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doomonfilm · 3 years ago

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Thoughts : What If...? [Disney+, Episodes 1-4] (2021)

As a cinematic experiment, it is truly breathtaking to see what Kevin Feige and Marvel Studios have accomplished with the MCU : unlike previous standalone films and trilogy collections, the MCU has built an overarching and connected continuity that mirrors their comic book origin source, so much so that even the stature of the actors behind the characters takes a backseat to the actual characters when they happen to cross paths throughout the course of different properties. Outside of Hulk, a bit of Captain America and a bit of Black Panther, however, not many of the heroes I loved on the comic pages have made their presence felt in the MCU at large (though an announcement today about 8 new projects has drastically changed this).

That being said, the first Marvel comic that I gravitated to heavily was the What If...? series, a collection of tales that explore alternate paths and takes on familiar Marvel lore. One issue in particular caught my attention, the watershed 50th issue exploring a meeting between two seemingly indestructible forces :

Needless to say, I was hooked on the concept, and whenever I talk comics with fellow fans, I do my best to make sure it is mentioned. Imagine my surprise and delight when the MCU announced a slate of upcoming TV shows for the Disney+ streaming network, and one of the main points of interest was an animated take on the What If...? concept. I thoroughly enjoyed WandaVision, I was impressed by much of Falcon and The Winter Soldier, and Loki had so many levels to it that I will almost certainly be revisiting it within the next month. With all of that entertainment, however, What If...? was the one I had calendar dates circled for, and four episodes in, I can say that this is another in a long line of wins for the MCU.

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EPISODE THOUGHTS

Episode 01 : "What If... Captain Carter Were the First Avenger?" This episode was a perfect introductory point in regard to bringing the animated series to life. Even the casual MCU fan is aware of two things : the Captain America origin story and the unrequited romance between Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter. The fact that a deviation as slight as Peggy Carter choosing to stay on the ground level rather than retreat to the observational deck of the operating theater could balloon out into such bold changes is instantly iconic : Captain Carter is a revelation in terms of her dignity, strength and good-natured force of will, and Steve Rogers gets to stay hilariously skinny while simultaneously Howard Stark gets to usurp his son’s creative genius, ultimately leading to the Hydra-Stomper. Fate and predetermination make their first appearance in the series, as the stories of Red Skull and Zola follow mostly familiar narrative trajectories, while the inevitability of whomever dons the Captain mantle missing out on nearly a century also finds a way to persist in the face of drastic change.

Episode 02 : "What If... T'Challa Became a Star-Lord?" If Captain Carter is an example of what can be done in the What If...? series with a story we are readily familiar with, then the second episode shows how far an abstract idea can be taken, with the idea in this case being the well-adjusted T’Challa being kidnapped by Yondu and eventually becoming Star-Lord rather than the recently traumatized Peter Quill. The changes made in this episode are bold and broad, which is not only a testament to the power of T’Challa as a character, but also a testament to the positive energy that Chadwick Boseman brought to the character via his performance. Seeing The Collector and Thanos in such drastically different lights has been a major highlight of the series, and Nebula’s blonde look is one that I could definitely get used to. Of all the stories presented thus far, this is the one with the most dramatic range and scope of humanitarian possibilities, though it is all dashed (in theory) by the seed that is planted in the form of Ego getting his hands on Peter Quill absent of his Star-Lord experience.

Episode 03 : "What If... the World Lost Its Mightiest Heroes?" For fans of mystery, the third episode of What If...? will speak to them in volumes. The infamous span of time that was Nick Fury’s Big Week is turned completely on its head when each of his Avengers candidates falls one by one to a mysterious and deadly threat. The attention to detail that is the callbacks to classic MCU film moments is stunning in its application, and it really adds a power-packed punch to the unfathomable deaths we are presented with (including a Hulk death that is likely to traumatize young viewers for years to come). The answer to the mystery may seem obvious in hindsight, but then, that’s the power of a good mystery... it took me up until Black Widow’s death to actually hazard a guess as to what was going on, and lucky for me, I guessed mostly correctly. The additional story beat of having an unchecked Loki assume authoritative power over Midgard is a wonderful cherry on top of a bittersweet sundae.

Episode 04 : "What If... Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead of His Hands?" This is the episode that I was waiting for, and as a staunch MCU Doctor Strange fan, I am happy to say that it did not disappoint. In a very casual manner, Doctor Strange steps into some extremely dark arts, and the result is a story as visually appealing as it is tragic on a base human level. Watching a fully capable Stephen Strange assume the role that he was apparently always destined to assume is awe-inspiring, and watching his journey for knowledge and God-like power parallel the 5 Stages of Grief is a devastatingly beautiful subtle addition to the narrative arc. The hint that Strange is aware of The Watcher is bit of Chekov’s Gun implementation that is almost certainly set to explode in a later episode, as the awareness of The Watcher in one individual implies a degree of separation from awareness of the entire mess of cosmic threads that he observes. Strange’s battle with himself is a powerful one, and the ending is one of the most ominous and dark that I can recollect in the history of the MCU.

THOUGHTS ON THE SHOW

I am dying to see how these seemingly standalone stories are meant to tie-in to the MCU at large, and Phase Four in particular. Rumors are abound that a live-action Captain Carter could be on the horizon, and while these stories may or may not be direct lines that will be revisited, the trailers do make it seem that they will at least tie-in to one another at some point of extreme chaos. I am still unsure of how an animated series will directly connect to live-action supposed counterparts, but I am certainly open to the idea, and based on the Feige and company track record, I would put my money on them pulling this off in what feels like a seamless manner.

The What If...? series is full of unique characters, not to mention unique takes on familiar characters.

Uatu The Watcher makes a formal appearance outside of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (and even then, I don’t think Uatu in particular was one of The Watchers that was shown), and allowing an actor like Jeffrey Wright to embody him allows him the sense of calm and collective observation that makes his presence as ominous as it is curious. I am not completely clear yet on whether Uatu chooses not to act upon the events he sees, or alternatively, if there is a greater force that restricts him from involving himself in matters, but what is clear is his omnipresent sense of morality, even if he is far from judgement-free. The visual integration of Uatu into the background of different sequences not only serves as a reminder on the point of view we as viewers are supposed to take, but it also is a reminder of how keen an eye for detail (not to mention the quality of artistic expression) the Marvel Studios production team weilds.

Captain Carter may not be the most popular creation from the What If...? series, but she is by far the breakout star of the series. For all of the unwilling leadership stances that Steve Rogers took as Captain America, it feels like we have a ready, willing and capable leader in the form of Captain Carter that will, even in a modern day capacity, likely be marginalized simply because she is a woman. Her Union Jack suit formation makes me wonder if there will ever be a Captain Britain in the MCU, but if Peggy Carter stands as the unofficial version, this is an alteration that I consider an upgrade and can get behind. Hopefully, the What If...? series finds a way to continue stories, because I need to know more about how Captain Carter will fit into the plans of Nick Fury, S.H.I.E.L.D. and The Avengers.

T’Challa the Star-Lord is a sight for sore eyes, especially in light of Chadwick Boseman’s untimely and tragic passing at the height of his stardom. Luckily for us, Boseman was reportedly one of the first to sign on for What If...?, and after just one performance, I know that what he has left us with will leave a very lasting impression. It is interesting to see a level-headed leader like T’Challa not only bring a sense of dignity to Yondu, but watching the fallout of a universe-saving logical debate that has turned Thanos into a faithful companion rather than a genocidal maniac with delusions of grandeur may be one of the biggest alterations in the What If...? universe. I would also love to see a version of The Collector in a film at some point that mirrors the one in this story, as Benecio del Toro would absolutely kill that role.

While seeing Hank Pym in a vengeful capacity may not have been the jaw-dropping surprise to hardened MCU fans that it probably was to the casual fan, seeing him serve as a vengeful angel in the Yellowjacket armor is a subtle but deeply effective touch. While seeing Nick Fury’s Big Week turned on its head is a fascinating idea, the untold purpose of this episode felt like it was to show us just how powerful Hank Pym could be if he sets his stubborn and unchanging mind to accomplish a task. The analysis circles have untangled many threads of possibility that spiral far out of the range of what we are shown, such as the fact that Hope Van Dyne was likely shot and killed by Bucky when she replaced Natasha in the mention that ultimately left Natasha with a bullet wound and the person she was protecting without a life, and it is small touches like this that make the What If...? story enjoyable on a level that far exceeds the boundaries of the stories we witness. Seeing Loki’s vision of conquering Midgard come to fruition was a twist that I did not expect, but in light of Thor’s absence (not to mention the other dead Avengers, including a God-smashing Hulk), it makes complete sense.

Doctor Strange Supreme took the What If...? series to a place that I did not expect it to go, especially during the inaugural season or within the first four episodes. The love between Stephen Strange and Christine Palmer has always been present in the MCU, but in Strange’s handful of appearances there is rarely time to discuss her, as he is usually dealing with apocalyptic or cosmic threats. This story forces Strange to not only face his love for Dr. Palmer head-on, but it does so in the form of a fixed-point tragedy where no amount of love or power can change the inevitable. Of all the moments we have witnessed in the What If...? series so far, watching Dr. Palmer wake up to the monster that Supreme Strange has become hit me the hardest, as it serves the purpose of being an extremely palatable warning about what we become when we attempt to exceed the limits set before us without the greater good in mind. The use of red Chaos Magic and purple Dark Magic among Strange’s standard orange Eldrich Magic (if I’m remembering my magic color code correctly) is a very subtle inclusion that shows just how far Strange has gone in order to achieve his goal.

Howard the Duck only makes a brief appearance, and of course it is centered around a conversation with T’Challa, who could seemingly have a conversation with most any being in the Marvel galaxy that isn’t set on instant destruction. In all honesty, there isn’t much to dig in to with Howard (unless I’m overlooking an obvious Easter egg), but it is nice to see one of my favorite Marvel creations find a small area for himself in the world of the MCU. Hopefully this will not be the last we see of him.

With five more episodes left on the docket, I am very excited to see not only where this show goes, but if it can stick the landing. While watching the Heavy Spoilers YouTube recap of the Doctor Strange episode, I heard speculation on the return of a character in a bizarre capacity that has me dying to see if it is true or not, and believe me, if this comes to fruition I will write about it to great length. I am not sure how I will approach the future episodes, but this initial run of the first part of the season has been strong enough to carry the series, short of a monumental set of failures over the next five weeks.

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