What If…? is a nine episode animated series in Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). T he unique spin on this show is that it showcases alternate timelines in the multiverse where events played out differently than the MCU movies. It is an animated show but doesn’t use traditional animation. Rather it is cel-shaded, giving it a 3D on 2D look. The animation is well done, fluid and looks fantastic. The characters are based on the likenesses of the actors and actresses from the live-action movies, and where possible, uses them as voice actors.
The show is framed such that The Watcher, who has access to the whole of the multiverse, observes it all and watches their “story”. He does not, and cannot, interfere. Each episode in the season tells a different scenario. As a result, it condenses each story into roughly 30 minutes and requires the viewer to have a good understanding of everything that has happened in the MCU. It gets right into it with no setup or introduction to the characters in each episode, as it expects you to already be familiar with the original scenario.
The scenarios are cool alternate realities compared to the main MCU timeline, with one major different leading to a different set of events. Based on that, there will be other familiar supporting characters that turn out and they might turn out very differently compared to the one that you know. It’s like an in-joke, especially when they themselves reference something that they are thinking of… that actually happened in the main MCU timeline. This also allows the show to bring back various characters, including villains that was a once-one in the MCU, reminding you how formidable and powerful they can be.
There are some alternate scenarios where it makes perfect sense, like having Agent Carter become Captain America instead of Steve Rogers. While others are a bit more out there, like having T’Challa become Star-Lord instead of Peter Quill, or having a zombie apocalypse. In all of these, the episode will effectively retell the story in a fast-paced manner, just to show the possibilities of what could happen. It integrates what we know about the characters into their new surroundings, so that it fits more naturally. However, sometimes in order to make the scenario work, it can feel kind of forced to put the characters into that given situation.
The show can be surprisingly violent, in ways that the movies couldn’t. There can be gushing blood, or characters unceremoniously killed in more gruesome ways. And speaking of deaths, giving that it is an alternate hypothetical story (or another universe in the multiverse), the show can afford to kill characters at the drop of a hat. It doesn’t matter if Ironman or Captain America dies, because it doesn’t affect the main story, only that episode’s story. So if it is worthwhile and is story relevant, then the show will not hesitate to do what is required, and this can give some shock factor in each episode.
Given that each episode is a self-contained story, the pacing can be fast, giving it a rushed feel to it. Some episodes are better than others. Some of the alternate scenarios have such potential that you’d wish that it was expanded more, or at the very least, given maybe another episode’s worth of time to be fleshed out and explored. The season also has a range of different styles. Some episodes are serious, while others are silly. All of them have interactions between characters that had rarely interacted before, and the results can be unexpected.
Despite the episodic nature of most of the season, it wraps it up in the final two episodes with a common thread. It does have a meta or fourth-wall breaking feel to it but suddenly, everything felt linked and had a reason. It ended up becoming an epic climactic finale that allowed the season to go out with a bang. The events and team up, resulted in a pseudo-Avengers styled story, in its own reimagined twist that’ll leave a smile to your face. It was a great finale to the season, giving it a proper purpose.
Overall, What If…? is a great show. The animated nature allowed it to be creative and freed from live-action constraints. Being able to use character designs that shares the likeness of their live-action counterparts, as well as most of the actors and actresses returning as voice actors, really helps sell the show. The high production values continue to show in the animation quality, and the fight scene alone in the final episode was impressive. While it can be episodic and largely self-contained, the finale linked it all together in a spectacular and satisfying way that will leave you excited and speechless.
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