Marvel’s WandaVision and What If…? Secure Critics Choice Award Nominations

MovieWeb

By Anthony Lund

Published Dec 9, 2021

WandaVision earned Critics’ Choice Award Nominations in the four of the main categories, while What If…? was listed on the Best Animated Series list.

Via: Marvel Studios

WandaVision may have lost out at the Emmys earlier this year, walking away with none of the big acting awards it was nominated for and managing to be snubbed everywhere except a few smaller categories and the surprise win for the song Agatha All Along, which was featured in the Marvel series. Now, WandaVision has another shot at awards glory along with Marvel’s What If…? as both shows are up for five awards at the Critics Choice Awards between them.

As the first TV series from Marvel Studios to hit Disney+, there was a lot riding on WandaVision to set a successful narrative in motion for the studio, and it was a gamble that really paid off and showed that Marvel were on the right track with its expansion of the previously movie-exclusive Universe created over the last 13 years. However, despite some success at various awards, the big wins have been a little elusive, but the Critics' Choice ceremony could change all that.

While Marvel’s What If…? is in with a pretty good shout for Best Animated Series, WandaVision has racked up nods in the categories of Best Actress and Best Actor in a Limited Series for leads Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany, while Kathryn Hahn has been nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series and the show itself is up for Best Limited Series. While this is good news for Marvel, it is another telling sign that WandaVision is the only live action Marvel series to be featured in the nomination lists, with The Falcon and The Winter Soldier and Loki both missing out.

There could be a good reason for Loki being overlooked, as with a second season being discussed already it wouldn’t feature in the Limited Series category that it would probably be suited, and similarly Falcon and The Winter Soldier just didn’t have the edge when it comes to what these awards ceremonies usually look for, despite the series attempting to include a serious race division narrative amongst its action set pieces.

Of course, all of Marvel’s offerings on Disney+ have so far been well received, both by critics and audiences, but WandaVision brought something different to the table compared to pretty much anything else out there at the time, with its MCU connected characters and unique classic sitcom look as well as the fantastical elements expected in any Marvel production. Whether it can pull in any wins from the 27th Critics’ Choice Awards is something that we will have to wait to see, but they once again have some stiff competition to see off. You can see the categories that WandaVision and What If…? are competing in below.

Best Limited Series