(Disclaimer: I do not hate Marvel, I am just speaking objectively as a fan of cinema and TV - this is not a personal vendetta against Marvel.)

One line that stuck with me from this series was uttered by a background character, who begs, "Please, let us go."

This is the same sentiment I feel about Marvel's now vice-like grip on cinema and television: why can they not be content with releasing less often and with greater polish, rather than spewing out shows and films like they're going out of style?

Wandavision is, simply put, bang average to below-par television, a mismatch of clunky scripting and an ailing plot. It is so akin to the lower-end Marvel TV show predecessors (see "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.") that it is staggering to think that this is the most expensive series ever - all the more reason to think lowly of it.

Initially, I will admit, I was invested: the first two episodes are complete rubbish, wasting an hour of your time for about two minutes of storyline, but the hint was enough for me to persevere. By episodes three and four, my interest peaked as the story began to unfold, and between awful dialogue, something was actually unfolding. This is where the fun stopped.

The rest of the series devolves into comically bad television, predictable and uninspired. There are "hidden" niche references for the hardcore fans, but they are not accessible to the average viewer; instead, you get some VFX that wouldn't look out of place in the early 2000s, along with acting that can only be described as bad (all except for Paul Bettany, who is really trying his damnedest).

If the funding for this show was really $25m per episode, can you honestly say it looked that good? Game of Thrones, for example, had episodes twice as long as Wandavision with ten times the settings required and a lower budget, yet looked worlds better than this cringeworthy witch-fest.

Some of the fight scenes were bemusing, given the clunky physics and weird cuts used to "enhance the action". I understand the attempt at bringing back sitcom styles from the 50s forwards, and I did like this, but the novelty wears off when nothing else of interest is on show.

In reality, Wandavision is Disney's Mandalorian for the Marvel universe. It is sacrilege for superhero fans not to enjoy the spectacles aimed at them, so they assimilate these shows, even if they are rubbish.

Were this show unconnected to Marvel, and in fact just a new troop of superheroes with the same plot and acting, it wouldn't be heard of again (nor celebrated to begin with), such is the swaying power of Marvel these days. I would say to those who have watched this: take off the rose-tinted glasses, and watch this series again honestly and frankly.

Can you really say this is the pinnacle of television? The best I can say is that it's different - and even then, the individuality is lost by the second half.