Marvel’s ‘What If…?’ turns grim in its third episode with combined outcomes | Engadget

This publish comprises main spoilers for episode three of What If…?

After two enjoyable, zippy tales that targeted on the concept of swapping one character for one more, What If…? pivots to a darker final result in its third installment. This time, the complete Avengers slate is cleaned, with Nick Fury left to kind out the mess. It’s a nod to the animated collection’ comedian inspiration, plus an indication that the present isn’t prepared to settle right into a routine.

The authentic comedian e-book, additionally referred to as What If?, typically see-sawed between foolish and severe situations, like what would occur if Spider-Man had joined the Fantastic Four, Gwen Stacy had lived or if Dazzler turned Galactus’ herald. With no must observe continuity, the artistic groups of every difficulty within the anthology had been free to take the story wherever they wished, typically in darkish turns that in the end illustrated why the unique timeline was the very best.

However, the What If…? Disney+ collection has taken the other tack, showcasing one situation the place issues are largely the identical stage of excellent and dangerous (for Captain Carter) and one other the place occasions went decidedly higher (until you’re Peter Quill). It’s doubtless the creators didn’t need to instantly scare away informal viewers with something too grim, preserving the tales as gentle and breezy as their cinematic inspirations.

The third episode doesn’t simply change this course by that includes a extra pessimistic situation, nevertheless, it additionally steps away from telling us upfront why issues are like this. The first two episodes had Uatu explicitly declaring the second of divergence. This time round, we all know one thing is totally different — the potential Avengers are being murdered — however precisely how and why is a thriller.

It truly makes for a extra attention-grabbing present as a result of slightly than taking part in a half-hour sport of “spot the difference,” we change into engaged in hypothesis about why that is occurring. We know issues can be vastly altered if Tony Stark or Bruce Banner dies, however now we get to play detective, plumbing our data of the Marvel Cinematic Universe for suspects and motives. Instead of a straight-up journey story, this episode was a homicide thriller.

Whether it’s a profitable thriller, I’m not totally positive. Hank Pym will not be somebody I had thought of as a suspect, even along with his distaste for SHIELD and the Starks in the primary timeline. The level of divergence seems to be Hope Pym becoming a member of SHIELD and being killed on a mission, which leaves Hank alone and bitter. Why he chooses to kill 5 uninvolved strangers in an try to harm Nick Fury is murky at finest. I’d initially pegged the homicide of the Avengers as a Hydra plot, which might have truly assist shore up the retcon from Captain America and the Winter Soldier of SHIELD being taken over by Hydra — it’s not often explored why Hydra let the Avengers get so far as they did in the primary timeline, slightly than strangling that potential opposition in its cradle.

Ultimately, the purpose of the episode is to set the viewer up for even darker tales to come back — at the least one future story is targeted on zombies, a nod to the slightly profitable line of “Marvel Zombies” comics from over a decade in the past. It additionally does some tidying up for the primary continuity as effectively, reminding the viewers that three of the early MCU movies befell in the identical week, and that Loki is nonetheless a jerk. It might not be important viewing, however What If…? is definitely a helpful footnote.