What WandaVision Can Teach Us About Grief
“What is grief, if not love persevering”
It’s a line from WandaVision that has been made fun of and memed by the entire internet by now. What was meant to be a touching line about grief and loss failed to hit its target with audiences. But, while that line is what most people are talking about, WandaVision actually had a lot more to teach us about grief. The show took us through the stages of grief; Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance as Wanda came to terms with her most recent loss, her love Vision.
Here’s a little bit more on what WandaVision can teach us about grief. Before you go any further in reading this, there will be spoilers for the show, so if you haven’t watched it yet stop here and come back when you’ve watched the entire season.
WandaVision & Grief
WandaVision is the story of how grief can consume you and if you allow your denial to swallow you it will suck in everyone around you. This happens quite literally as Wanda takes over an entire town and sucks them into her pain and the fantasy world she has created. Her grief has turned her into a villain, if not completely then at the very least to the people of Westview.
By the end of the season, Wanda finally comes to terms with the fact that she cannot keep her hold on Westview anymore, which means she can’t keep the family she has created. She has finally reached a point of acceptance. Though she fought hard to keep her family and the fantasy alive. This is something she was only able to come to terms with because of Agatha’s interference. Were it not for her, the people of Westview, and Wanda herself might still be stuck battling with her grief.
Grief Will Consume You
Ultimately, WandaVision is a warning. If you allow your grief to consume you, if you can’t escape the denial and anger then it isn’t just going to impact you. Everyone around you in every corner of your life, from your children to your neighbors, and beyond will be impacted. They will have to learn to walk on eggshells around you and possibly even learn to fear you.
The people of Westview will never forget Wanda and the torture she put them through for her own benefit. Equally, Wanda will never be the same either. But her story isn’t done yet. There is still time for her to redeem herself once again and a chance to repair things with Vision. She just needs to be given the chance. Wanda is set to appear in the next Doctor Strange movie, Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness which is currently scheduled to be released next year. Hopefully, she will be able to get her family back then. The post-credit scene suggests that her children are still alive somewhere, somehow. What that has to do with Doctor Strange, we will just have to wait and see. For now, though, Wanda has a lot of reading to do.
Grief is real, and as parents…as people we must find ways to deal with it. If you have not found a way to handle your grief, please look into a grief counselor or really good friend.
