Wanda attempts to ‘roll the credits’ in an effort to skip to the end of the episode and ignore the conversation (to no avail). And, of course, the sixth episode saw Vision almost vaporized in a Truman Show-esque attempted ‘jailbreak’.

What has become clear though is that Wanda can’t seem to bring people back from the dead. After the death of their dog Sparky, Wanda is called out by Agnes and the twins to ‘fix it’ yet she says she doesn’t have the power to do so. Although her resurrected brother and, of course, Vision seem free to live within the Hex, Wanda seems powerless (as of right now) to be able to keep those she loves from dying.

Apparently, in the Hex, there are rules about death. 

Rules we don’t understand, but rules nonetheless.

In many ways, there’s a strange comfort around death in this way. Though our grief may plead with us to keep people alive, there’s also a sense of freedom that comes from being able to let them go. Although he’s thriving within Westview, Vision feels trapped. Neither Vision nor Wanda seems at peace with this arrangement, even though Wanda seems the most willing to try to maintain the pretense of marital bliss. The loss of a loved one is never an easy experience but, assuming that Wanda is running this show, she seems to have lost all sense of objectivity. If she can have her husband and brother back, she is determined to make it happen. (Admittedly, this is still unclear. While the series is leaning this direction, I’m not convinced this is entirely her decision.) 

But, by being unable (or unwilling) to process her own grief and release her loved ones from her fantasy world, I would argue that Wanda’s really the one in prison. While her time with Vision and Pietro may have been cut short—saving the world comes at a cost—it is the time that she did have with them that matters most.

Like Wanda, we cannot control life and death… but we can celebrate the people in our lives when we have them.

Though the MCU has never hinted (officially) at any belief in an afterlife or specific faith, what seems clear is that Vision is being prevented from taking those next steps by being held on to by his beloved. In the same way, Wanda seems to have become a victim of her own marital façade. For her, hope appears to be deeply connected to her ability to release those she loves from her will by accepting the truth that they have already gone. Like any great series, there comes a time when the show needs to be cancelled. Though she cannot bear the thought of life without them, neither can she keep them alive by forcing them to stay in her fantasy world. In fact, this  release may be the greatest act of love that she can offer them (or herself).

When she does, maybe then the healing can begin.

Maybe then she (and they) can truly be free.

The first six episodes of WandaVision are currently streaming on Disney+ with new episodes airing each Friday.

7.11 Tuning In to WANDAVISION

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After a long absence, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has finally made its triumphant return. Streaming exclusively on Disney+, WandaVision tells the story of beloved characters Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany) who finally have the lives they’ve always wanted. However, as the white picket fence starts to show its cracks, the facade seems to point to something more sinister. Told through the lens of classic television sitcoms, WandaVision is a wild ride that pushes the Marvel Universe into the weirdest of places, giving it a charm and darkness that have kept audiences glued to their sets. Tune in this week as we’re joined by SF’ers Heather Johnson, Miriam Ibrahim and newcomer Dina Hamdia to talk about tv as a place of safety and the power of grief. 

You can stream the episode on podomatic, Alexa (via Stitcher), Spotify or Amazon Podcasts! Or, you can download the ep on Apple Podcasts!

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

7.11 WandaVisionDownload

WandaVision Episode 3: It’s a Colorful Life

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For what it’s worth, I’m not a Marvel super fan or anything. I haven’t read the comics, I don’t know the backstories, and I’m often dependent on the kindness and knowledge of internet strangers that can point me to all of the Easter Eggs that I typically miss. 

So, in a somewhat bizarre way, I think this may make me an ideal audience for WandaVision. If anything, it has my husband intrigued, and he’s not one to show interest in well…any kind of movie or series… So, what is it about the newest series streaming from Disney+ that has the two of us so entranced – along with the other million viewers? If we aren’t Marvel “super-viewers” how can we be the right fit for such a concept as WandaVision?

For the first two episodes it was obvious – the nostalgia. We both grew up with old Nick-at-Nite shows so the subtleties and throwbacks to our childhood evenings got us to sit down in the first place. Drawing us in was actually pretty easy. And because of that, we are absolutely hooked. Maybe it’s because we really don’t know what to expect. Since we don’t know all the tips and tricks of the MCU upfront, it’s really easy to keep us engaged. Now while waiting last week for episode 3, I of course did some digging to learn more about the little Marvel-esque moments and hints dispersed throughout, which helped ground me into the nuance of the story of Wanda’s abilities and her relationship with Vision. And my theories developed. I’ve gone from engaged to entranced.

And then this week’s episode 3 threw me a bit. I thought I knew who was controlling whom and now I’m not so sure. Glitches, awkward dialogue and interactions, and Wanda’s increasing awareness of something “out there,” are leading me down a new direction. And I’m not sure if it will be as colorful as the psychedelic and groovy updates WandaVision gave us this week.

However, I do know this. With its blend of sitcom humor and Marvel wonder, WandaVision, like its lead couple, is unlike anything I’ve seen. And if it can get my reticent husband to ask “when does the next episode come out,” I think’s fair game that with this show, Disney+ and Marvel are now reaching a previously untapped audience.

WandaVision‘s first three episodes are now streaming on Disney+.

WandaVision: Reviving the MCU in the Past

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To an extent, the Marvel Cinematic Universe reminds me of the old song that says, ‘How Can I Miss You If You Won’t Go Away?’

It goes without saying that, after 22 movies (including the highest grossing film of all time) that have dominated the box office to the tune of over $22 billion, the MCU has become the premiere cinematic franchise in the last decade. Like many others, I’ve thrilled at watching a series of films where alien invasions, magic powers and even time-travel have become realities in a universe that seems to have no limits. However, after Avengers: Endgame destroyed all box office records and essentially wrapped up all their active storylines, my enthusiasm for their never-ending commitment to ‘the next phase’ was waning. Frankly, I needed a break.

In this way, the pandemic was definitely good for something.

After the worldwide shut-down forced the MCU (and most other things) to go on hiatus, the break has allowed the dust from the series’ dramatic conclusion* to finally settle. After 18 months—the longest gap without new Marvel material in over a decade, if you can believe it—the emergence of Disney’s streaming empire has allowed the MCU to slowly wind up the gears for its much-needed reset. So finally, with Friday’s launch of their new Disney+ series WandaVision, the MCU has officially returned. 

And it’s about to get weird(er)… in the best of ways.

Bound to be divisive, WandaVision’s refresh is an intentionally wild and unique re-introduction to the world of the MCU. Set in the world of classic television sitcoms, WandaVision is a limited miniseries that follows the marital bliss of the MCU’s beloved power couple, the mystical Wanda ‘Scarlett Witch’ Maximoff (Ashley Olsen) and the cybernetic Vision (Paul Bettany). As the two attempt to fit in to their unconventional suburban life, Wanda can’t help but sense that a darkness lurks that threatens their utopian world.

While not their first foray into the world of television (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Agent Carter), WandaVision is the first of their truly integrated series that is supposed to blur the lines between cinema and streaming content. Stars Bettany and Olsen are clearly revelling in the opportunity to portray their relationship with a fresh lens and the results are palpable onscreen. Bouncing around with enthusiastic energy, the duo make good use of their chemistry from previous Marvel films as they bring revive a bygone era. (Though, arguably, the real MVP of this MCU property is veteran Kathryn Hahn who is simply delightful playing an endless string of ‘best friend’ tropes.)

With its bizarre concept and style, it goes without saying that WandaVision is Marvel’s greatest ‘risk’. But, frankly, that’s always when they’re at their most interesting. Without any mention of the Avengers, ‘the Blip’ or other MCU tropes (so far), WandaVision feels like the fever dream of Marvel’s super-couple after falling asleep on the couch watching ‘Nick-At-Nite’. Having said this, that same separation is what also makes make the series work. While it feels inevitable that WandaVision will edge towards the superhero epic, this classic sitcom diversion is simply stunning to behold. With each episode, the miniseries fully leans into a different decade of the early years of television. Whether it’s the static sets of 1950s comedy ala I Love Lucy or the more mischievous whimsical atmosphere of early Bewitched, Shakman and his team have managed to recreate television history without fully losing the sense that there’s a greater Marvel story lurking underneath. Small details like separate beds for the married couple, charming theme songs and commercial breaks help build authenticity with a playful wink. (In fact, they even recorded the first episode of the series in front of a live studio audience.) 

Of course, this is a Marvel product and the premiere episodes carry with them the bubbling undercurrent of a much larger conspiracy. Though this tv world feels ‘perfect’, Wanda clearly is experiencing some form of ‘bad reception’. There’s a certain level of fragility within their suburban utopia. Mysterious messages from outside the world break through the innocence of the black and white world. 

But who is in control? Without giving away any spoilers, this tv reality seems like the type of environment that one might create to avoid dealing with the darkness of the real world. Within the heart of classic sitcoms lies a certain level of distance from cultural (or personal) change. One does not have to look any further from the (far too) gradual developments within television’s early age regarding issues of gender, race or sexuality to see that they reinforce cultural ideas designed to reinforce ideas of the dominant culture of their era. Is it possible that there’s a certain level of safety in these spaces or is something more nefarious going on with Wanda and her digital spouse? (Knowing the MCU, it’s possible that it’s both but answers have been sparse thus far.)

With a fresh tone and absolutely bonkers concept, WandaVision is a welcome re-introduction to a cinematic (do we use that word in this case?) universe that seemed to be running out of ideas. Thankfully, with the gift of time and, more importantly, creativity, WandaVision shows that Marvel is willing to experiment in their quest for content when the opportunity rises.

And, when Marvel takes risks, that’s something worth tuning in for.

The first two episodes of WandaVision are available on Disney+ on Friday, January 15th, 2021, with weekly episodes to follow.

*For what it’s worth, its fair to say that the last Marvel film was technically Spider-Man: Far From Home. However, that film was ultimately considered an epilogue on a story that ended the film prior, Avengers: Endgame.