Delving into the World of What If…? Season 2: A Pleasurable Adventure with a Surprising Turn
Disney+’s What If…? season one offered a somewhat uncommon dose of all-around happiness from Marvel Studios; for fans of the MCU who enjoy the concept of seeing well-known characters and plotlines reimagined as something new, it was little more than fun times and Easter eggs. Thus, it makes sense that the second season of the show will premiere around the holidays on December 22 and run through December 30 with new episodes. As a nice little gift for the Marvel zombies out there, it features a Die Hard-inspired Christmas episode in which Jon Favreau’s Happy Hogan transforms into a Hulk—yes, they call him Hulk Hogan.Nevertheless, this time around, the real Marvel Zombies from season one only make a brief appearance. Leah Sava Jeffries, Aryan Simhadri, and Walker Scobell
This year, the same kind of thing occurs, but it’s less overt in the sense of “a new villain shows up” and more character-based. It sticks in your teeth, but it’s still not always a bad thing. Though it makes sense in terms of the MCU’s ongoing plot (single stories eventually coming together to form a team-up story), it’s difficult to resist the thought that the idea would be more enjoyable in the absence of that restriction. Nevertheless, as Jeffrey Wright’s The Watcher in episode one acknowledges, there are some tales and characters you just can’t get enough of. The multiverse’s all-seeing observer tells us that although he “doesn’t like sequels,” he is forced to make an exception for one woman: Time of year
Though three of the nine episodes feature Captain Carter, who is the show’s main character, What If…? also takes the risk of introducing a brand-new character who was developed specifically for the program and has no direct connection to any of the films. She is a young Mohawk woman named Kahhori who gains cosmic superpowers. She makes a strong debut in the episode, demonstrating What If…?’s pride in her and desire for her to become as significant as Captain Carter. But it will be strange if she doesn’t show up in any more stories, either within or outside of this series. reminds me of how ridiculously strong Emilia Clarke’s character got at the conclusion of Secret Invasion. If we never see her, that will be strange.
Except for one episode that is a carryover from season one and feels a little overdone as a result, the majority of the episodes in season two are decent. Nebula joins the Guardians of the Galaxy’s Nova Corps for a noir adventure heavily influenced by Blade Runner in the season premiere, which is a true highlight. Meanwhile, the second episode explores what would happen if the world needed an Avengers team in the 1980s, with younger versions of characters like Hank Pym, T’Chaka, Mar-Vell, and a still-brainwashed Winter Soldier. While some actors reprising their roles from the movies seem ill-suited for this gig, others seem to be born for it, the voice acting can still occasionally be a little stiff.Jon
What If…? is still hilarious, and its strange Marvel mash-ups are more intelligent than ever. However, the show’s methodical unveiling of a main plot is getting a bit too formulaic. The formula of bringing together unlikely characters and building to a satisfying climax appears to have been established after two seasons. Although it’s a good format, things may come across as a little repetitive. Marvel fans shouldn’t be put off by it just yet, but this is more of a “try to act surprised” than a “how did you know?!” holiday present.