IR TV Review: WANDAVISION - EPISODE 8 [Disney+]

The essence of self is wrapped up in the idea of what creates something and how experiences are defined. What is interesting in many ways about Wandavision's trajectory is how it changes certain perceptions but also tries to integrate aspects that were part of lore or brought in right below the surface. The notion of the Id in many different ways takes shape in Episode 8. Agnes (played with almost too much relish by Kathryn Hahn) almost runs the risk with her portrayal between self parody and a comic book characters which is what she is, when there have been some very dark drama moments see. Hahn can go there but she doesn't often. Agnes, as a character, now that she is more fully formed, needs to really come off even more darker than she is being played. It is a difficult approach because you want the so-called baddie to be vicious but this is also going out to a wide audience so the key is not to alienate while it is still progressing. The issue becomes maintaining tension and upping the ante. While this episode in many of its Dickensian perspective is moving towards a greater goal, it sometimes feel less because, even when it was Wanda simply manipulating her surrounding per se, there was a dread and sorrow underneath. It felt ike a character piece. But now as it moves toward the final episode (which is the next one) it needs to wrap things up or at least prep them to transition to the next chapter in whatever part of the mythology Marvel has planned. But in doing so this episode feels a little forced and, although the build of Agnes at a different time at the inset is quite good, it leaves too many details overall unfulfilled. B

By Tim Wassberg