When Does Wandavision Take Place and What Sitcoms Is It Based On?

With the first episodes of the series in black-and-white, a lot of Marvel fans wonder if Wandavision takes place in the ’50s. At the same time, there are also episodes in color. So when does Wandavision take place after all?

Let’s also see what sitcoms is Wandavision based on so that you could understand and appreciate all references and easter eggs.

Understanding Wandavision

Why Does Wandavision Take Place in the ’50s?

The first episode of the Marvel mini-series might have been a bit confusing as it’s shot in black-and-white. It’s reminiscent of the 50s era in terms of camera angle, costumes, and actors’ mimics. If you’re struggling to watch it with no clue where all of this is heading, we get you. However, this black-and-white 50s setting is only a trick the creative team used to make us fall in love with Wanda’s story. Bear with it for two episodes, it’s worth it.

So… When Does Wandavision Take Place?

Wandavision takes place in the present day. That being said, depending on the episode, the mini-series uses the style of popular 50s-90s sitcoms style and setting to connect with the story of the main character, Wanda.

Is Wandavision in Black and White?

Actually, no. Only the first two series are shot in the black-and-white setting, paying homage to the 1950s–60s era.

How Many Episodes of Wandavision Have Been Released?

Wandavision is a mini-series comprised of 9 full episodes. It was originally aired in January, 2021.

How Long are Episodes of Wandavision?

Each episode of Wandavision has a different length. Episodes vary from a half-hour comedy format to 50 minutes long, according to the length of the series they reference.

When Will the Next Episodes of Wandavision Come Out? Is Wandavision Getting a Season 2?

Season 2 for Wandavision has never been confirmed. However, the story of the main villain, Agatha Hartness, will be told in a spin-off.

List of Wandavision Episodes with Era and Sitcoms They Reference

Here’s a full list of Wandavision episodes and the setting they refer to.

	Episode	Reference
1	“Filmed Before a Live Studio Audience”	black-and-white 1950s setting
2	“Don’t Touch That Dial”	the 1960s setting
3	“Now in Color”	the 1970s setting
4	“We Interrupt This Program”	present-day setting
5	“On a Very Special Episode…”	the 1980s/early 1990s setting
6	“All-New Halloween Spooktacular!”	the late 1990s/early 2000s setting
7	“Breaking the Fourth Wall”	In a mid-to-late 2000s setting
8	“Previously On”	present-day setting
9	“The Series Finale”	present-day setting

What Sitcoms is Wandavision Based on?

As each episode references a specific decade, let’s review all the references on a series-by-series basis.

Episode 1: 1950s (I Love Lucy / The Dick Van Dyke Show)

The visual similarities between the first episode and I love Lucy is uncanny. Using the vintage aspect ratio, black-and-white imaging and the same font at the opening and closing credits, this Wandavision episode offers an entertaining throwback to one of the all-time favorite series.

The scene where Wanda is cooking a meal is obviously similar to the one from I dream of Jeannie, while the episode also paid homage to the set of The Dick Van Dyke Show The spirit of the show was meticulously brought with great care and attention to detail, such as the room appearance.

Episode 2: 1960s (Bewitched / I dream of Jeannie)

The aminated opening with cartooned Wanda and Vision, as well as the font used, imitated the opening credits from Bewitched.

The creators were authentic to the time the action took place even when it comes to details. Were you surprised to see Wanda and Vision in separate beds at the beginning of the episode? Separate beds were a traditional practice in the 50s era.

The last few minutes of the episode when everything turns from black-and-white to color is a nod to the era when many TV shows that used to be black-and-white were shifting to broadcasting in color.

Episode 3 (The Brady Bunch)

The opening credits use the same font and style as The Brady Bunch, an American sitcom that aired from 1969 to 1974. While the tiles have another shape, the connection between these two is pretty obvious due to the playful retro look.

An interesting Easter egg is a doll that Vision has in its hands. It’s the same doll that was filmed in The Brady Bunch, and also a very popular toy of the era.

Episode 5 (Full House / Family Ties)

The opening credits reference one of the most popular American series from the 80s-90s, Full House. It’s funny to note that Elizabeth Olsen played a small part as a little girl in that series too. The pictured of each character aging up and the sequence of the family running in the yard is a direct hommage to the same opening credits.

The costumes for the two shows are pretty similar too

and the living room recreated the living room from the 1990s series Family Ties.

Episode 6 (Malcolm in the Middle / Gilmore Girl)

In this episode, the action takes place in the late 1990s/early 2000s setting.

The self-filming style used for the credits in Episode 6 is very recognizable as the same used in the Malcolm in the Middle series. Fonts, image quality, tone of the song – everything points out to that series. One of the best parts of Malcolm in the middle was seeing the boys break the fourth wall and address the audience with their hilarious remarks. Wanda’s boys, Billy and Tommy, carry on this tradition.

The camera angle they used was also reminiscent of that era.

Episode 7: 2000s (Modern Family / The Office)

Episode 7 was uniquely shot in the style of the popular series of that time, Modern Family and The Office. While the jingle sound is very similar to the one used for The Office opening credits, I Love Wanda mug is a direct reference to the World’s Best Boss mug.

The action happens in a mid-to-late 2000s setting. A popular style then was breaking the fourth wall. When a character in movies breaks the fourth wall, they acknowledge the existence of the audience and address them directly. Wanda directly addresses the viewers, looking straight to the camera and marking a confession, much like the way some of the Modern Family confessional interviews were shot. The visual side of the opening is a perfect reflection of the Modern Family too.

Summary

All of the sitcom’s throwbacks are entertaining. It’s noticeable that the creators of Wandavision used the legacy of American sitcoms with craft and care. Which throwback did you enjoy the most?