We Interrupt This Program: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 20:21, 5 September 2021

Revision as of 14:33, 9 September 2021

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=== Visual effects ===

Tara DeMarco served as the visual effects supervisor for ''WandaVision'', with the episode's visual effects created by The Yard VFX, [[Industrial Light & Magic]], [[Rodeo FX]], Monsters Aliens Robots Zombies (MARZ), [[Framestore]], [[Cantina Creative]], [[Rise FX|RISE]], [[Digital Domain]], and SSVFX.<ref name="ArtOfVFX" /><ref name="EndCredits" />{{rp|31:54–32:10}} Rodeo FX developed the visual effects for the Hex boundary,<ref name="FXGuide" /> based on the magnetization of old CRT television screens when brought into contact with magnets.<ref name="AssembledHexVFX" /> The boundary is depicted as clear and difficult to see, as Shakman wanted it to be mysterious and unsettling for the audience.<ref name="VergeVFX" /> The [[moire pattern]] that can be seen when Rambeau touches the boundary was specifically based on footage that Rodeo shot of themselves experimenting with magnets and televisions.<ref name="RodeoCB" /> Rodeo also created Westview for when it appears in the background of shots in the episode. Supervisor Julien Héry said there were a lot of small details added to the town to make it look realistic without drawing attention, such as traffic lights, trash cans, and fire hydrants.<ref name="RodeoCB" /> Cantina Creative designed and animated graphics for the devices in the episode, including S.W.O.R.D.'s holographic table and monitors as well as the devices used to monitor the Hex's [[Cosmic microwave background|CMBR]] levels.<ref name="CantinaCreative" />

DeMarco used Vision's introduction in ''[[Avengers: Age of Ultron]]'' (2015) as the definitive version of the character when approaching the visual effects for him in ''WandaVision''. Bettany wore a bald cap and face makeup on set to match Vision's color, as well as tracking markers for the visual effects teams to reference.<ref name="FXGuide" /> Complex 3D and digital makeup techniques were then used to create the character, with sections of Bettany's face replaced with CGI on a shot-by-shot basis; the actor's eyes, nose, and mouth were usually the only elements retained.<ref name="FXGuide" /> The brief appearance of dead Vision was created by Digital Domain,<ref name="DDAoVFX" /> who explained that the hole in the character's head where the Mind Stone was ripped out by [[Thanos (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Thanos]] in ''[[Avengers: Infinity War]]'' (2018) could not be created with practical effects. For those shots, Digital Domain completely replaced Bettany's head with a digital Vision head based on his appearance at the end of ''Infinity War''. They then match-moved Bettany's facial performance for his eyes, nose, and mouth onto the digital model.<ref name="DigitalDomain" />

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{{multiple image|footer=The appearances of Randall Park and Kat Dennings, reprising their roles from MCU films in the episode, were noted by critics.|image1=Randall Park, cropped, New York City (October 2016) (29977100934).jpg|width1=150|image2=Kat Dennings at the 38th People's Choice Award (cropped).jpg|width2=139}}

Charles Pulliam-Moore at ''[[io9]]'' was thankful that the episode switched perspectives to Rambeau, calling this an effective way to answer the audience's questions and show the previous episodes in a new light. He also highlighted the horror of the opening sequence.<ref name="io9Review" /> ''[[The A.V. Club]]''{{'}}s Stephen Robinson said the episode both provided answers and rampesramps up the suspense, giving it an "A−". He compared it to ''[[The X-Files]]'' as well as ''[[The Prisoner]]'' episode "[[Living in Harmony]]", and said the appearance of deceased Vision made him "gasp in horror". Robinson felt this visual hit "even harder after seeing a funny, lovable Vision over the past three episodes".<ref name="AVClubReview" /> Matt Purslow at ''[[IGN]]'' believed the episode's title was a very accurate description for the episode. He noted that learning Maximoff had created the reality to deal with her grief lined up with initial fan theories about the series, and said the reveal was "strongly presented" with Olsen's portrayal of a darker Maximoff being similar to when she faced Thanos in ''Avengers: Endgame''. Purslow gave the episode an 8 out of 10.<ref name="IGNReview" /> ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''{{'}}s Christian Holub also felt the episode's title was perfect. His colleague Chancellor Agard said he was normally not a fan of episodes that recap past events such as this one, but enjoyed this because it meant the series was not withholding basic information from the audience for too long and also that the mysteries were not "the point" of the series.<ref name="EWRecap" /> Writing for ''[[/Film]]'', Evan Saathoff was positive that the episode "breaks the whole thing open", but was disappointed that the series' sitcom format would potentially not remain for the rest of its episodes.<ref name="/FilmRecap" />

''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]''{{'}}s Richard Newby praised Lewis and Woo's character growth since their last appearances in ''[[Thor: The Dark World]]'' (2013) and ''[[Ant-Man and the Wasp]]'' (2018), respectively, which he felt was one of the benefits that comes from the MCU's long-form storytelling.<ref name="THRAnalysis" /> Agard said the episode was the one he had been waiting for due to its focus on Lewis and Woo, and felt Dennings returned to her role effortlessly,<ref name="EWRecap" /> while Purslow enjoyed seeing Rambeau, Lewis, and Woo solving the mystery, as well as the other references to the MCU.<ref name="IGNReview" /> Alec Bojalad at ''[[Den of Geek]]'' highlighted the performances of Park and Dennings, and gave the episode 4.5 out of 5 stars. Bolalad described the episode as "wildly thrilling and entertaining" and the most coherent episode of the series so far, which he felt made it the best.<ref name="DenOfGeekReview" />

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=== Analysis ===

James Whitbrook at ''io9'' said the opening scene, in which Monica Rambeau returns from the Blip, was "brilliant" and felt it was the closest thing Marvelto Studioshorror hadwithin madethe to horrorMCU. Whitbrook contrasted it with what was shown of the Blip in ''Spider-Man: Far From Home'', which played the moment for comedic effect, noting instead the claustrophobic nature, Rambeau's confusion, and the scene's soundscape of screaming against the sound of Rambeau's heartbeat. He felt the scene established Rambeau's state of mind for the rest of the series and also reflected ''WandaVision''{{'}}s tonal shift from sitcom homages to the "dark, stark reality".<ref name="io9OpeningScene" /> Newby believed the scene offered a new perspective on the Blip from what was seen in ''Far From Home'', and opened up "myriad storytelling possibilities" for the MCU with a "new status quo, new agencies of power, new adversaries, and familiar supporting faces ready to emerge as more prominent heroes". He said the Blip was the "greatest storytelling decision" in the MCU since [[Nick Fury (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Nick Fury]] appeared in the [[post-credits scene]] of ''[[Iron Man (2008 film)|Iron Man]]'' (2008).<ref name="THRAnalysis" />

Newby said having Rambeau, Lewis, and Woo serve as surrogates for the audience in the episode showed how much the MCU had changed for its human, non-superhero characters.<ref name="THRAnalysis" /> Margaret David at ''Comic Book Resources'' described the three characters' roles in this episode as a "cheeky acknowledgement of fandom". David highlighted Lewis's transition from discovering the ''WandaVision'' broadcast with astrophysics to watching the fictional series and becoming "every theorist on [[Reddit]] looking for the clues", as well as Woo's use of a whiteboard and pin wall to organize information which is standard for police procedurals but in this case is "recognizable as every Marvel [[YouTube]]r breaking down viewer questions". David said this was "next-level metafiction", and compared it to a scene in the ''[[It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia]]'' episode "[[Sweet Dee Has a Heart Attack]]" which was also directed by Shakman. That episode is the source of a famous [[Internet meme|meme]] in which [[Charlie Day]]'s [[Charlie Kelly (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia)|Charlie Kelly]] wildly gestures at a similar whiteboard.<ref name="CBRAnalysis" /> Pulliam-Moore said this element of the episode felt like ''WandaVision'' was "flexing", with the series "poking fun at itself, its audience, and the entire culture around superhero adaptations".<ref name="io9Review" />