What If…?
Summary
Marvel’sWhat If … ?was in all probability the strangest place to be unveiled as part of Kevin Feige ’s over - archingMCUnarrative , let alone to receive a surefooted multi - season order off the back of 2021 ’s debut . But then , hindsight has proved that some of the finest moments inMarvel ’s timelinehave been the unity with the big surprisal divisor . And withLokiseason 2 proving the good MCU property of the year , andI Am Groot ’s 2023 return key also total a serviceable second string to theGuardians Of The Galaxyspin - off , there was ground to be bright for a lid - joke of sophomore successes . mirthfully , What If … ?season 2 in reality outdoes the first season .
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Cast
What If … ? is an animated anthology serial set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe which sport fan - favorite character , include Peggy Carter , T’Challa , Doctor Strange , Killmonger , Thor , and more . The young serial , directed by Bryan Andrews with AC Bradley as heading writer , features signature tune MCU action with a singular twisting . The show see Uatu the Watcher , an almighty being that take note the events of multiple universe from afar as they stretch out , ineffectual to interfere . However , affair shift when an entity equal beyond the veil , jeopardizing the multiverse .
fill up out a year for the MCU that can at good be draw as uneven , What If … ?season 2 is a good tonic for lots of the complaint leveled at the low success of the class . It is refined in a waySecret Invasionwas not , avoids the perceived refuge ofThe Marvels , and feels more substantial than the CG - bloat ofAnt - Man & The Wasp : Quantumania . And yes , while I ’m still a small unsure whether anyone has ever actually asked any of its central elseworlds propositions , What If … ?has enough playfulness with the multiverse conception currently weighing on the mainline MCU disadvantageously , that it ’s just about acceptable to be frivolous in that esteem .
Over 17 year and 35 movies , the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies have redefine blockbuster cinema . But how do all the films stack up ?
What If…?’s Story Isn’t Necessary, But It’s A Lot Of Fun
What If … ?season 2 compromises of 9 episodesthat are mostly unlinked , aside for Jeffrey Wright ’s narration and constant reminders of the butterfly effect vanity of the MCU multiverse . Their propositions include query of Nebula joining the Nova Corps ; Happy Hogan saving Avengers Tower in a very ego - consciousDie Hardparody ; and Tony Stark battling The Grandmaster on Sakaar . None of those question fit the original Marvel Comics concept of What If … ? outlet , which find more organically tie to literal mainline result . But that was a job that matter far more heavily on time of year 1 ’s episodes .
time of year 2 feels more assured in its narrative swings , simultaneously allowed to worry less about justifying its existence and managing to actually nominate at least one question the MCU ’s 616 universe sets up . As a result , that episode , which explores what would have happened if Yondu had actually render Peter Quill to Kurt Russell ’s Ego , feels a little more relevant . But even the silliest concept - theDie Hardpastiche - is cleverly observed and scores add distributor point for its perfect festive timing . Whisper it , but I enjoyed it more than James Gunn’sGOTG Holiday Specialas a Marvel Christmas offering .
What If….?’s Animation Continues To Be Hugely Impressive (& So Is The Cast)
What If … ?season 2 looks very good : the electric cell - shaded vitality style was already cracking in season 1 , but it arguably feels even more polished here . fiber likenesses are also very stiff for the most part ( though it ’s handy when certain characters with less distinctive features are name , admittedly).The true welfare of animation though is in provide the tarradiddle - tell team to catch spectacle and impressive effects - heavy sequence without have to push a live - action CG budget into the hundreds of millions bracket . It also allow for for sequences like the Sakaar Death Race , which simply would never be a thing in the mainline MCU to be actualize with beautiful , George Miller - same zaniness .
ThereturningWhat If … ?cast- though not quite complete - also offers a comfort familiarity that cast off some of the more cynical charge that nothing animated can ever be as important . To have so many of the principal sum spew back to vocalize their own MCU fiber ( aside from the ilk of Robert Downey Jr and Scarlett Johansson ) feels like a mould of approval . And most bid vocal performance that match the amped up expectations of animation , withJeff Goldblum and Taika Waititi both very obviously receive great fun .
What If…? Season 2 Is Smarter Than You’d Expect & Nails The Brief
While the most cynical reads might still have difficulty withWhat If … ?season 2 ’s justification for existence , there are more obvious attack to balance audience advantage . sequence offer sprucely note references to picture as democratic asBlade Runner , Die firmly , andThe Running Man . There is , inevitably , a higher level of wittiness than most live - action MCU exit , but nothing feels shoe - horned in , thanks to the medium , and there ’s a broader feel to the quarry demographic . imposingly , even with the close law of proximity of existing MCU narration , it feel like anyone could observe this without the common daunting horizontal surface of homework required by MCU lore .
If you know those stories , you ’ll get summate rewards in the reverberation that live here , but without that awareness , What If … ?season 2 would still be enjoyable . It is n’t alone a home foot race though , because there are still unreciprocated interrogation here , jolly ironically . Why Marvel has n’t proffer more sequence dedicated to logical branches of the MCU - alike Bucky submit over as Captain America after Endgame - persist a whodunit . And with the infinite possibility of the multiverse , and the recent model set by theSpiderVersemovies , the selection not to use different stylus of invigoration across unlike history experience like a lack opportunity .
But all - in - all , What If … ?season 2 is a good metre . It ’s funny , has the right balance of heart and spectacle , and it will always be a welcome beguilement to see more of the MCU ’s vast catalog of characters doing things that would normally be out of the question . As a concluding line , the best instalment is easy " What If Happy Hogan Saved Christmas " , which in itself feels like a remarkable accomplishment .
Marvel’sWhat If … ?season 2 releases every twenty-four hour period between December 22nd and 30th on Disney+ at Midnight PT ( 3 am ET )
