What If…? returns to Disney+ for a third and final season just in time for the holidays. The first four episodes are similar in quality to the previous two seasons but benefit from finally introducing characters from Phase Four of the MCU. The first half of What If…? Season 3 is enjoyable, especially when it combines characters we’re not used to interacting with each other, but still lacks multiversal stakes.
Although there’s still the entire second half of the season to connect to the overarching story of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, What If…? Season 3 has the same minor faults as the previous two seasons. In a universe of limitless possibilities, every single episode of the series should be a home run. What If…? is a very enjoyable animated television show. However, the specific story choices often hold the series back from truly being great.
Hulk and the Mech-Avengers Are the Stars of ‘What If…?’ Season 3
Undoubtedly, the best part of What If…? Season 3 is the new addition of multiple new MCU characters. Seeing heroes who have only been on screen for a single Marvel Studios appearance interacting with each other is a treat. This is best demonstrated in the first episode of the season, “What if the Mech-Avengers Fought the Hulk?”. A new group of Avengers led by Sam Wilson’s Captain America (Anthony Mackie) is working together to stop a familiar threat that feels both in line and unique to what viewers have seen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Not only is “What if the Mech-Avengers Fought the Hulk?” the best of the first four episodes this season, but it’s also one of the most enjoyable episodes of the entire series. Unfortunately, while three of the other first four episodes of What If…? Season 3 are still a fun watch, they can’t quite match the quality of the first.
Marvel’s ‘What If…?’ Continues To Be Good, but Not Quite Great
Although characters like Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) and Red Guardian (David Harbour) admittedly have incredible chemistry together, they feel out of place as choices to be heavily featured in What If…? Season 3. While it does function as solid marketing for the upcoming Thunderbolts* movie, the episode has the same overarching issue that has plagued the series as a whole: not enough of a hook to invest viewers in what should be a truly expansive story.
Within each episode, there should be a reason why The Watcher (Jeffrey Wright) is spectating these specific iterations of the characters, but that continues to be missing. What makes these versions so special? Without a genuine reason for The Watcher, viewers can often be left asking the exact same question: “Why should I invest time watching these specific stories?”
An Okay Start Leaves High Hopes for ‘What If…?’ Season 3’s Conclusion
Despite falling short of previous Marvel Animation gold like X-Men ’97, watching an episode of What If…? Season 3 is still an enjoyable way to spend a half hour each day. Unless the final four episodes completely knock it out of the park, the series will end in a rather mundane fashion. Still, the head of Marvel Television, Brad Winderbaum, has teased that this season will have epic repercussions.
Regardless, What If…? remains good, but not great, through two and a half seasons. It does feel like there was some wasted potential with this project throughout the years, but it certainly wasn’t a failure, either. To put it in sports terms, What If…? Season 3 is a field goal in American football. Sure, the team hoped for a touchdown, but at least three points were still added to the scoreboard.
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'What If...?' Season 3 Review
'What If...?' Season 3 ReviewThe Good
- The first episode featuring the Mech-Avengers and the Hulk is one of the best of the entire season.
- The character pairings being placed together continue to have impeccable chemistry in usual MCU style.
- Phase Four characters finally being able to be included in the series is an incredibly welcome addition.
The Bad
- In a multiverse of limitless possibilities, the story choices feel too safe and surface-level.
- Certain character choices like Howard the Duck and Red Guardian leave more to be desired considering the wealth of interesting characters within the MCU.