A show where we get to see where our superheroes or villains might end up if they didn’t take one step in the right direction? From Marvel Studios themselves? Everyone was all in for this.
As the incredibly creative What If…? bids us goodbye with its season 1 finale, we can’t help but look back at all the epic stories it gave us. Letting imagination run wild is fun for both Marvel and the fans, and well, they should do it a bit more.
All the episodes tie up seamlessly into Episode 9, paving the way for a highly-anticipated season 2.
Let’s go through a quick rundown of What If…?’s all nine episodes’ endings in season 1.
1. Make way for Captain Carter
Everything started back in 1943. Fans finally got to see a female Captain. The pilot episode offered fans Captain Peggy Carter, who, without hesitation, jumped into the machine as Steve got injured and was unfit for it.
The episode ends on a similar note to that of Captain America’s first movie. Only, instead of ice, Peggy gets stuck into a portal for 70 years. She missed everything just to keep the monster Hydra away from everyone. It ends with Uatu, the Watcher, narrating all these, revealing that he can never interfere.
2. T’Challa as Star-Lord, Peter an Ordinary Human
As the Ravagers kidnap the wrong child, T’Challa ends up saving the universe from Thanos, and the two of them are now enemies-turned-friends as Star-Lord. T’Challa and Yondu fight The Collector and defeat him.
The episode ends on Ego finding Peter Quill as an ordinary worker in a dairy. And end with the Watcher predicting a potential doom of the universe.
3. A World with no Avengers
The third episode of the series was probably the most anticipated. As Tony Stark, Thor, Clint Barton, Bruce Banner, and Black Widow get murdered, the episode quickly becomes a whodunnit. Only this time, it’s no monstrous villain, but former S.H.I.E.L.D agent Hope Van Dyne’s father, Hank Pym. But Nick Fury still has Captain Marvel and Captain America.
4. Doctor Strange and his Love for Power
Losing a loved one can make one lose their mind. This is also where we see a glimpse of Doctor Strange’s multiverse. While the other episodes seemingly had one timeline, Christine Palmer’s death leads him to take a step into the darker side.
We’re faced with two Doctor Strangers, who then end up destroying their world. This is also the first time we see Uatu talking with an MCU character.
5. Marvel vs. Zombies!
A flesh-eating zombie Thanos awaits T’Challa, Peter, and the head of Scott in Wakanda as they struggle through everything to get their hands on the mind stone. The zombie apocalypse is thanks to Hank Pym, who brings the virus into this reality after traveling in the quantum realm.
We also see zombie Wanda and a love-struck Vision feeding her survivors, only to realize it was all wrong. Will the trio be able to save the world again from a powerful zombie Thanos?
6. Killmonger Saving Tony Stark’s Life
This episode showed us a world where Tony Stark wouldn’t have been Iron Man, as Erik Killmonger saves his life from Stark Industries’ bombs. To prove he’s worthy of being the next Black Panther, he goes on a killing spree – Tony Stark, T’Challa and even Rhodes.
He eventually takes on the role, but our girls Shuri and Pepper are gearing up for revenge. They can’t let Killmonger be happy with his place at Wakanda, not after killing their loved ones.
7. Party-Lover Thor and Vision-Ultron?
Episode 7 was half fun and half dead-serious, opening up a floodgate of questions. We see Thor partying like crazy, and if we were dizzy enough through watching all that, Ultron in Vision’s vessel arrived. Flaunting all infinity stones.
It looks like being an only child takes up more of a toll on Thor, as he isn’t worthy anymore of Mjolnir. What will happen when he is standing against one of the most potent MCU evil characters ever created?
8. A new Team of Multiverse Superheroes Against Ultron
As Ultron ends almost the entire universe, and later discovers Uatu, something not many can. It goes on to reveal the supreme powers Ulton has, with all the infinity stones and Vision’s powers. He finds out there are more realities and more universes, fueling his desire to destroy them too. Uatu goes into hiding where Doctor Strange Supreme is, and he tells Uatu that he will have to intervene this time to save the entire universe.
9. Meet the Guardians of the Multiverse
As Ultron goes on a multiverse killing spree, Uatu finally gives in and calls the heroes from alternate universes for help. Captain Carter, Gamora, Killmonger as the Black Panther, T’Challa Star-Lord, Party Thor, and Black Widow defeat Ultron. Doctor Strange freezes the timeline for Killmonger and Ultron, who try to get their hands on the stones. They all go back to their timelines, except Black Widow, and she gets reunited with Nick Fury on the timeline where everyone got killed.
While it does seem like a fitting end, there are multiple questions unanswered. Zombie-Thanos, Peter Quill’s decision, and more. Hopefully, season 2 will address them all!
About What If…?
What If…? is an American animated anthology series created by A.C. Bradley for the streaming service Disney+, based on the Marvel Comics series of the same name.
It explores what would happen if major moments from the films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) occurred differently.
The series is produced by Marvel Studios, their first animated series since becoming their own production company. Bradley serves as head writer of the series, with Bryan Andrews directing.
Jeffrey Wright stars as the Watcher, who narrates the series. By September 2018, Marvel Studios was developing a number of series for Disney+, and one based on the What If…? comic was first reported in March 2019.
Source: What If…?
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