Ranking the episodes of Marvel's What If...? season 1
SPOILERS ahead!
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9. What If...Killmonger Rescued Tony Stark?
Killmonger is a character that I really liked coming out of Black Panther, he was a compelling, relatable character that made fans wonder whether or not T'Challa was really doing the right thing by stopping him. So while it was great to see Killmonger once again, this episode by far was the biggest let down. The premise is so out there that I'm not sure how the writers came up with something so specific, and the episode basically plays out the same as the Black Panther movie with Killmonger bribing his way into Wakanda, becoming Black Panther, instigating a war...the big what if wasn't much different from the prime universe. Plus Tony died in like five second from a shoulder wound.
(Image Source)8. What If...Thor Were an Only Child?
The premise of this episode had SO MUCH potential! Without Loki there as a foil Thor could have either been more mature because he didn't have the trickster to play off of, or he could have been even more reckless and we could have seen the kind of trouble and destruction that would cause by the time things like Ragnarok or Malekith came around. Instead, we got 'Party Thor' and a worldwide party that the climax involved him having to clean up before his mother arrived. I know the writers were going for a fun episode purely; however, they didn't have to make it silly and stupid. The only reason this isn't lowest on the list is because the fight between Thor and Captain Marvel was actually pretty great.
7. What If...Captain Carter Were the First Avenger?
This was the episode that kicked it all off, that got fans ready for the idea of the multiverse and alternate realities, and showcased the face of the series with Captain Carter. The main criticisms I've seen levelled against this episode is that it plays out pretty much exactly the same as the actual Captain America movie just with some reversed roles. I give this episode more of a pass than the Killmonger episode because this episode had to ease fans into the idea of what a multiverse would be like, and this episode was definitely a ton of fun! The action scenes of Captain Carter ripping through soldiers was thoroughly entertaining, and the Hydra Stomper an instant classic for the MCU!
6. What If...T'Challa Became a Star-Lord?
This episode began to run with the concept of multiverse a bit more, portraying T'Challa as having been accidentally picked up as a kid by the Ravagers rather than Peter Quill. What transpired next was a really fun heist against the Collector who turned out to be buff and quite a fighter in this universe, with plenty of recognizable weapons at his disposal! T'Challa as Star Lord became an instant classic for this series, and his subsequent bringing of peace to the whole galaxy basically really showcases the diplomatic power T'Challa possessed!
5. What If...Zombies?!
This episode was by far one of my most anticipated, and it for the most part delivered. I wasn't totally a fan of how random the members of the group of survivors were, though I know that's a common trope, and the sways in comedy and darkness were a bit obnoxious at times. In the end though, it was an extremely fun introduction to the MCU's take on Marvel Zombies! I loved the designs, ideas such as humongous zombie Wasp, and oh gosh...zombie Wanda was so creepy and just awesome! Just zombies, Marvel heroes as zombies, Marvel heroes fighting zombies, and the show took so many advantages of that concept!
4. What If...the World Lost its Mightiest Heroes?
Coming off the first two episodes which were primarily fun, the third episode dialed up the serious tone and brought us to a murder mystery in which each prospective member of the Avengers were being killed before Fury had a chance to recruit them! While the perpetrator became pretty obvious early on when thinking about who existed in the MCU at the time, it was still a compelling mystery to watch unfold and to see the situations in which each of these iconic characters were assassinated. The final showdown between Loki and the Yellowjacket version of Hank Pym was pretty great too, and for this episode we got to see Nick Fury in the spotlight for a while.
3. What If...the Watcher Broke His Oath?
The finale of the series was a big episode that brought together every preceding episode. While at first the show seemed to be an anthology, it was revealed to come together Avengers style to take down the big threat of Infinity Ultron. It was a bombastic, action packed final episode that saw some incredilbe fight scenes takes place. Doctor Strange Supreme vs Infinity Ultron in particular was outstanding, with other highlights being Natasha and Captain Carter going ham with their shields on the robot, and in the setting of a supporting character I enjoyed 'Party Thor's' silliness a bit more than when he was headlining an episode. It wasn't a perfect episode, but I enjoyed the heck out of it.
2. What If...Ultron Won?
Oh boy, getting into these finale two episodes for the list is where I think the show really did a good job. While a lot of the other episodes were passable or fun, these final two I think are actually really good. I wasn't the biggest fan of Age of Ultron, but this episode certainly made me an Ultron fan and I absolutely loved Infinity Ultron! Seeing Hawkeye and Natasha trying to survive in an apocalyptic world after Ultron has laid waste to the universe, utilizing all six Infinity Stones, was enthralling enough on its own especially when they brought in the Arnim Zolo AI, hit us with a powerful Hawkeye sacrifice, but the episode didn't stop there. No, after slight hints previously that something may happen with the Watcher, Ultron sensed his presence and broke the multiversal barrier to discover endless worlds for him to bring to peace. It was one of the most tense moments of the show, and the ensuing battle between Ultron and the Watcher was pretty epic as well! The stakes felt high in this episode, but it still doesn't touch my favorite episode of the series!
1. What If...Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead of His Hands?
Woah, that's all I can say. I don't know how I can convey how impressed I was watching this episode! I was expecting something fun but not too heavy, not too impressive, but I was completely blown away as the episode progressed. This episode was sad! It was sad, dark, and I really loved it! It was tragic seeing Doctor Strange try again and again to say his love only to watch her die again every time, and to become further and further disillusioned until he went down a dark path looking to amass enough power to change that fixed point in time! The finale which saw him finally achieve this goal was so bitter sweet as it resulted in the collapse of his world, and still the loss of his love! This episode provided the first hints of the Watcher interacting, as Doctor Strange Supreme sensed his presence and openly demanded his help in saving his world only to find himself on his own. The fact that in the end, Doctor Strange Supreme admitted that he didn't want any of that to happen, that he didn't want the world to end, made it so much more apparent that he wasn't some twisted, evil version of Doctor Strange out for his own gain but someone who was hurting, grieving, and regretted what his grief drove him to do. There was no rousing finale, no triumphant victory in the end for anyone, no excessive quips or jokes to keep the mood up; this episode was thoughtful, touching, and ultimately...tragic as it ends on Doctor Strange Supreme sitting alone, remorseful, in the tiny bubble of nothing that remains of his world...
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