#like there were no scenes where characters argued whether Leia couldve taken Vader in a fight

[call-me-corvid]

Hot take: the characters in WandaVision talking about details from Infinity War and Endgame that they werent there for and probably have no way of actually knowing are just examples of references-for-the-sake-of-references that dont really add anything to the plot of the show and really only serve to alienate, frustrate, and confuse casual viewers.

#this is coming from someone who has seen the movies #and gets the references (and is kind of annoyed by some of them for being useless nerd bait) #who is watching WandaVision with someone with a limited knowledge of avenger movie continuity #and is getting confused by all the unexplained references #look i get adding the little references for dedicated fans but references for a standalone series should be MINIMAL #like the references should either a) be small enough that casual viewers dont notice them or b) important to the plot but are EXPLAINED #like how Mandalorian (season 1; i got beef with season 2 for the same reason) did a GREAT job for being accessible to the casual viewer #because it was like ‘here’s all you need to know about the world. go experience it’ #and there were little references for the more dedicated fans but they werent central to any one scene #like there were no scenes where characters argued whether Leia couldve taken Vader in a fight #because literally that has no bearing on the story whatsoever #and also how would minor characters have enough insider knowledge to have that discussion #my main hot take: if you’re going to have a standalone series then it should be able to STAND ALONE #if i gotta sit and explain deeper plot points from 6 different movies just to let my friend understand a throwaway scene #that was given more central attention than it should have been just so that dedicated fans can go ‘haha i saw that movie!! :)’ #then you’re doing your standalone wrong #and all youre doing is frustrating people that you would otherwise be drawing in as new fans to a franchise #ok rant over #this has ALWAYS bothered me about spinoffs #by the way