REVIEW: ‘WandaVision,’ Episode 7-“Breaking The Fourth Wall”

WandaVision Episode 7 begins the “third act” of the series with a few major revelations and a shift to the present day. “Breaking The Fourth Wall” sees the reality that Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) has constructed start to break down as she comes to terms with her trauma. Meanwhile, Vision (Paul Bettany) encounters Darcy  (Kat Dennings), and Monica (Teyonah Parris) resolves to get back inside the Hex and help Wanda before S.W.O.R.D. attacks.

After scarcely appearing in “All-New Halloween Spooktacular!” the sitcom elements return in full force as the series is filmed in a documentary style similar to Modern Family or The Office. Director Matt Shakman has effortlessly adapted to every sitcom-style throughout the series, and “Breaking The Fourth Wall” is no different as the Westview scenes are filmed using a looser, more handheld style. Songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez also provide a riff on The Office’s opening sequence (as well as another great song that I don’t want to spoil because it ties into the episode’s greatest twist.)

The Modern Family style also proves to be rather unsettling, as things in Wanda’s house start shifting through the decades, and Wanda herself is starting to question things. Olsen has cycled through a range of emotions during the series, and here she projects uneasiness mixed with grief as she comes to terms with her grief. Parris is also a standout in this episode, as Monica has a beautiful conversation with Wanda about her own loss and how she can’t just magic it away-she has to live with it. The parallels drawn between both women come to the forefront here, and I hope this is not the last of the scenes between Olsen and Parris. (As a comic book fan, it also made me happy to see Monica inch ever so closer towards her superpowered future as Photon.)

Another pairing that surprisingly works is Bettany and Dennings’ interactions. Darcy has served as the audience surrogate, more or less, creating her own theories as she “watches” the events inside the Hex. Here she continues to serve in that role-even getting in a witty line about a “guest spot” and helps catch Vision up on the events that happened before his death. Bettany also has some perfectly timed comedic beats and smaller, more unsettling moments where Vision can’t remember pieces of his life. Even though death and resurrection are commonplace in the comic book world, it’s refreshing to see a character actually grapple with the fact that they died and how to move on after that.

The standout of the episode, however, is Kathryn Hahn as Agnes. For weeks, viewers have speculated on who-or what-she is, and it’s finally revealed here. Marvel Comics fans will undoubtedly enjoy the reveal, as it’s tied to a character that Wanda is connected to in the comics. Casual viewers will either be surprised by the reveal or relieved that their suspicions about Agnes were correct. And in the same way that “We Interrupt This Program” shifted its focus to answer a few questions about the ongoing narrative, “Breaking The Fourth Wall” shows what’s happening behind the curtain-and the sinister implications that come with that reveal.

WandaVision Episode 7 kicks off the “third act” of the series with a bang, featuring amazing performances across the board. Now that the mystery of Westview is more or less revealed, the stage is set for the last two episodes to deliver what will hopefully be a grand finale. Personally, I also hope that the series has a few more tricks up its sleeve because the old saying is true: A magician never reveals all of his-or in the case of showrunner Jac Schaffer, her secrets.

New episodes of WandaVision will be available to stream on Fridays on Disney+.