WandaVision Is Still The Best Part Of MCU Phase 4: Can 2022 Beat It?

Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase 4's best project thus far is still WandaVision, and the franchise's 2022 slate might have difficulty topping it off. After the Infinity Saga, Marvel Studios was meant to take a short hiatus to have some separation between what came before and what came after the Infinity Stones debacle. But due to unforeseen circumstances, particularly the global coronavirus pandemic, that hiatus was further extended with MCU Phase 4's confirmed slate reshuffled multiple times.

Initially, Phase 4 was supposed to kick off with Cate Shortland and Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow film. But since theaters were forced to shut down, Marvel Studios turned to its Disney+ slate to start things off. Even then, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier was scheduled to be MCU's inaugural TV show before it got pushed back due to production challenges. This resulted in WandaVision getting moved forward to take its place. So, in January 2021, almost two years since the last MCU film in Spider-Man: Far From Home, the Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany-led project debuted on Disney+.

Officially announced during San Diego Comic-Con 2019, WandaVision mined inspiration from classic sitcoms; the premiere was even filmed before a live studio audience. Olsen and Bettany reprised their Marvel characters, Wanda and Vision, as they attempted to live a normal life in ideal suburbia. The show also saw the return of Kat Dennings' Darcy Lewis, Teyonah Parris' grown-up Monica Rambeau, and Randall Park's Agent Jimmy Woo. Meanwhile, it marked Katherine Hahn's first foray into the MCU as Agatha Harkness.

Why WandaVision Is The Best Movie Or Show Of Phase 4

Premiering with a two-episode special, WandaVision immediately grabbed the attention of fans. Out of all the confirmed MCU projects at that point, it felt the most unique; considering the fact that the franchise has already been going on for more than a decade, it's exactly what it needed to reinvigorate those who were starting to feel disinterested after the Infinity Saga. Running for nine episodes, each outing tackled a different era with a corresponding iconic sitcom as its inspiration. This in itself was such a fresh approach. Admittedly, Marvel Studios could've gone an easier route by telling Wanda and Vision's story more straightforwardly. But WandaVision's premise was both fun and intriguing that even non-MCU fans were interested as recreating old sitcoms evoked nostalgia for them. Simply put, the set-up enhanced fans' viewing experience of the show.

Beneath its sitcom aesthetic, however, WandaVision also had a compelling story. It tackled Wanda's unresolved trauma — from the death of her parents in Sokovia to the heartbreaking realization of her lost life with Vision. It was fun watching the show week after week trying to figure out what would happen next, especially given the myriad of theories that included the rumored involvement of Mephisto and/or Magneto. At its core, however, WandaVision is arguably one of the best character-driven projects in the MCU. Thanks to its contained setting, Marvel Studios was able to fully focus on Wanda and her life that has been defined by tragedy. Although it did feature several set-ups for the future, it remained focused on the narrative it was telling. More impressively, it told a complete story; Wanda's arc will continue in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, but her time in Westview is done. And being part of an ever-evolving universe like the MCU, having this kind of proper ending is quite rare. Beyond the franchise, WandaVision had a massive pop culture impact thanks to Agatha’s “It’s Agatha All Along” song, not to mention Vision’s quote: “What is grief, if not love persevering?”

Why Phase 4's Other Movies & Shows Couldn't Beat WandaVision In 2021

Wandavision ending better than falcon and the winter soldier and loki

Marvel Studios opened 2021 with WandaVision; after that, they kept the ball rolling with four more Disney+ series in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki, Marvel's What If...?, and Hawkeye. They also released four films in between those TV shows with a mix of sequels and origins stories with Black Widow, Shang-Chi and the Legends of the Ten Rings, Eternals, and Spider-Man: No Way Home. But despite the string of shows and films that followed it, none could beat WandaVision in terms of storytelling quality.

Out of Marvel Studios' 2021 slate, Spider-Man: No Way Home is clearly the most commercially successful. The film has already earned more than $1.4 billion at the global box office, and it continues to be the talk of the town thanks to the satisfying pay-off of seeing Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield reprise their Spider-Man iterations. They join Tom Holland's wall-crawler in his third solo film. But, objectively, much of the buzz surrounding Spider-Man: No Way Home was motivated by its many cameos. Without them, it would've been a typical MCU film. Eternals, on the other hand, tried doing something different, but the execution just wasn't done properly. So, it failed to resonate with audiences.

Meanwhile, Loki had the potential to top WandaVision, but more often than not, its story functioned as a way to set up MCU's future, particularly its budding multiverse. Although its premiere did a great job diving into the God of Mischief's (Tom Hiddleston) character, the show eventually evolved into something bigger than him. Marvel's What If...? is such a cool concept, but while it supposedly connects to the main MCU, there haven't been any clear ties thus far. Meanwhile, the rest of MCU's 2021 slate felt too familiar, like Black Widow, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and Hawkeye; they were straightforward superhero projects. Only, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings successfully differentiated itself from the rest by opening up an entirely new different pocket in the franchise, which is always exciting. Still, it wasn't as unique and groundbreaking as WandaVison was.

Can Any MCU Phase 4 Movies Or Shows Of 2022 Beat WandaVision?

Doctor Strange and Moon Knight for Marvel's Avengers

Looking ahead, the MCU has another busy year. Like 2021, there's a mix of small and big screen offerings for fans. But is there any upcoming project that could potentially top WandaVision? Marvel Studios has three sequel films for 2022 in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Thor: Love and Thunder, and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever; each one is highly anticipated as they have their respective appeal. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Thor: Love and Thunder, in particular, have the opportunity to shake things up in the MCU, given what's known about their stories. But it may never be as bold as WandaVision was. Marvel Studios tends to play it safe with regard to their blockbusters, except for a few ones. It's primarily because it could drastically change the universe as a whole, making it difficult to maintain its established continuity.

This doesn't mean that Marvel Studios doesn't have the opportunity to top what they did with WandaVision, but it will not be via a movie. Instead, it would be through smaller, character-driven projects in its MCU Disney+ slate. Moon Knight, in particular, stands out among the rest as it already has an interesting titular character in Marc Spector. Couple that with the fact that he's played by the brilliant Oscar Isaac, and Marvel Studios has the chance to come up with another fresh superhero project.

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