Miniseries
Directed By: Matt Shakman
Directing – 7
Matt Shakman’s direction for this series was solid. I do think he do a good job at building up the mystery and giving us the close to the right moments for certain reveals. I do think that he could done a better job at getting better takes for some of the side characters performances. I also think that we were kept to into a rhetorical bubble and we stayed more within that bubble than explore a little more. Also, Episode 8, felt kind of we didn’t need that episode except for a few scenes within that episode. I do think Shakman did a solid job with his direction.
Cinematography – 10
I think the cinematography was good. Marvel doesn’t really do a bad job with the visuals, I would loved if maybe there was a little more grittiness at times.
Score – 10
The score was good. I did like what they brought it had the aspects of mystery, thriller, suspense and even the big marvel feel at times.
Story – 8
The story itself was solid as well. The series follows Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany) and the mystery of where they are and what is this place that they are in. The story itself felt very contained and controlled like we are waiting to break the boundaries, but we seem a bit at the same place from the start. This film does tackle some themes such as grief, loneliness, loss, love, acceptance, searching for purpose, etc. I do like how it also decided to be a little different from many standard Marvel storylines. I will say it would have been nice to know nothing about the series and just watch it throughout, I think that is why I found more enjoyment in the final two episodes, because I was just able to watch it without expectations. I think that at first I was expecting more surprises and got everything that was pretty much expected, but it felt like we were missing something. Also, the dialogue is at times not the greatest, for Wanda and Vision it is good, but for the side characters it felt kind of hit or miss at times. I do think that the story was good, and definitely much better for the last two episodes on second viewing.
Acting – 7
Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany are giving great performances they truly carry the heavy load and without their performances it would’ve been whatever. The side actors gave iffy performances I don’t hate the characters, but I just felt kind of not sure with their performances, I did like their side of the stories, but their performances were iffy at times.
Post-Production – 8
The editing was fine. However, I would liked to have more grittiness to the look of the show, because it is supposed to be mysterious and a bit dark so it felt like we needed that a little more. Also, I’m probably sure that there was much more to the show that they cutout, because I feel Marvel always does a little more than normal and honestly that probably would’ve helped because a lot of the show felt a lot like, “I’m waiting, what is next?” Also, some of special effects look a bit noticeable in the later episodes, they were good, just at time noticeable.
Entertainment – 8
I’m on the spectrum of the show where I did like it. However, I felt a little more wouldn’t have hurt, because I felt the show was a little on a leash and it could have done a little more. I was engaged with the show, except for some moments where acting for the side characters doesn’t always hit. Also, like I said earlier I felt a little more invested in the last two episodes because I didn’t need to focus on the overwhelming expectations. I will say this show was good. A good variety of people dislike the show because it is Marvel and they think all they produce is mindless entertainment, which is not entirely true. Marvel does try to put out good stories. I will say for this show it felt a little more on a leash and it could have released a little more and maybe expand a little bit.
Final Rating
8.6/10 – Nice Series.
