#and maybe a short comic featuring.. someone i haven't showed here

[deviousdiesel]

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[lewstherintelescope]

So, after the interview (see ~17:50) where Lord and Miller confirmed that Beyond the Spider-Verse will feature another "plot-integral" variant of Gwen Stacy based on [he got cut off before he could say what], most people have jumped to Earth-8. That world showing up does seem plausible (though I agree with this thread that it'd be better if it doesn't), but I'd like to toss out another proposal: Earth-617. If you've read the Spider-Gwen comics then you know where I'm going with this, but I'll try to explain it for those that haven't.

This will be kinda long, so strap in.

To make a long story short: Gwen is in a very dark place towards the end of the run. Suddenly she gets sucked into a portal that takes her to Earth-616's past, right after the death of George Stacy, and meets the version of herself from that world. Both Gwens at this point are struggling with finding any meaning in life, but they convince each other that maybe there's hope for the future after all. The timeline splits and Earth-617 is born.

However, there's a second story told in parallel: that of Utaa the Watcher of Earth-8. Because Earth-65 is part of the past of Earth-8's utopian future, he's very concerned as events there begin to differ from what they should be (such as Ben Parker encouraging murderous retribution rather than responsible restraint). When the portal is opened, he forsakes his oath of nonintervention and seeks to correct these divergences, believing that whoever made the portal is behind them.

Turns out he's wrong and the portal was actually made by a future version of Earth-617's Gwen (yes it's a paradox, isn't time travel fun?), who is similarly concerned about the state of Earth-65 but for the opposite reason: Utaa worries it's straying from the path it should be on, Gwen-617 worries it's locking itself down too firmly. She delivers this very meta speech:

"Uncle Ben's path was always possible. You just ignored it because it didn't fit the narrative you wanted. It was easy for you to watch when the outcome was unchallenging. But when it no longer suited your self-interest--what did you do then? You acted. And so did we. "You've watched since the beginning. When others were too blind, or grew too weary... you remained. "To sense the very fabric of what you watched being woven into a new shape--to see the possibilities spread out so fast and far... "I'm sure it makes you feel small. Why wouldn't it? You've heard that story so many times. "The darkest timeline. The villain out to crush all you've known and loved in the palm of her hand... Maybe it disappoints you not to find it here. "But in your hands you hold the power to fold time and space. To return to those moments that defined you any time you need them. So why not join us in trying something new? Something unpredictable. "...I'm the last person to judge someone for caring enough to fight for what they believe in. But maybe it's time to stop expecting--and start appreciating? "Change does not diminish us--it ensures our survival. What lies ahead is our story. And it only becomes more important when we share it."

Need I say more about why this would be relevant?

Now, am I expecting to see a plotline about the Watchers coming out of nowhere? Of course not lol, but I think the basic concept could still be adapted.

(Utaa's half of the story actually takes place on Earth-8—and results in literal children sassing him about their superior knowledge of the multiverse, poor guy—but as mentioned above I'm hoping they leave that world out of things.)