This week's episode of What If...? will explore a world where Odin never adopted Loki.Titled "What If...Thor Was an Only Child?," the episode will finally put the spotlight on the God of Thunder for the first time on the animated series. While the full scope of what Thor is like without Loki around, it's clear that a big aspect of the episode will be the introduction of Party Thor, who presumably has a very different arc from the MCU version of the character.Marvel released the poster for the episode, while a new What If...? clip offered a tease of the giant party Thor will throw, complete with the Grandmaster and a bunch of Skrulls in attendance. And thanks to a small preview provided by Entertainment Weekly, we know that while Loki won't be adopted by Odin, he will exist in this reality.
The brief promo that the outlet shared shows the TVA screen altering Odin's adoption of Loki, saying the All-Father instead returned the child to his family. No mention is made of Hela, given the episode title calls Thor an only child, but it appears the episode takes place before the events of Thor: Ragnarok and Hela's reveal. In fact, with Loki never banishing his father to Midgard, leading to his death, Hela may never have returned.
Those heavier topics will likely be avoided, however, as the creatives behind What If...? have promised a much lighter episode, especially one that's "fun and silly."
"I love the Thor-Jane relationship and we wanted to play around with that part of the love story without the framework of tragedy," head writer A.C. Bradley said. "The story took root from a love of '80s and '90s rom-coms and party films. After so many serious episodes, what's the most fun we could possibly have? And the answer to that is: Let Thor throw a party."
Director Bryan Andrews seconded that idea, saying, "It's going to be a really great palate cleanser from the stuff that came before and it will set you up for the stuff that will come after."
Following Thor's massive party, there will be two more episodes left in the first season of What If...?, which has already landed a second season. Thanks to a mid-season trailer, it's clear that story elements from previous episodes will come back into play, meaning the darker tone Andrews alluded to will be back. For now, however, the show will be all about Thor having fun.
"Anyone who has siblings knows that that relationship affects us greatly growing up," Bradley said. "So in the MCU, Thor grew up with Loki, literally the god of mischief, always running into trouble so Thor became the good prince, the good son. Without his brother dragging him into trouble, Thor had to find it on his own and so he grew up a bit differently — still our lovable hero, but his interests are less about becoming king of Asgard, and more about becoming perhaps the party prince."
The latest episode of What If...? arrives this Wednesday on Disney+.
Source: Twitter, Entertainment Weekly