"On a Very Special Episode..." | |
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WandaVision episode | |
Episode no. | Episode 5 |
Directed by | Matt Shakman |
Written by |
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Cinematography by | Jess Hall |
Editing by | Nona Khodai |
Original release date | February 5, 2021 |
Running time | 41 minutes |
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"On a Very Special Episode..." is the fifth episode of the American television miniseries WandaVision, based on Marvel Comics featuring the characters Wanda Maximoff / Scarlet Witch and Vision. It follows the couple as they try to conceal their powers while living an idyllic suburban life in the town of Westview, New Jersey. The episode is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), sharing continuity with the films of the franchise. It was written by Peter Cameron and Mackenzie Dohr, and directed by Matt Shakman.
Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany reprise their respective roles as Wanda Maximoff and Vision from the film series, with Teyonah Parris, Evan Peters, Randall Park, Kat Dennings, and Kathryn Hahn also starring. Development began by October 2018, and Shakman joined in August 2019. The episode pays homage to sitcoms of the 1980s and 1990s, such as Family Ties, Growing Pains, Roseanne, and Full House. It introduces Peters as Maximoff's brother "Pietro", who was previously portrayed in the MCU by Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Peters played a different version of the character in the X-Men film series, and he was cast for WandaVision because of the meta and thematic implications. Maximoff and Vision's children Billy and Tommy also have roles in the episode. Filming took place in the Atlanta metropolitan area in Atlanta, Georgia, including at Pinewood Atlanta Studios, and in Los Angeles.
"On a Very Special Episode..." was released on the streaming service Disney+ on February 5, 2021. Critics praised the episode for its opening titles and theme song, and for its progression of the series' storylines, while Peters' appearance as "Pietro Maximoff" was widely discussed. It received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.