Marvel's 'What If...?' Season 3 Spoiler Review

Marvel

Dec 30

What If...? collage — Image Source: X.com

Marvel’s What If…? ended over the holidays, with its third season releasing an episode a day from December 22nd to the 29th. It has been an interesting series, with episodes ranging from scenarios close to the source material to Season 3 getting quite out there and including a wide range of diverse characters and concepts often much more detached from Marvel films or TV shows than we saw previously. CultureSlate today reviews the full season one episode at a time, ending with a cumulative review! Full spoilers are ahead!

1. What If….The Hulk Fought The Mech Avengers?

This particular season opener was interesting for What If…?. While it wasn’t terrible, “The Hulk Fought the Mech Avengers?” was weaker than the other episodes that appeared later. The concept of Avengers mecha was intriguing, with fun designs on each mech, but the genre the show was trying to capture was not fulfilled. There were only very brief action scenes between the mechs and the hordes of Gamma creatures, and the unification of the different mechs was another brief scene that did not last in the face of the Apex, the big bad Gamma monster leading the renewed attack that was the center of the story. However, the emotional moments and discussions between Sam Wilson and Bruce Banner, as well as Sam and Monica Rambeau, help redeem the less intriguing action sequences.

Rating: 7/10

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2. What If…Agatha Went To Hollywood?

The first of two notable inclusions of Eternals content in What If…?, “Agatha Went to Hollywood” is a strong second episode to the third season. The references to many figures operating in the film industry shortly after World War II and the visuals and style of films from this period will entertain film buffs. The portrayal of Agatha herself will connect with MCU fans who recently watched Agatha All Along. It isn’t perfect, with Agatha’s motivations a bit too vague considering we now know what probably drives her to consume the power of a life-creating cosmic entity, while the lack of any appearances by the other Eternals aside from Kingo feels like a missed opportunity. Regardless, the impressive musical numbers and character chemistry keep this episode high energy, and man, that Cosmic Agatha transformation is one killer set-piece finale!

Rating: 9/10

3. What If…The Red Guardian Stopped The Winter Soldier?

The third episode of Season 3 was an interesting one, as it was another What If…? entry that added interesting information concerning the Sacred Timeline of the main MCU universe despite telling a divergent story. We learn that Obadiah Stane helped get Howard Stark and his wife Maria killed, providing the information that HYDRA and the Soviet Union used to send the Winter Soldier after the pair. We also learn that this assassination took place at the same time as Red Guardian was meant to begin training for his infiltration assignment of America, as seen in Black Widow. This episode then, where Red Guardian’s foolish actions to try and prove himself better than Bucky cause the assassination to go awry, was a comedic buddy-cop story between two very different super soldiers that ended up working surprisingly well together. Goliath turning up was also a fun inclusion, and the episode is ultimately solid.

Rating: 8/10

4. What If…Howard The Duck Got Hitched?

A continuation of Season 1’s “What If… Thor were an only child?”, “Howard the Duck Got Hitched” explores the relationship between that universe’s Howard the Duck and Darcy Lewis. While only a brief joke in that one episode, the relationship we see expanded between these two characters is genuinely heartwarming, and the rather extensive cast of characters who appear chasing after their egg represent pulls from across all Phases of MCU storytelling. The story reveals that while Thor is a great uniter, he hasn’t solved all violence or factionalism in the galaxy as the many villains are still active and scheming against each other. “Hitched” also features the first appearance of Byrdie, a powerful character who plays a larger role later in the season. With its focus on love and family, this Christmas Day present was certainly odd but ultimately enjoyable.

Rating: 8/10

5. What If…The Emergence Destroyed The Earth?

After Episode 4’s lighter tone, Episode 5 is a darker installment in line with Season 1’s “What If… Ultron won?” In this story, we learn about a universe where the Earth was shattered into shards, now inhabited by the remains of humanity after Tiamut emerged earlier than the events of the film Eternals. Mysterio, aka Quinten Beck, then gained control of Stark Industries and became a dictator, his will enforced by a reprogrammed Vision and a legion of robots all working in conjunction with Beck’s illusions. As The Watcher looks on, Riri Williams and a small team of resistance fighters drawn from across the MCU work to topple this savage tyrant, but at a critical moment, the otherworldly being intervenes. He cannot see the same events play out again in yet another variant of the same world, and this latest breaking of his vow alerts others of his kind. They end the episode watching The Watcher, setting into motion events that will lead to the series finale. For this strong characterization of The Watcher, showing how he has changed, as well as the darker edge and unique premise, we score this story high on our rankings, held back only by a jarring reuse of footage from Episode 3 of this season.

Rating: 9/10

6. What If…1872?

Another What If…? playing with both a media genre and a different period, “1872?” takes Shang-Chi to the Wild West alongside Kate Bishop, aka Hawkeye, for a rousing adventure. Amidst the entertaining action setpieces, however, is an important narrative regarding the treatment of immigrants in America’s past. The villainous Hood and Sonny Burch’s actions are certainly at the extreme end of the struggles that faced Chinese immigrants in America, but they do hold truth. Despite how their labor was needed and wanted by American companies, chiefly in building the railroads, the Chinese were demonized and discriminated against. The fate of Shang-Chi's sister, Xialing, is also part of this story, making other messages about the American dream clear. This episode ultimately has a lot going for it thanks to these elements, which exist alongside more humanity from The Watcher and the hint of another future hero in this 1872 world through the young Kwai Jun-Fan and his iron fists.

Rating: 9/10

7. What If…The Watcher Disappeared?

The first half of What If…?’s series finale, “The Watcher Disappeared?” was an intriguing start that also introduces a new hero team to the MCU known as the Exiles. A now grown-up Byrdie, voiced by Natasha Lyonne, is the team’s irreverent comedic voice with a love of machinery. Meanwhile, a variant of Storm, wielding Mjolnir, voiced by Alison Sealy-Smith, is a calmed, measured voice of wisdom. Lastly, audiences are already familiar with Captain Carter and Kahhori from previous seasons. Traveling the multiverse and battling its threats, the team is alerted to the danger The Watcher is in when his fellow Watchers, led by The Eminence voiced by Jason Isaacs, appear. They charge him with breaking his oath and take him away for judgment, though Peggy and her team go on a quest to rescue him. With the surprise return of Infinity Ultron (though not the same one from Season 1), alongside a ton of easter eggs in this episode, it is a strong start to the finale.

Rating: 8/10

8. What If…What If?

Unfortunately, “What If…What If?” doesn’t fully deliver a satisfying finale to the season or series as a whole. Able to save the Watcher we’ve grown to know these past three seasons, he accepts his former name, Uatu, and helps the Exiles to gain the power of the Watchers to battle three of the group's leading members, The Incarnate, The Executioner, and The Eminence. The battle is a spectacle, with references to the wider What If...? series and to the MCU, but it is also gratuitous at the same time. The conflict lasts over half the runtime, and while it is a visual marvel with new suits of armor for our four female warriors, as well as enhancements to their powers and sets of gear, this season finale feels rushed. While the resolution makes sense, another episode to focus on this team of four heroes working together or a better integration and suggestion of their role before the finale in the final few episodes before “The Watcher Disappeared?” might have worked better, as would have adding a ninth episode much like Season 1 had to help this Season breathe more. It is also disappointing that unlike Seasons 1 and 2, the stories from across this Season did not come back into play for the finale. While good, this finale was not great and represents a weaker end to the series than fans might have hoped.

Rating: 7/10

Summary

What If…? has been an enjoyable series since it began in 2021 and has introduced many interesting characters and concepts into the MCU. This finale season took some of its biggest swings yet, with several departures from the standard lore of the films and shows while also introducing an original character in the form of Byrdie. However, it has the feel of a show that maybe didn’t realize this was its final season, with excellent episodes but a softer conclusion as a collective wrap-up to the show. Hopefully, the creations of What If…? appear in other MCU projects, and the many ideas these creators were unable to get into episodes will be used in comics, other shows, or other mediums soon.

Season Rating: 8/10

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