The trailer for WandaVision confirmed that the show would be arriving on Disney+ in 2020. It gave a sneak peek as to what fans can expect from what may be one of Marvel’s quirkiest projects to date. The series will be heavily affected by the Scarlet Witches hex powers and will reflect a number of famous sit-coms from TV history.
While some of the influences on the show are fairly obvious from the first look, others are yet to be confirmed or may only be noticeable in a subtle reference. To prepare for this crazy experience, there are plenty of classic sit-coms for Marvel fans to start watching in order to understand all of the references when the show does drop on Disney+.
Full House
Full House has had a significant impact on pop culture history, so much so that the series was renewed in recent years, with Fuller House experiencing a slightly less than great reception. It’s a series that many others in the genre have paid homage to.
Elements of the time period will be featured in WandaVision and its themes of family will be especially relevant. The show also contains a narrative thread of being a widower, something that also relates to Wanda’s own journey.
The Brady Bunch
The Brady Bunch also looks at the creation of a large family after a widower tries to start up a new life. The chaos that ensues may be very similar to that of WandaVision, although with far fewer magical elements.
The show has also become an important part of the sit-com genre and besides some of the story threads, the costume design and production design both look to have a heavy influence on the tone of the Marvel series.
Bewitched
Bewitched follows the life of a magical witch who decides to settle down into a conventional life, with her less than extraordinary husband. The fun series tracks her new world, as she struggles to find her place in a suburban household.
The series is certainly very similar to the life that Wanda is trying to lead and fans should expect some kind of reference to this classic in the new Marvel adventure. What’s more, fans may be able to get a taste of some of the themes by watching Bewitched.
The Fresh Prince
WandaVision will be taking a look at every era of the sitcom genre. One of the shows that defined the 90s for young adults is The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. The wildly successful show was a humorous and emotional look at a modern American family.
One of the funniest shows on this list, there’s a number of elements that WandaVision could steal from this culture making series. What’s more, this is a great show for Marvel fans to start with if they are unfamiliar with American sit-coms and want to watch more before the Disney+ release.
I Love Lucy
I Love Lucy is one of the earliest sitcoms in the genre that really set the bar for other to follow. WandaVision clearly draws a lot of influences from this show, with the trailer revealing black and white scenes and iconography very similar to the scene above.
The family dynamic is very evident in the trailer, with traditional American values having a huge influence on how Wanda views her own life. I Love Lucy is a great way to get inside the idea of the American nuclear family.
Friends
Friends may be one of the most famous sitcoms of all time. It plays heavily into the genre, but subverts it in many ways, telling its own story in a very unique fashion. It was a huge part of the 90s and early 2000s.
It’s a show that has an influence on any comedy or drama, especially ones that follow a similar formula. WandaVision will almost certainly be taking some of its cues from this much-loved TV series, which continues to stand the test of time.
The Addams Family
The Addams Family not only combines themes of non-traditional family groups, but it also brings in some of the creepier and more spooky elements of the characters. Similarly, WandaVision looks as if part of it takes place at Halloween.
It seems appropriate that The Addams Family would prepare fans for some of the stranger elements of the show, while also looking at the black and white cinematography that will be bringing a unique flavor to the Disney+ show.
That 70s Show
That 70s Show is an interesting one to look at, considering it didn’t actually get produced in the 70s but instead sought to try to re-capture a moment in time and an essence that sit-coms of the time period had already.
WandaVision will essentially be doing this for its whole run, so it’s intriguing to see it in a slightly different format, considering there are a few influences from That 70s Show itself, which will affect Wanda’s own journey.
Modern Family
Modern Family is one of the most recent sit-coms that has endured over a number of years and re-defined the genre in the modern era. It’s a show that Disney actually owns, considering its part of the ABC network.
It would make a lot of sense, therefore, if some similar ideas or cues are taken from the ongoing comedy series. It would be worth a watch from fans who want to see what the modern WandaVision may look like.
Family Ties
Family Ties is the kind of show that Wanda may have watched that influenced her view on what a traditional family life could be like, living in America.
There are signs of this in the trailer, with the sit-down meal with the neighbors and the traditional costumes that Vision and Wanda are wearing. Family Ties is a great way for fans to identify the kind of tone the show is looking for.
