A review of Marvel’s ‘What If…?’

 The Marvel franchise is an ever-growing cinematic universe, seemingly infinite thanks to the new spin-off's streaming on Disney Plus. One of these shows is ‘What If…?’, an animated series that changes the way we think of the Marvel multiverse. Following the ‘Loki’ series that introduced us to the fragility of the timeline, the 9 episodes explore the infinite possibilities of the alternate realities that are both exciting and baffling. Each episode reimagines the well-known characters and plots that have outlived generations since Marvel’s first comic in 1939. The first episode titled ‘What If Captain Carter Were the First Avenger?’ introduces us to how one small alteration can completely change the Marvel reality as we know it.

The main premise of the series follows the butterfly effect, wherein one small change affects something bigger. This idea was touched upon in the Loki series, however ‘What If…?’ delves deeper into the elements that hold the original timeline together, such as the being that narrates the show known as ‘The Watcher’. This omnipotent being watches over each episode, guiding the audience across the complications and consequences of the characters actions and these new realities. The observation from The Watcher allows the audience to consider the possibility of cosmic intervention in the previous films and shows, and how different these well-known plots could’ve been if The Watcher had intervened. As someone who has followed the franchise for so long, it is interesting to see how the Marvel studio has reworked the plots to become not only plausible but also opening the cinematic universe to more possibilities. It reassures audiences that all was not lost with ‘End Game’, and that the characters such as Black Widow may live on.

As with any reworking of well-known plots and characters, ‘What If…?’ has its successes and failures in its execution of the alternate realities. The plot of episode 7 is weak, seemingly silly, and unnecessary in its presentation of Thor becoming a party animal and ravaging the streets of Vegas. As a show aimed towards both adult and young audiences, there is some expectation of silliness and comedy that will keep the youngsters entertained, but so much more could’ve been done with the idea of Thor being an only child. For example, the episode could’ve explored the complications of ‘Thor: Ragnarök’ if Loki and Hela were not siblings of Thor or the ease of the Avenger’s missions without the disturbances of Loki.

Fortunately, the show redeems itself with the story arc of Ultron’s success that is seen in the ending of episode 7. The ending of the series left me on the edge of my seat thanks to the unexpected twists and unreliable characters that make you wish for the time when Thanos was the main problem. Ultimately by the end of the series, it didn't simply get me pondering ‘what if’ but also ‘what next?’. The series has the power to keep the Marvel cinematic universe alive forever, and the main question is what they have in store for us in season 2 and beyond.