Heartwarming / What If…? (2021)

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"Pick me up at 8:00?"

The Multiverse is full of infinite changes and infinite differences. Sometimes the effects of these don't turn out so well. However, for all the many ways that things can go wrong, there's just as many ways they can go right in What If…?.

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Episodes

Season One

Episode 1: What If… Captain Carter Were The First Avenger?

• Captain Carter and Steve Rogers still being romantically involved even with their roles reversed. It reinforces the touching, understated fact from the main MCU that Peggy was in love with Steve well before he took the serum.
• After the procedure, Peggy apologizes to Steve for taking away the opportunity to serve he wanted so much. Steve just tells her that now she gets to do it.
• Steve still gets to participate in the war like he wanted, even without the serum. How? Howard builds him a Tesseract-powered Iron Man armor for him to help Carter. When he arrives to aid Peggy in the first battle, Bucky and the other troops are just as happy to see him as they were in the Sacred Timeline.
• Howard Stark being fully supportive of Captain Carter in spite of what Colonel Flynn said, even giving Carter her own modified outfit.
  • Even at the beginning, when Carter tells him to start the procedure, Howard trusts her and acts without hesitation.

Episode 2: What If… T'Challa Became a Star-Lord?

• At the beginning of the episode, Korath mentions that T'Challa refusing to hand over the Power Stone means he gets to spar with him. T'Challa tells him Bring It, and when Korath lands a punch and immediately apologizes, T'Challa tells him that's kind of the point here. He's giving Korath what he wanted: a sparring session!
• Also during the beginning, Korath asks to join T'Challa's crew, though T'Challa says there's no room. Yet after knocking Korath out, he decides to bring him along and recruit him anyway.
  T'Challa: Eh… I've hired worse.
• T'Challa convinced The Ravagers to be Just Like Robin Hood, saved Drax's family, and managed to convince Thanos himself that his plan was wrong. This universe is a much brighter place thanks to this Star-Lord.
  • That second one bears repeating: Drax, now not The Destroyer, is working as a bartender at the club the Ravagers are partying in, and is utterly happy.
• Remembering how much death and damage the actions of Taserface caused in the original timeline, ultimately destroying the Ravagers from the inside, it's nice to see him just being a goofball and part of the core group, interacting in a friendly manner with the others.
• Crossing over with Real Life: Freeze-Frame Bonus shows that T'Challa renamed the ship that was known as the Milano in the Sacred Timeline as the Mandela. This implies, reflective of T'Challa's curiosity of the world outside Wakanda, that Nelson Mandela also existed in his timeline, and was likely responsible for the same kind of Real Life heroism he went down in history with.
• Thanos and Nebula have a strained relationship, but they go out of their way to protect each other and things seem to be getting better. She even goes back to save him from Cull Obsidian and Proxima Midnight.
  • Later on, she even calls him "Dad".
    • Nebula isn't chopped up and in pieces, meaning T'Challa got to Thanos early enough that Thanos still loves his daughter.
• Yondu and T’Challa have a strong surrogate father/son relationship here. Yondu even calls him his kid when squaring off against The Collector.
• Korath constantly fanboying over Star-Lord and joining The Ravagers.
• Carina kills Ebony Maw when the latter had T'Challa at his mercy because T'Challa's words about his world not looking kindly on those who lock people in cages resonated with her. She even survives the episode.
• The Ravagers traveling to Wakanda and Star-Lord reuniting with his family.
  • It turns out that T'Chaka never lost hope, as his first words to his son is, "I knew you would find your way home to us."
  • Of special note is T'Challa introducing the Ravagers as "the family he made along the way", almost as if to make up for when he lashed out at them upon finding out the truth about Wakanda earlier in the prison cell.
• He's not a Ravager or a superhero here, but Peter seems pretty happy with his normal life as a janitor here…until Ego shows up. Thankfully, the finale throws it right back to heartwarming as T'Challa and the Ravagers save him and the Earth from a horrid fate.
• Dedicated to Our Friend, Our Inspiration, and Our Hero, Chadwick Boseman.

Episode 3: What If… The World Lost Its Mightiest Heroes?

• Granted, Loki ended up having his own agenda (or he had no plan and just took advantage of the situation), but when he first arrives on Earth he seems genuinely angry that someone killed Thor. Also, Sif and the Warrior's Three seem to have put aside their differences with him in order to aid him in avenging Thor's death.
  • He has also been accepted as Asgard's king despite revealing his Frost Giant heritage. He proclaims himself "rightful King of Jotunheim" in front of his army and uses the Casket of Ancient Winters in front of them.
• Hank Pym wholly believes that Fury "would have recruited Thor in a heartbeat" even if nobody on Earth even knew who he was supposed to be at the time. In the end, Thor really is laid to rest alongside the other heroes.
• Natasha protecting Betty Ross during the Hulk's battle with the military.
• Despite the dire state of the world at the ending: Fury still has Captain Marvel and they have found Captain America (Steve Rogers). Even while keeping his usual tone of voice; Uatu states that he believes that hope still exists.
• After Tony dies, Fury and Natasha are discussing their next move. When Natasha asks Fury if he's sure he wants to take another "big swing" on her (in reference to a conversation they had in the car earlier), he tells her it's the safest bet he'll ever make, reassuring her that he knows she can handle it.

Episode 4: What If… Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead of His Hands?

• Strange Supreme taking the passenger seat on his last attempt, implicitly trying to sacrifice his life to save Christine. Sadly, as the series' Tearjerker page reveals, it doesn't work.
• When Wong asks Good Strange is he's really willing to save the universe at the expense of his doppelgänger Strange Supreme and mission to save Christine, Good Strange tells him that at the very least, he'll be saving Wong.
  • This Wong's last action is crafting an extremely strong protection spell and wishing Good Strange good luck. It's the last thing to stand between Good Strange and defeat, and it takes Strange Supreme handing his other self a No-Holds-Barred Beatdown to destroy it. Sadly, its protection was not enough.
• Even though he ultimately decides not to in the end, it's clear that the Watcher wanted to help Strange if he could. But his oath and vows take precedence over everything else. He even considers trying to warn Strange of the consequences, but felt that his words would fall on deaf ears regardless.
• After who knows how long of absorbing mystical beings to gain the power he needs, Strange is at O-Bengh's bedside as the latter is dying of old age. When Strange realizes what's happening, his first response is to use the Eye of Agamotto to reverse time so he can stay alive. It's clear that Strange considers the man a friend and doesn't want to lose him. O-Bengh is completely fine with his approaching death and offers some sage advice to Strange. Though Strange's grief overwhelmed his morality, he never truly lost his humanity.

Episode 5: What If… Zombies?!

• It's hard to remember, but this is supposed to be a time when the Avengers had broken up. Steve, Tony, Clint, and Natasha would finally reunite for this threat. Making it all the more tearjerking.
  • It also gives implication that despite never being officially called so in the films, T'Challa is in fact a member of the Avengers.
• Hope Van Dyne and Peter Parker have developed a sweet bond working together against the zombies, with Hope seemingly taking on the role as his mentor now that Tony is gone. When she gets infected, she asks Peter how he stays so positive in spite of losing so many of the people he cares about. Peter replies that Aunt May told him they should keep smiling because otherwise, they may as well be gone too.
  • Mixed with Tearjerker, Hope takes this to heart, her last words being to Peter being to smile for her.
• Okoye, after splitting Zombie Falcon down the middle with her spear, takes a moment to genuinely apologize to Bucky for having to kill his friend in front of him.
• Kurt's genuine joy at seeing Scott again, even as a Brain in a Jar. Seeing as though Kurt's the only Wombat shown to survive the apocalypse thus far, it's very moving to see him reunite with his friend, even in grim and bizarre circumstances.
• In spite of being a zombified monster, Wanda still seems to genuinely care about Vision after he dies, mourning over his dead body and merely blasting Bucky away in grief, rather than just eating him or anyone else outright.
• At the end of the episode, Peter gets sad when he realises that he, T'Challa, and Scott are the only Avengers left. T'Challa comforts him with a Call-Back to his words to Black Widow after T'Chaka's death. The speech is particularly touching in light of Chadwick Boseman's untimely passing.
  T'Challa: In my culture, death is not the end. They are still with us, so long as we do not forget them.

Episode 6: What If… Killmonger Rescued Tony Stark?

• Before killing Tony, Killmonger admits he was hoping he wouldn't have to kill him in particular, implying that against all odds Killmonger actually came to like Tony.
• At the end of the episode, a despondent Pepper Potts enters her office to find Shuri, who brought proof of Killmonger's crimes. They decide to work together to expose the truth about Tony and T'Challa's deaths and, hopefully, prevent a war between the USA and Wakanda. Uatu's final narration is incredibly poignant.
  Uatu: Heroes are never really gone. They live forever. As do the ones they inspire to carry on the fight.

Episode 7: What If… Thor Were an Only Child?

• Laufey seemed to be overjoyed to be reunited with his infant child, implying Loki wasn't intentionally abandoned in this timeline or Odin was wrong about him abandoned for being a runt.
• Even when they're not raised together, Thor and Loki are still good friends who consider themselves brothers. And to boot, Loki has got no agenda against Thor in this universe.
  • The idea that, despite their extremely turbulent history, their childhood as brothers helped Thor to become the hero we know and love, in some ways being a lesser man without his brother.
  • When Thor spots what he thinks is a shooting star, he immediately tells Loki to make a wish instead of making one himself.
• Every interaction between Thor and Jane is unbelievably sweet. Much like the first episode showed with Peggy and Steve's relationship, it really sells the idea that, even with wildly different circumstances bringing them together, Thor and Jane were always going to fall in love.
  Thor: Do all geniuses have such deep, dark eyes? It's like watching the birth of two stars at the edge of the galaxy.
  • Especially given that, considering the personality of this Thor variant, he might be looking at Jane as just the latest in a long line of… people to party with. The episode itself even implies this a few times. But no, Thor really does like Jane.
• Even if she's significantly scarier to the poor god because of it, it's genuinely touching to see that Frigga still legitimately cares about her son Thor in this timeline, especially since it's been established that Frigga was closer to Loki in the Sacred Timeline than she was to her elder son. She actively encourages Thor to study up and take his roles as king seriously, and leaves her social gathering to check up on him when Jane warns her of what's happening.
• Despite all the trouble Thor caused and initially being happy to let him get in trouble with his mother, Captain Marvel ultimately comes back to Earth to help Thor sell his lie about coming to Earth as a cultural exchange trip to Frigga, showing that there's no hard feelings.
• Uatu's reaction at the episode's conclusion. After bearing witness to four tragic alternate timelines, it's genuinely sweet to see him marvel at Thor learning his lesson, and getting together with Jane at the end. The Watcher definitely deserves some leeway from all the death and destruction, and this was the perfect way of offsetting that, even if it only lasted a minute.
• In general, the party involving several aliens. Knowing that the Sacred Timeline is known for different space factions warring, it’s nice to see that this time the people of the Galaxy are a little more amicable with each other.
• Thor admitting to Jane that while calling his mom wasn't the cool thing to do, it was the right thing.

Episode 8: What If… Ultron Won?

• Despite its dark circumstances, this episode demonstrates just how much The Watcher loves the multiverse and the people who live within it as he looks at what's happening in Infinity Ultron's universe. Notably, Uatu acts incredibly encouraging and excited when Hawkeye is close to finding Arnim Zola's file, clearly rooting hard for him and Black Widow to take down Ultron.
  Uatu: Don't sit down. Get up!
• After the hopelessly bleak ending of episode 4, Strange Supreme may have a chance to earn his happy ending, or at the very least, escape his dead universe. The fact that he settles for gentle ribbing of Uatu instead of fury for not helping him earlier suggests that he isn't holding a grudge.

Episode 9: What If… The Watcher Broke His Oath?

• The episode opens with the events of Captain America: The Winter Soldier but with Captain Carter in place of Steve Rogers. Peggy and Natasha are immediately established as being good friends in this timeline, with Peggy later describing them as "BFFs".
  • Captain Carter easily talks down the Black Widow of the Infinity Ultron reality with compassion and trust, and they quickly start to work together in synchrony.
  • Carter mentions that Natasha's father was Ivan but her pa was Alexei. Considering that the Avengers of the Sacred Timeline (bar Hawkeye we later find out) were completely unaware that Natasha actually had any family members, this indicates that the Natasha Romanoff of Captain Carter's reality was more willing to open up to her.
  • The scene is even more heartwarming in the Spanish dub. Instead of saying that she is “BFF’s” with Natasha, Captain Carter says they are “casi hermanas,” or “almost sisters.”
• The Tony Stark from Gamora's universe wants to put a suit of armor around the galaxy and not just Earth. While it is likely he may make the same mistake of creating Ultron if he hasn't already done it in this universe, it's heartwarming that he he wants to extend his protection to not only Earth but to the whole galaxy, most likely because of his friendship with Gamora.
• As Thor is destroying Ultron's drones in his universe, he complains that they interrupted his date with Jane and explains all the romantic things he was going to do for her. It's very sweet.
• While Erik dismisses the connection, it's still touching to hear T'Challa refer to him as "cousin" despite being from different universes. It gains another layer of heartwarming as Star-Lord T'Challa's changed backstory means he may not have known about Erik prior to the events of this episode.
• As Black Widow prepares to fire the virus-carrying arrow at Infinity Ultron, she quietly says, "This one's for you, Clint."
• The fact that Strange Supreme styles the pocket dimension for the Guardians to hang out in after the bar Peggy and Steve bonded together in shows that the doctor seems to genuinely feel sympathy for Captain Carter. He tells her about how Steve became Captain America in his universe to make her feel better.
  • When he loses control of his powers for a bit and his arm becomes tentacles, Peggy asks him about it. He blames his condition on the same thing that sent her to the future: love.
• Natasha helping Thor up. It's a nice opportunity for her to get to interact with a version of Thor at least once more before she's transplanted to the Dead Avengers' universe.
• At the end of the episode, Peggy asks if The Watcher can send her back to a different time so she can be with Steve Rogers. The Watcher gently encourages her to return to where she left because it's where she needs to be. During the end credits, her Black Widow reveals that she found the Hydra Stomper aboard the Lemurian Star and that there's someone, strongly implied to be Steve, inside it.
• After the other Guardians have left, Black Widow tells The Watcher that she won't go back to her universe since everyone is dead and there's nothing left for her. For a moment, it looks like The Watcher is going to send her back as he did with Peggy but instead, he brings her to the universe where Hank Pym killed the Avengers candidates, and Captains America and Marvel are fighting to save the world from Asgard. They arrive just in time for her to save Nick Fury from Loki. Fury seems wary of the new arrival but is obviously willing to give her a chance.
  Nick Fury: You're not my Natasha, but something tells me you have her spirit.
• This episode makes many of the Downer Endings of prior episodes less bleak:
  • Episode 2: T'Challa saves Quill from Ego, at least temporarily, by planting a bomb on the latter and flying Peter away. The end of the episode also reveals that Quill is right back where he belongs, as part of the Ravagers.
  • Episode 3: Black Widow from Episode 8 is transplanted into this timeline, giving her a new home, and her new home a new Avenger. She also defeats Loki by stealing and using the scepter on him. Fury recognizes that she is not the Natasha he knows, but doesn't mind that.
  • Episode 4: Strange Supreme is still trapped in his bubble, but he redeems himself in this episode and is willing to accept his predicament. He also gets to watch over Ultron-Zola and Killmonger in their own pocket dimension.
  • Episode 5: Somewhat downplayed, but a portion of the zombies are gone, so hopefully the survivors have the chance to take control of the apocalypse and rebuild society in some way.
  • Episode 6: After getting away with his crimes, Killmonger gets his just desserts in this episode as he is trapped in a mirror dimension. Tony, T'Challa, and Rhodey have been avenged and the world is no longer under his influence.
  • Episode 7: The Ultron Bots are vanquished, and Thor reunites with Jane.
  • Episode 8: Black Widow finally avenges her universe, her friends, and teammates, and Ultron-Zola is trapped in a pocket dimension.
  • Episode 1: The Stinger — Natasha helps Carter beat Batroc, and takes her to the Lemurian Star's Cargo hold. Inside one container is the Hydra Stomper. And as Natasha tells her that somebody is inside of it, a piano version of Captain America's theme plays.
• When Natasha calls out the Watcher for simply watching the stories of the multiverse and accuses him of seeing them as mere entertainment and something that isn't real, Uatu's response shows just how he truly cares for the multiverse and the people who live in it.
  Uatu: Your stories, they are everything to me.
• When Strange Supreme accepts the role of making sure Killmonger and Zola never escape, Uatu sincerely thanks him for it, to which Strange replies, "What are friends for?", showing that regardless of the circumstances they met under, the two really have come to see each other as friends.
• The episode ends with Uatu declaring the whole multiverse to be his home and that he will do anything to protect it.

Season Two

Episode 1: What If… Nebula Joined the Nova Corps?

• This universe’s versions of Nebula and Yondu were apparently close enough that Nebula decides to investigate his death herself, and use his arrow in the final battle.
• Nebula is on good terms with Howard the Duck, along with Korg, Miek, and Groot. While Howard initially wants nothing to do with Nebula's mission, until Nebula points out Nova Corp will take his liquor license away, he compliments her on saving Xander from the corrupt Nova Corps., killing Ronan, and destroying the shield.

Episode 2: What If... Peter Quill Fought the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes?

• Hope connecting with Peter through their love of music and shared experience of losing a parent, giving him her mom's Walkman after Ego destroyed his, and freeing him from custody so he can visit his mom's grave in Missouri.
• Hank bonding with Peter over their respective grief and convincing him to work with them. At the same time, Howard hacks Bucky’s comms and manages to reach him through his brainwashing and prevent him from shooting Peter, in part by reminding him of Steve.
  • Hank's embrace of Peter when he's at his absolute lowest is the action that causes Bucky to relent from killing him. That bit of love seems to help him remember his humanity.
• When Ego's energy tentacles come for the seedling, Howard Stark pulls Hope to safety rather than try and hold onto it.
• This new team of Avengers stay together by the end of the episode. When Thor announces he is leaving to deal with Ego's original form, all of them immediately say they are coming with him, including Hope, Peter, and Goose, reminding him how they are a team. Though Bucky is absent from the team, it is because he has left HYDRA to reclaim his past, and now he won't kill Howard and Maria like he did in the Sacred Timeline.

Episode 3: What If... Happy Hogan Saved Christmas?

• For most of the first season, Uatu kept up his solemn and dramatic demeanor thanks to the crisis in the multiverse spiraling into his domain. So for a change, seeing him rather jolly (in his own way) and enjoying the opening/closing narration is a refreshing change of pace for him.
  Uatu: And to all...a good night.
• At the end, Happy is upset the party is ruined and that he hopes the insurance covers most of it. Tony instead expresses gratitude for Happy, stating that he's the only insurance he ever needs.
• The fact this variant of Tony Stark didn't meet an untimely death compared to his season 1 variants, except for one whose story is explained in the next episode.

Episode 4: What If... Iron Man Crashed Into the Grandmaster?

• Tony's relief at seeing that The Battle of New York was a victory. And most of all, Pepper was safe.
• This episode has Tony Stark showing what a Magnetic Hero he is. The people of Sakaar, even Valkyrie, quickly rally behind him against the Grandmaster and Gamora even has the Heel–Face Turn that led to her becoming a Guardian of the Multiverse because of him.
• Tony allowing himself to be captured by Gamora so she can get close enough to Thanos to end him. She won because she wasn't alone.

Episode 5: What If... Captain Carter Fought the Hydra Stomper?

• Despite his statement that he doesn't "do sequels", the Watcher makes an exception for Captain Carter's story because he views her as a friend.
• Bucky Barnes is still alive, became US Secretary of State, and even so is still fighting the good fight to make sure America does the right thing.

Episode 6: What If... Kahhori Reshaped the World?

• Kahhori's Big Sister Instinct for her little brother Wahta. She literally forces dimensional rifts open just to get back to him.
• The people of the Sky Tribe are a very happy and peaceful people who welcome Kahhori with open arms, especially Atahraks. It's quite sweet to see her enjoy herself and bond with them all.
• While Conquistador Gonzolo is a very cruel villain, it's surprising to see the care he has for his men, treating them more like sons than soldiers.
• Kahhori and the Sky Tribe working in unison to free the captured Mohawk people.
• Uatu's closing narration where he highlights that it was Kahhori's heart and conviction to protect her people that made her a standout hero.

Episode 7: What If... Hela Found the Ten Rings?

• This universe's Hela may have grand designs, but it's also clear she's not as evil or far gone as her Sacred Timeline counterpart. She's generally much friendlier and isn't violent towards others for no reason, even befriending that timeline's version of Morris!
• While still brutal, this version of Wenwu is a genuine hero who wants to use the power he's been granted to aid others and free the downtrodden.
• The unexpected yet surprisingly sweet Ship Tease between Hela and Wenwu; despite the rocky start to their alliance and the fact they are mortal and goddess, sparks do indeed fly between the two, especially after Hela recognizes Wenwu is not her true enemy, but an ally. Their Almost Kiss and her clearly thinking of him after leaving him is actually quite adorable.
• Subtle, but Wenwu orders his men to retreat while he continues to fight off the Asgardians by himself. It shows that he's a Benevolent Boss whose men fight for him out of genuine loyalty rather than fear or subjugation (not that he was like that in the movie either).
• In general this episode highlights that even villains have the potential to become good people even heroes if given the right lessons and put in the right circumstances as shown with Wenwu and Hela.
  • This speaks to the former even more as Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings showed that the sacred timeline version of Wenwu, despite his conquering, was willing, and even did give it all up, to become a good husband and father.

Episode 8: What If... The Avengers formed in 1602?

• While he may be a lousy actor and boring the pants off of everyone else with his constant fanboying, the fact that Loki actually seems happy with his life in this universe, given how Loki showed pretty much every other Loki seemed destined to misery and self-destruction.

Episode 9: What If... Strange Supreme Interfered?

• Despite hating what he's done, Peggy still tries many times to talk Strange down and make him see reason. She clearly still views him as her friend who helped her save the multiverse.
• Strange Supreme ultimately conquering his demons in his final moments, preventing the demon controlling him from hurting anyone else and willingly allowing himself to die to save the Multiverse. At his core, as tragic as it all became, Strange Supreme was still a hero when it truly mattered.
  • Uatu assuring a grieving Peggy that Strange redeemed himself in the end, and that the part of him that was still good won over in the end, in no small part thanks to her belief in him.
• When asked by Peggy why he never interfered despite knowing all that would happen, Uatu simply says the Multiverse already had a hero who would: her.
• The final shot showing Uatu has taken Peggy to the end of time, where the God of Stories watches over the Multiverse in solitude. Perhaps he won't be entirely alone after all...

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