'WandaVision' 1 × 07: Marvel breaks the fourth wall with very little force

The WandaVision episode “Breaking the Fourth Wall” (1x07) lacks forcefulness. And, of course, it is not the only problem you have.

After the successful parody of Malcolm (Linwood Boomer, Michael Glouberman, Gary Murphy, and Andy Bobrow, 2000-2006) at the beginning of the chapter "All-New Halloween Spooktacular!" (1x06) by WandaVision (Jac Schaeffer, 2021), available on Disney Plus, it is somewhat shocking how unforgivably soulless it is that they have made of the hilarious Modern Family (Steven Levitan and Christopher Lloyd, 2009-2020) to start the episode "Breaking the Fourth Wall" (1x07). And the lack of sparkle lingers for as long as the comedy drags on after transitioning to SWORD's perspective, which seems rather bleak, too.

The languid takedown of the fourth wall in 'WandaVision'

It's somewhat shocking how unforgivably soulless is their parody of the hilarious Modern Family

They waste about a third of the footage with the languid demolition of the fourth wall without contributing much, wasting time without a single laugh, without a simple display of comic wit. For this reason, there is not much to say about this chapter of WandaVision, as the plot almost does not advance despite the tremendous final revelations. Not even knowing one of the secret purposes of director Tyler Hayward (Josh Stamberg), what has happened with Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings), or, finally, who is hiding behind one of the secondary characters helps the thing to lift the flight, not an inch.

But these are not the only dislikes in "Breaking the Fourth Wall." And it is that, on the other hand, they sadly miss the humorous possibilities of the SWORD circus. Not to mention the unmistakable implausibility that someone like Vision (Paul Bettany), who flies, could be prevented from moving at a junction. And well it would have been possible to mark a Superman and Lois Lane in the clouds with Darcy Lewis until he reached his destination. And, after so much speculation among the public and analysts, the way they unmask someone important lacks force even with the television reworking of their interventions.

Monica Rambeau saves the day

The way they unmask someone important lacks force even with the television reworking of their interventions

Luckily, the tenacity of Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) saves this episode of WandaVision of absolute mediocrity. First, he stars in an intrusive scene with a result of delightful magic, which is followed by another quite intense one with a style typical of the multiverse of Doctor Strange (Scott Derrickson, 2016) or the Quantum Kingdom of Ant-Man and Ant-Man and the Wasp ( Payton Reed, 2015, 2018) and voices from his past. And finally, a confrontation that, like the above, definitely points to the powerful superhero she is going to become. But let's hope the series finale deserves more attention.