Movies and T.V. shows sticking to the books never mattered much to me, because I see each new version as a shared conversation between makers and audience about the source material.
What If, then is right up my alley. Season one starts with a series of theoreticals;
What if Captain Carter Were the First Avenger? I quite enjoyed this one, mainly with how it reimagined Steve, showing his determination to improve the world around him which led to him becoming Captain America as we know it.
What if T’Challa became a Star-Lord? I felt the execution on this one was lacking, but the premise was interesting. In the end I feel the Marvel writers needed their glowing memorial to Chadwick Boseman–he certainly deserved the tribute.
What if the World Lost its Mightiest Heroes? was among the most interesting stand alones, and proof that when we think of the “Mightiest” of the Marvel heroes we tend to miss the power of Hank Pym for the flashier charisma of Stark and Thor.
What if Dr. Strange Lost his Heart Instead of His Hands? This tale is a familiar one to anyone who loves science fiction or horror. Trying to rewrite historical trauma is a common topic in both fields. As a stand alone it hits all the sad and poignant moments one would like. But that it isn’t a stand alone gave me chills.
What if Zombies? Yes. Of course. The Marvel Zombies line is a fan favorite and this horror reimagining of super heroes is perfectly on point and terrifying.
What if Killmonger Rescued Tony Stark? This one teeters a bit too into nonfiction for me. I’ve taken part in a handful of online discussions about Killmonger, because when it comes to “What villain was right” he tends to rank pretty high. The nature of audience perceptions has led to a lot of debate on if Killmonger was actually a good guy or not. Ultimately, I say that while his rage was understandable the penultimate reveal in Black Panther of his scarred notches for all the lives he had taken was meant to reveal the truth that his rage was just an excuse for his sociopathy. I feel that in the end this episode tries to reinforce that idea, to assure Marvel fans that yes, absolutely, Killmonger is and was always meant to be a villain.
What if Thor Were an Only Child? I loved this one. Start to finish, and in the scope of the series it’s a perfect last minute distraction from what comes next.
What if Ultron Won? And here is where the series defied my expectations. I love the tales of creations becoming self aware and Ultron being one of those is horrifying. Very meta, with echoes of The Auditors from Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series.
What if The Watcher Broke His Oath? The second half of the finale wraps up and flirts with the idea of the Watcher (us, really) direct effect on the story.
While I was all in for a series of speculation on a speculative world, it becoming its own story really made it one of my favorite Marvel projects from 2022.