What If? Review
Shenell Logan '23 Staff Writer
Marvel released its fourth Disney+ exclusive show, “What If?” on August 11th, 2021. Marvel traded its usual live action experience for an animated show centered around different possible realities in the multiverse. As a Marvel fan, I was very excited for the prospect of seeing different theories and theses being explored in an actual show. Yet, I couldn’t have been left more dissatisfied. There are very few low performing films and shows from Marvel studios. But “What If?” is the worst of them all.
The fans of a franchise as big as the MCU is the very backbone of the company. Without them, without us, Marvel would have never have gotten as big and influential as it is now. So why is “What If?” everything that the fans didn’t care about?
At first glance, a few of the episodes did peak my interest. For example, episode seven, “What If… Thor Were an Only Child?,” sounds compelling. I expected to watch an episode that focused on an arrogant and selfish Thor who now sat on the throne of Asgard. I looked forward to seeing how Thor taking the throne would affect people both on Earth and in Asgard. Would he have ever met Jane Foster on Earth? If not, would Thor’s mother still be alive? Would Malekith the Accursed ever have come to Asgard looking for the Aether at all? Would Odin have enough time to warn Thor of Hela? The episode did not answer any of these questions. Instead, the creators of the show decided to make Thor a raging party animal who invades earth to throw the best intergalactic party ever. All I could think while watching the episode was, “what a waste.” A waste of my time and Marvel’s resources. A waste of what could have been one of their best episodes.
Thor’s episode certainly wasn’t the worst episode, but it is an example of how terribly conceived “What If?” was. Fans want to know what would have happened if Clint sacrificed himself instead of Natasha in Avengers: Endgame. What if Steve had been the one to snap half of the universe back into existence instead of Tony? What if Starlord hadn’t messed everything up on Titan in Avengers: Infinity War? The show constantly asked the wrong and most irrelevant questions which frustrated me and many other fans.
If I were to give any constructive criticism to the director and the writers of the show, I would most definitely suggest listening to the fans. “What If?” made Marvel look like they don’t pay attention to their fanbase. Theories are made everyday in the fandom and for maybe only one of them to be answered in the show’s first season is extremely disappointing.
I have never seen a less talked about Marvel film or TV show and it’s honestly a bit upsetting. The show just wasn’t enthralling or exciting at all. It lacked that ‘Marvel twist’ to it and although it was an animated show, that is not an excuse to lack on what you’re producing and releasing to millions of fans. Along with the ignorant director and writers, most of the voice acting is genuinely terrible and I am surprised they let any of these episodes air.
Overall, it probably would have been better if “What if?” hadn’t been released, or even created at all. I have no urge to watch any of the episodes and I doubt I will ever have the urge to rewatch them. President of Marvel Studios, Kevin Feige, has confirmed season two of “What if?” and I hope I will be able to watch it without cringing.
The fans of a franchise as big as the MCU is the very backbone of the company. Without them, without us, Marvel would have never have gotten as big and influential as it is now. So why is “What If?” everything that the fans didn’t care about?
At first glance, a few of the episodes did peak my interest. For example, episode seven, “What If… Thor Were an Only Child?,” sounds compelling. I expected to watch an episode that focused on an arrogant and selfish Thor who now sat on the throne of Asgard. I looked forward to seeing how Thor taking the throne would affect people both on Earth and in Asgard. Would he have ever met Jane Foster on Earth? If not, would Thor’s mother still be alive? Would Malekith the Accursed ever have come to Asgard looking for the Aether at all? Would Odin have enough time to warn Thor of Hela? The episode did not answer any of these questions. Instead, the creators of the show decided to make Thor a raging party animal who invades earth to throw the best intergalactic party ever. All I could think while watching the episode was, “what a waste.” A waste of my time and Marvel’s resources. A waste of what could have been one of their best episodes.
Thor’s episode certainly wasn’t the worst episode, but it is an example of how terribly conceived “What If?” was. Fans want to know what would have happened if Clint sacrificed himself instead of Natasha in Avengers: Endgame. What if Steve had been the one to snap half of the universe back into existence instead of Tony? What if Starlord hadn’t messed everything up on Titan in Avengers: Infinity War? The show constantly asked the wrong and most irrelevant questions which frustrated me and many other fans.
If I were to give any constructive criticism to the director and the writers of the show, I would most definitely suggest listening to the fans. “What If?” made Marvel look like they don’t pay attention to their fanbase. Theories are made everyday in the fandom and for maybe only one of them to be answered in the show’s first season is extremely disappointing.
I have never seen a less talked about Marvel film or TV show and it’s honestly a bit upsetting. The show just wasn’t enthralling or exciting at all. It lacked that ‘Marvel twist’ to it and although it was an animated show, that is not an excuse to lack on what you’re producing and releasing to millions of fans. Along with the ignorant director and writers, most of the voice acting is genuinely terrible and I am surprised they let any of these episodes air.
Overall, it probably would have been better if “What if?” hadn’t been released, or even created at all. I have no urge to watch any of the episodes and I doubt I will ever have the urge to rewatch them. President of Marvel Studios, Kevin Feige, has confirmed season two of “What if?” and I hope I will be able to watch it without cringing.
Graphic by S. LOGAN/LION’S TALE
