Billy is a Senior Features Author for Collider. Having written over 300 articles in just over a year, Billy regularly covers the biggest TV shows and films releasing while also analysing some of the most underrated properties that may slip your attention.
The MCU's television slate has been mixed, to say the least. Shows like WandaVision and Loki received widespread praise for their character studies, with the recent Wonder Man adding to the list of successes.
In contrast, Ironheart, Secret Invasion, and She-Hulk: Attorney at Law have been heavily criticized, with the first season of Daredevil: Born Again receiving mixed reviews. One of the running themes of criticism has been the creativity or lack thereof. The aforementioned hit shows all switch up the traditional MCU formula, while the poorly performing shows seem to retread old ground, feel bland, or add nothing to the MCU overall. However, one show that truly subverted expectations about what a Marvel show looks like, with a premise that consistently delivers refreshing narratives, is What If...? As the title suggests, this anthology series takes hypotheticals as far as they can stretch, leading to fascinating team-ups and some of the most incredible battles in the MCU. What Is 'What If...?' About? What If...? may have three seasons, but that doesn't mean you need to start from Season 1 to understand the show. This animated series follows the same premise as its comic book counterpart, with The Watcher, Uatu , guiding the audience through a myriad of alternate possibilities, where even a small change can trigger a butterfly effect that completely reshapes the MCU as we know it. This includes an episode where T'Challa is taken by The Ravagers instead of Star-Lord , and his royal upbringing leads him to overcome many of the universe's greatest threats, such as convincing Thanos to give up his genocidal mission and become a hero.Posts By Eddie Possehl In doing so, What If...? not only creates unique teams and character dynamics but can showcase the different strengths each character possesses. This means that, even if these stories are not actually canon to the MCU, they give the audience a deeper insight into the characters, as their core natures are maintained. For any fan of the MCU, this makes What If...? feel like essential viewing. It also creates a show where a newcomer can start from any episode, picking whichever title intrigues them, since each title includes the twist that shapes the episode, from"What If... Killmonger Rescued Tony Stark?" to"What If... Hela Found the Ten Rings?" There are still interconnected arcs dotted throughout the 3 seasons and even explores Uatu's origins, but the majority of episodes serve as standalone episodes. 'What If...?'s Animation Creates Some of the Most Epic Battles in the Entire MCU What If...? is a testament to the fact that the greatest strength of animation is that it is easier to heighten the scale and emotive cinematography of a tale when using it. What If...? feels like a comic book come to life, to the point where several battles even include the use of Ben Day dots. Similar to how the Spider-Verse films have embraced the comics aesthetics, What If...? uses them beyond their original intention of creating shading, but to convey the cosmic scale of power on display, with Uatu's energy being shrouded in them. Particularly in episodes such as"What If... Ultron Won?" in which Ultron collects all the infinity stones and seeks to destroy the entire multiverse, What If...?'s animation, along with its non-canon storytelling, allows for beautiful and destructive conflicts that would simply be impossible to replicate in the live-action MCU. Subscribe to the newsletter for deeper MCU What If? insights Join our newsletter to get thoughtful MCU coverage—episode picks, animation breakdowns, and multiverse What If? deep dives that illuminate characters and storytelling, plus broader MCU and related pop-culture analysis. Get Updates By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. These favorable stories, which generated an almost cult following for certain concepts, eventually led to the episode"What If... Zombies?!" becoming its own four-part series on Disney+, so even starting from that episode can lead you into a completely different universe that combines many of What If...?'s best features. In the end, perhaps the greatest shame of What If...? is the fact that it only has 3 seasons, as it could have gone on forever, in theory. Yet, the episodes that were given to us are some of the best storytelling and creativity displayed in the entirety of the MCU, making it easily one of Marvel's most successful productions to date. What If...? Like Superhero Animation Action Adventure Release Date 2021 - 2024 Showrunner Ashley Bradley Directors Bryan Andrews Writers Ashley Bradley, Matthew Chauncey Franchise Marvel Cinematic Universe Cast See All
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