With season one of Marvel's What If...? coming to a close, the audience's journey through the Multiverse has also ended – at least for now. It's safe to say that viewers will miss traveling through unexplored realities, guided by the impassive voice of the Watcher.
What If...? has added a lot to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, containing twists and turns that always surprised viewers and easter eggs that made them smile in bemusement. What If...? has more than earned its position in its MCU lineup and in some ways, it has been better than MCU canon. But nothing is perfect, and there are distinctive flaws in What If...? that make it inferior to the movies.
10 BETTER: What If...? Brings Darker Storylines To Life
It's hard to believe that Infinity War could have gone worse, considering half the universe turned to dust at the end. But What If...? proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that things could have definitely gone worse. When Bruce arrives in New York to warn his friends about Thanos' plan, he finds Earth overwhelmed by a zombie virus originating from the Quantum Realm. Many Avengers – including Tony Stark, Captain America, Doctor Strange, the Falcon, and even the Scarlet Witch – have already fallen prey to it, and by the episode's end, so does Thanos.
This isn't the only dark episode in What If...? One particularly glum episode features Doctor Strange obliterating his own universe while trying to save his lost lover, Christine. Another kills the Avengers before they can form as a team. And of course, Infinity Ultron decides to bring genocide not just to Earth or his own universe, but to the Multiverse itself.
9 WORSE: What If...?'s Format Often Leads To Unsatisfying Cliffhangers
With its engaging storylines and character reimaginings, What If...? attracts long-term fans of the MCU who wish to explore the endless possibilities the Watcher offers. Unfortunately, the show's format doesn't allow for the story of each universe to be told in detail as episodes often end in unsatisfying cliffhangers. Some of these open endings have been addressed in the season finale, but even then, the details are unclear.
At the end of What if... Killmonger Rescued Tony Stark?, Shuri and Pepper agree to work together and reveal the truth about Killmonger. The final episode displays them rushing to arrest him, but that never happens as he remains trapped in a pocket universe. Nothing more is shown about what happened to his world and what kind of damage Killmonger was able to do.
8 BETTER: What If...? Gives Previously Unexplored Characters Time To Shine
As much as fans appreciate the MCU's canon storyline, there are plenty of characters in the franchise who haven't received proper attention. What If...? fixes that oversight. One of the most notable examples is in episode one, when Peggy Carter receives the Super Soldier Serum in Steve's stead and becomes Captain Carter. Her subsequent fight with the Red Skull is engaging and finally acknowledges Peggy as the strong character she truly is.
7 WORSE: What If...? Keeps Killing Iron Man
While the focus on new characters and new twists is interesting, it often comes at the expense of Tony Stark's life. The show's idea of a plot twist is practically killing Tony. It's understandable, as Iron Man has had such a huge impact on the MCU that he automatically needs to be removed to give others time to shine. But that doesn't mean the concept doesn't get repetitive after the first few times it is used.
6 BETTER: What If...? References The Comics Beyond What The Movies Have Done
The Marvel Cinematic Universe naturally draws its inspiration from the comics, but it's limited in what it can use by its own format. What If...? doesn't have that problem. The show digs deep into Marvel Comics' history, giving fans a better understanding of its complexity. Marvel Zombies is just one example. Another is Hank Pym's Yellowjacket, whose decision to kill the Avengers echoes his dark past in the comics.
5 WORSE: What If...? Risks Contradicting Established Canon
One of the bigger problems with What If...? is that by its nature, it risks endangering canon. Each universe may be different, but they do have things in common, and it seems like that isn't completely taken into account. The best example is when Ultron defeats Thanos with a single shot from the Mind Stone.
This seems to be incredibly unlikely, considering that Thanos is wearing the almost complete Infinity Gauntlet at the time. In MCU canon, Scarlet Witch is able to hold this version of Thanos back briefly, but not actually hurt him. Even if Ultron has Vision's body, this quick defeat shouldn't have been possible. At the very least, it's inconsistent with Vision's performance as a character so far.
4 BETTER: What If...? Does A Lot To Establish The Multiverse
With Phase Four, the MCU is spreading its proverbial wings further toward the Multiverse. Other shows like WandaVision and especially Loki have set the stage – and one can expect Spider-Man: No Way Home to fully exploit it – but What If...? has done a lot to contribute as well. The series has made the concept of individual universes more distinct in viewers' minds. Additionally, What If...? introduces the Watcher, a character who will doubtlessly become important even in MCU canon.
3 WORSE: What If...?'s Animation And Voice Acting Won't Be To Everyone’s Liking
Despite everything What If...? brings to the table, the fact remains that the series animated. This is a departure from the MCU's previous style, and not all fans have embraced the change. Many have criticized the animation. Additionally, the show hasn't always been able to use the same actors as the voices of their equivalents. Examples include Captain Marvel, who isn't voiced by Brie Larson, but rather by Alexandra Daniels, and Pepper Potts who is voiced by Beth Hoyt instead of Gwyneth Paltrow.
2 BETTER: What If...? Blurs The Line Between Good And Evil
One of the best things about What If...? is that it emphasizes how heroes can easily become villains – and that the reverse is just as valid. In Party Thor's universe, Loki is raised with his Jotun family. As a result, he's no longer bitter or cruel. He's well-adjusted and his friendship with Thor is a relationship between equals. This clearly shows that Loki's villainous traits come from his Asgardian upbringing.
1 WORSE: A Skipped Episode Hurt The Season
The success of the MCU stems primarily from the fact that it took its time to build up its characters before reaching climactic battles. What If...? follows the same pattern, until the very last episode, when a never-before-seen version of Gamora joins the Guardians of The Multiverse. Her presence is confusing and throws viewers off during the confrontation between the team and Infinity Ultron.
Granted, this isn't necessarily the creators' fault. Gamora was supposed to have her own episode, but it was removed due to complications caused by the COVID pandemic. The episode will now be part of season two of What If...?. Still, the fact that her backstory couldn't be included in season one is an unfortunate blow to the otherwise great Guardians of the Multiverse arc.