SPOILER WARNING!
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is expanding, reaching out to new worlds and universes. Each of these alternate universes mirror ours in all but one significant way. Some superheroes live, others die, and in some universes the entirety of said universe hangs in the balance. The Watcher (Jeffrey Wright) is tasked with watching each of these universes without intervening. Furthermore, the Watcher is tasked with leading us through the many stories of the multiverse as we each ponder the question What If…?
Episode 1: What If...Captain Carter Were the First Avenger?:
In the 1940’s Steve Rogers (Josh Keaton) is planning to be the first person to be injected with the super soldier serum. When things go awry and he’s unable to receive the serum, Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) steps up to become the world’s first Avenger. The course of reality is forever shifted and Captain Carter is now the world's most lethal superhero. What If...Captain Carter Were the First Avenger? tells the story of Carter as she aims to destroy the infamous Hydra and its head, Red Skull (Ross Marquand). Things will never be the same, but the world is in good hands.
The MCU is headed in an entirely new direction, the direction of animation. I’ll be honest, I was completely skeptical about the transition to animation as it still remained canon in the greater MCU. The correlation between live action and animation frustrated me long before I even began watching What If…?. I can’t imagine that I was the only potential viewer to feel this way, and I’m sure that it even turned some off to the idea of watching at all (*cough cough* my wife). However, if one can look past the animation and focus on all the good that What If…? brings to the MCU, you’re sure to find something to love about the series.
With a number of individuals reprising their roles in the premier episode--Atwell, Marquand, Sebastian Stan (Bucky Barnes), etc.--viewers are transported back into the world of Captain America: The First Avenger and feel as if they are in the thick of the MCU, and not in an alternate universe. The relationships the viewers had previously fallen in love with are reborn in this episode, and viewers are instantly afforded the ability to fall back in love with the MCU all over again.
The change in the narrative is unique and welcome, but there’s something about What If...Captain Carter Were the First Avenger? that rubs me the wrong way, and that’s how much content the writers attempt to fit into a thirty-five minute episode. The condensed nature of Captain America: The First Avenger makes this first episode feel rushed and entirely too overcrowded.
What If...Captain Carter Were the First Avenger? is entertaining for sure, but the fact that the writers at Marvel attempted to cram an entire two-hour film into a thirty-five minute episode ruins aspects of the show. It feels rushed, incomplete, and underdeveloped at times, and it’s imperative that What If…? get its act together in the following episodes.
Episode 2: What If...T’Challa Became a Star-Lord?:
In this universe Peter Quill (Brian T. Delaney) isn’t the boy that the Ravagers kidnap; instead they kidnap the future king of Wakanda, T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman). This miscommunication between Yondu (Michael Rooker) and his followers caused this universe to spiral out of control, with many of the universe’s Avengers being exterminated, and balance all but lost. The Collector (Benicio Del Toro) is now the man in charge of the universe’s dark underworld, and is a threat to all. What If...T’Challa Became a Star-Lord? explores what would happen if Quill remained on Earth and T’Challa became Yondu’s pupil.
Let’s talk a bit about the animation, something I mentioned previously, but didn’t go into detail about. Again, the transition from live action to animation is something that I don’t necessarily love, but rather I simply deal with. Up to this point in the series the animation is subpar. The details in the facial expressions and movements of the characters’ mouths are lacking, particularly in this episode. I struggled and cringed on multiple occasions as the shape of the characters' mouths (particularly the Collector’s) didn’t accurately represent the words they were speaking. The fractured nature of this aspect of the episode was infuriating at times, taking away from other aspects and knocking it down a few pegs.
What If…? was described to fans as a MCU series that had no parameters and could do whatever it wanted. Whether or not the events of the series directly affected the greater MCU could be decided later, allowing the showrunner, writers, directors, etc. to simply have fun and do as they please with the show. As far as I’m concerned, What If...Captain Carter Were the First Avenger played it safe. There were just one or two differences that could have truly changed the course of reality, but, in the grand scheme of the episode, things remained relatively calm. What If...T’Challa Became a Star-Lord? Takes more risks in terms of storytelling, and it pays dividends. This second episode changes the landscape of the MCU forever (if the heads of Marvel choose to allow it), and numerous aspects of what fans of the cinematic universe know to be true are changed drastically. The risks taken in this episode are wonderful, as viewers see new sides to characters, potential new and invigorating storylines, and action sequences that viewers never knew they needed.
All that makes What If...T’Challa Became a Star-Lord? comes down to the writing and the writers’ willingness to take risks. The entirety of this storyline flows smoothly, and while there are certain aspects of the story that may leave viewers scratching their heads, the reality is that this episode is loads of fun.
What If...T’Challa Became a Star-Lord? has its flaws, and they are truly disappointing, but all in all this episode is a huge step in the right direction for What If…?. The series is now headed in a more positive direction, and I believe that viewers, much like me, can see the series developing into something truly wonderful after having viewed this episode.
Episode 3: What If...The World Lost Its Mightiest Heroes?:
Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow (Lake Bell) aim to recruit Earth’s mightiest heroes and create the Avengers. However, as quickly as the team can come together, they begin dropping like flies. A serial killer is targeting these heroes, but no one knows why.
The animation looks better here in What If...The World Lost Its Mightiest Heroes? It’s taken a step in the right direction, but there is still something off about the movements of the characters’ mouths during certain moments of the episode. However, a particular scene between Fury and Agent Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) sees this flaw nearly disappear as their expressions become fluid and natural. At this point in the episode the issues that I previously had with the series are washed away and the animation becomes something truly fantastic.
The storytelling ability of writers A.C. Bradley and Matthew Chauncey step their game up once again and develop a story so incredibly different than anything viewers had before seen in the MCU, and again, that’s the beauty of What If…?. Like in the greater MCU there is a quirkiness present throughout What If...The World Lost Its Mightiest Heroes?, but that helps to make it fun and really capture the essence of the characters in the episode.
The inclusion of the MCU’s most beloved heroes allows this episode to stand above the rest. With the return of Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Bruce Banner/Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), and Tony Stark/Iron Man (Mick Wingert), fans of the seemingly all-powerful cinematic universe rejoice as these familiar faces grace their screens once more. While What If...T’Challa Became a Star-Lord? takes place throughout the cosmos, What If...Earth Lost Its Mightiest Heroes? is the biggest episode to date. Again, the storytelling, the animation, and the reentrance of popular characters back into the MCU tie this episode up nicely and promises great things for the future of What If…?.
Episode 4: What If...Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead of His Hands?:
Doctor Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) is a different man than the one that was introduced years ago. He’s kind, honest, and deeply in love with Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams). Their relationship is beautiful, but one day, the accident that in one universe caused Dr. Strange to lose function in his hands causes him to lose something far worse--his heart, Christine. Unable to cope with his loss, Strange will do all that he can to save the woman he loves, but everything comes at a cost.
The MCU is known for being driven strongly by emotion. Avengers: Endgame, Thor: Ragnarok, and Black Panther drove viewers to the brink of tears as the films’ heroes were faced with seemingly insurmountable tasks, but What If…? lacked the same level of emotion as the rest of the MCU...until now. What If...Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead of His Hands? relies almost entirely on emotion to drive the episode forward. This episode is heartbreaking and difficult to stomach, as the protagonist deals with love and loss to an infinite extent. This aspect of the episode is powerful compared to the previous What If…? episodes, and allows the series to feel a tad more like the MCU with which the world has fallen in love.
This episode takes a massive step backward in terms of storytelling, however, ultimately causing it to be the least interesting episode to date. I genuinely appreciate what it is that Bradley and Chauncey are attempting to give viewers throughout the course of What If...Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead of His Hands?, but that message is lost throughout the course of the repetitive nature of the episode. There is a complete lack of content here in this episode, as the same things simply happen again and again...and again. I found instances of the episode boring, as it failed to truly pull me in with any riveting content. Sure, the action sequence at the episode’s conclusion is fun and full of energy, but it doesn’t make up for the nearly thirty minutes of repetition.
The saving grace of What If...Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead of His Hands? is the fact that it’s preparing viewers for something bigger in the MCU. This episode promises great things not just for the remainder of What If…?, but rather the entirety of the MCU, and that, along with the emotional drive, is what keeps What If...Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead of His Hands? afloat.
Episode 5: What If...Zombies?!:
When Hank Pym travels to the quantum realm to save his wife he finds more than just the love of his life--he finds a virus that turns all that it comes in contact with into zombies. When the virus travels back with Pym and infects the world, including its mightiest heroes, the world is altered in completely unexpected ways. With just a handful of heroes remaining, including Spider-Man (Hudson Thames) and Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau), Earth’s heroes will do what they can to find a cure and save the world. But the zombies are running rampant, and they will prove to be far more menacing than expected.
What If...Zombies?! is what fans of Marvel comics have been begging for--for years. The fans have desperately wanted to see the zombies come to life in the MCU, and that’s what they get here. I’m not entirely sure that this is exactly what the fans had been asking for, but the reality is that this is the best episode to date. The ensemble cast, the witty dialogue, and far more action than we had seen in previous episodes, What If...Zombies?! is everything that a fan of the MCU could possibly hope for.
Everything that previous episodes had been building toward continues here. The emotion is stronger than ever and reels viewers in from the opening moments. The ability of each and every voice actor to capture true emotion and bring to life realistic scenarios in an episode that borders on nearly impossible is impeccable. The voice acting is superb, and possibly the best of the series so far--they invite viewers into the story and keep them on the edge of their seats throughout What If...Zombies?!.
With this being the best episode of What If…? so far, there is truly so much to love. There is one thing that stands out more than anything else, however, and that is the unique interactions between characters that you’d likely not find anywhere else. Again, the point of What If…? is to explore all of the possibilities of the MCU, and that happens better than ever in What If...Zombies?!. Bonds are forged between Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) and Vision (Paul Bettany), and Spider-Man and Kurt (David Dastmalchian), and while they may appear to be strange on paper, they are incredibly entertaining.
At this point it seems that we have hit peak potential with What If…?. It seems unlikely that future episodes will top this one, but as the MCU has proven time and time again, nothing is impossible, and they will likely always find ways to outdo themselves. What If...Zombies?! is intensely fun and extremely entertaining from beginning to end. I laughed, I came close to tears, and I genuinely appreciated all that went into this episode.
Episode 6: What If...Killmonger Rescued Tony Stark?:
As we all are aware, Tony Stark (Wingert) travels to Afghanistan to promote a new weapon when things go awry and Stark’s life is placed in danger. In this universe Stark is saved long before the Ten Rings abduct him and force him to create the world’s first Iron Man suit. His savior is none other than Black Panther’s (Boseman) cousin--Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan). The two immediately hit it off and become partners, but their relationship isn’t exactly what it seems and the fate of the world, and many of its superheroes, will be changed forever.
The shining star of this episode--Wingert. The famed Robert Downey Jr. doesn’t return to voice the beloved Iron Man/Tony Stark, and Wingert takes up the reins. If you hadn’t done your research you’d likely never know that it isn’t Downey Jr. behind the microphone. The tone of his voice, the inflections, and every other aspect of this voice performance is spot on. Wingert’s ability is uncanny and he brings Stark back to life in a new but almost tangible way.
Like in other episodes, the unexpected relationships add a level of levity and freshness that allows What If...Killmonger Rescued Tony Stark? to remain entertaining throughout. In this episode viewers see Killmonger (who previously wowed the world for his performance in Black Panther) and Stark--who has been a fan favorite for years--come together and create a unique but outstanding dynamic. The two characters possess a commonality that bonds them on screen and presents viewers with a better understanding of who and what each of those characters are.
The writing is something completely different than what viewers had seen in the past in the MCU, and that is evident in the way that viewers are able to see these characters in a new light. The fact that Tony Stark, a character that viewers have seen develop continuously over the course of more than a decade is presented with new qualities that are able to shock viewers is impressive. We know that there’s always more story to be told about the larger personalities in the MCU, but I don’t believe that many anticipated that Stark had much more to give the world. Once again the writers at Marvel shock the world and prove that they always have more to offer.
In terms of story, What If...Killmonger Rescued Tony Stark? doesn’t have tons to offer in comparison to some previous episodes, but the end result is something fun regardless. Between Wingert and the new aspects of these wonderful characters, What If...Killmonger Rescued Tony Stark? shines and entertains throughout.
Episode 7: What If...Thor Were an Only Child?:
Years ago when Odin and Frigga (Josette Seals) were given the opportunity to keep Loki (Tom Hiddleston), they chose to return him to his people rather than raise him as their own. With the absence of Loki, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) lacked the experiences necessary to understand what it means to be the King of Asgard. What If...Thor Were an Only Child? tells the story of partyboy Thor and his many escapades across Midgard.
What is there to say about What If...Thor Were an Only Child?? The reality is that this feels like a filler episode that was aimed toward allowing viewers to better appreciate the final two episodes of the season; and, essentially, that’s all that it does. There’s no real story here, and, in the grand scheme of things, this episode serves little to no purpose--at least up until this point in the MCU. There weren’t moments when I was just turned off of the content, there were points throughout this episode that I felt completely and utterly bored. There were a few action sequences that offered something entertaining, but the majority of the episode lacked conviction or purpose, and that’s an issue.
The voice acting is as good as any of the other episodes, and I honestly have nothing but good things to say about this aspect of What If...Thor Were an Only Child?. The cast is fun, and I imagine that making this episode would have been one of the most fun for the actors, but for the viewers, it’s simply just the voice acting that’s fun, and not much else.
What If…? appeared to have really caught its footing, which leaves a bad taste in viewers’ mouths after What If...Thor Were an Only Child?. The only thing you can hope for at this point is that the brains back at Marvel understand that this episode is a massive step in the wrong direction and they avoid episodes like this in the future.
Episode 8: What If...Ultron Won?:
Tony Stark (Wingert) attempts to create a suit of armor around the world by creating the artificial intelligence known as Ultron (Marquand). However, Utlron’s understanding of peace is to destroy mankind not just in one universe, but in all of them. With just a few of Earth’s mightiest heroes remaining, they must come together in order to defeat the harrowing villain and save the multiverse from extinction. What If...Ultron Won? explores a world in which evil triumphs over good, and the results aren’t pretty.
For the first time in What If…? the Watcher becomes a true character in What If...Ultron Won?. Wright has done such a wonderful job throughout the course of the series up to this point, that it only seems fair that he finally have a significant role in the story. He’s seemingly all powerful and all knowing, potentially making him the most powerful being in all of the MCU, but What If...Ultron Won? shakes up the Watcher’s narrative and provides viewers with something new, exciting, and ultimately riveting throughout the course of this episode. Wright once again is full of life, impressively charismatic, and emotionally drawing.
What If...Ultron Won? continued to reintroduce characters that fans of the MCU have come to love, but never expected in these scenarios. The unique relationships forged in this episode keep things fresh and entertaining.
Ultron was never the most intimidating villain to exist in the MCU; his most glaring attribute was the fact that James Spader voiced him in Avengers: Age of Ultron. Sure, he put up a good fight against the Avengers throughout the course of his film, but I’m not sure that viewers ever believed in the villain’s ability to defeat the aforementioned group of heroes. Here, in What If...Ultron Won? Chauncey attempts to develop the character even further, doing all that he can to ensure that he measures up to some of the other greats in the MCU (i.e. Thanos (Josh Brolin) and Killmonger). The character certainly takes a step in the right direction and becomes one of the more interesting characters in What If…? and slightly better than what he was in Avengers: Age of Ultron.
In general, the purpose of What If...Ultron Won? is to set up the final episode of the series, and it does just that. As the story develops, however, there is never a dull moment, and the episode is full of breathtaking changes to the multiverse, and exceptional action sequences that keep viewers on the edge of their seats. As one of the best episodes in the series so far, What If…? finds its place in the MCU and in the world of cinema--developing at an impressive pace and exciting viewers for what is to come.
Episode 9: What If...The Watcher Broke His Oath?:
For all eternity the Watcher has stood idly by as the events of every single universe play out. He has taken an oath not to intervene and let things occur the way in which they were meant; but Ultron has changed the way in which the Watcher thinks. For the first time in his long history the Watcher chooses to break his oath in order to ensure that the entirety of the multiverse isn’t destroyed. With a motley crew of heroes, the Watcher will do all that he believes necessary in order to save the multiverse from certain doom; but Ultron is not a force to be taken lightly, and a battle ensues unlike anything we’ve seen before.
For the past eight episodes viewers have seen stories about the heroes and villains that exist throughout the multiverse, and it has appeared that each story exists isolated from the others--until now. In this season one finale--What If...The Watcher Broke His Oath?--viewers are rewarded with a culmination of everything that they had seen throughout the course of What If…? and taken on a journey for the ages.
The action in What If...The Watcher Broke His Oath? is far better than anything we’ve seen before in the show, the dialogue just as witty and entertaining, and the emotional toll that the episode takes on viewers is nearly as good as anything we’ve yet seen in What If…?. This is, for all intents and purposes, the best episode of What If…? so far. Everything that the previous eight episodes brought to the table What If...The Watcher Broke His Oath? does as well or better. Not only does this episode effectively conclude the first season of What If…?, it sets up future seasons and even more fun like viewers have seen so far from this show.
What is wonderful about the majority of What If…? is the fact that more than fifty actors who portray characters in the live-action entities of the MCU were willing to come back and voice their animated counterparts. What becomes difficult, however, is that a number of pivotal characters had new individuals voicing them for the first time. Actors such as Ozioma Akagha (Shuri), Wingert, Bell, Michael Patrick McGill (General Ross), and others were tasked with bringing to life a number of characters with whom the world had already fallen in love. There is no denying that the majority of the new individuals struggle to match the voices of actors like Letitia Wright and Scarlett Johansson, but they match the intensity of said actors and allow viewers to temporarily suspend their disbelief and appreciate the characters and the show as a whole.
I was so sure that the animated What If…? would pale in comparison to the live-action television shows that Marvel has released on Disney+, but I was wrong. What If…? captures the hearts of viewers, reels them in, and refuses to let them go--even through the more dull moments of the first season. The reality of what the world receives from Marvel and What If…? is a show that compares to The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and has the potential to compete with shows like Loki and WandaVision. I was pleasantly surprised by the addition of What If…? to the MCU, and I truly believe that it has the potential to shine brightly for years to come.
Directed by Bryan Andrews.
Written by A.C. Bradley, Matthew Chauncey, etc.
Starring Jeffrey Wright, Samuel L. Jackson, Chadwick Boseman, Mick Wingert, Lake Bell, Jeremy Renner, Benedict Cumberbatch, Danai Gurira, Ross Marquand, Tom Hiddleston, Toby Jones, Alexandra Daniels, Hayley Atwell, Jon Favreau, Mark Ruffalo, Michael B. Jordan, Paul Bettany, Karen Gillan, Chris Hemsworth, Clark Gregg, Sebastian Stan, Leslie Bibb, John Kani, Jamie Alexander, Seth Green, Kurt Russell, Brian T. Delaney, Michael Patrick McGill, Ozioma Akagha, Tom Vaughn-Lawlor, Natalie Portman, Rachel McAdams, Michael Douglas, Michael Rooker, Benedict Wong, Tilda Swinton, Kat Dennings, Angela Bassett, Djimon Hounsou, Evangeline Lilly, Stanley Tucci, Georges St-Pierre, Ike Amadi, Andy Serkis, Josh Brolin, Paul Rudd, Jeff Goldblum, Dominic Cooper, Cobie Smulders, Bradley Whitford, Benicio Del Toro, Don Cheadle, Stephanie Panisello, Neal McDonough, Emily VanCamp, Sean Gunn, Cynthia Kaye McWilliams, Taika Waititi, David Dastmalchian, Chris Sullivan, Hudson Thames, Beth Hoyt, Fred Tatasciore, Terri Douglas, Matthew Wood, Robin Atkin Downes, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
Opmerkingen