Warning: Spoilers ahead for What If…? Season 2 Episode 4.
Nearing the halfway point, the fourth episode of Marvel Studios’ What If…? is now streaming on Disney+, and it takes a much different approach than its predecessors. Unlike the first and second episodes, the fourth feels highly unlikely as anything that would have happened. That isn’t inherently bad, but this particular premise seems a little too wacky to line up with the MCU or previous episodes of the series. Regardless, the latest installment is still a good time, so let’s dive into exactly what would have happened if Tony Stark (Mick Wingert) crashed into the Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum) with our What If…? Season 2, Episode 4 recap.
Tony Stark Meets Korg and Valkyrie When He Visits Sakaar in ‘What If…?’ Season 2, Episode 4
What would have happened if Tony Stark landed on Sakaar instead of Thor? In this universe, Tony didn’t make it back through the wormhole after carrying the nuke through to defeat the Chitauri in The Avengers‘ Battle of New York. When the portal closed, it sent him through space, where he landed on Sakaar and met the Grandmaster. Tony immediately wants to leave, but the Grandmaster insists he stay for his 21st birthday party.
On this version of the planet Sakaar, people use racing for entertainment, not fighting. Tony sits down with the Grandmaster to watch the races, and we see Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) as one of the contestants. Before going far, she crashes and the crowd throws tin cans and hamsters at her in a display of disrespect. Valkyrie isn’t the only Sakaar familiar in the races, however, and Korg (Taika Waititi) swings around the corner and shows himself as another contestant.
Tony leaps onto the track to help those involved in the wreckage, and the Grandmaster unleashes his champion, a giant blue beast. Moments before the champion crushes Tony, Gamora (Cynthia Kaye McWilliams) swoops in and saves him. Tony and Gamora get into a short fight, and the Grandmaster puts electric restraints on them. Now in custody, he locks Tony, Gamora, and Korg in a room together, and the group must figure out how to escape.
Thanos’ Daughter Gamora Proves To Be a Pain for Tony and His New Team
Tony and Korg can escape the room with ease due to Tony’s tech, but leave Gamora behind. Unfortunately for them, Gamora is resourceful and also manages to escape, stopping Tony and Korg from commandeering a ship. After hearing from her and the Grandmaster that he’s an evil person, Tony vows to save Sakaar and prove himself a hero. The new duo needs a driver if they’re going to get anywhere, so they decide to recruit Valkyrie.
To have a chance of saving the planet, Tony requires a new suit. He builds one out of Sakaaran scraps and challenges the Grandmaster to a race. The winner of said race takes control of Sakaar, and gets Tony’s new suit. The race kicks off and is fairly uneventful until Tony’s cruddy chariot crashes and his new suit forms a new and improved racecar. It appears Tony is going to lose the race, but a heart-to-heart with Gamora changes her mind and she helps him achieve victory.
At the finish line, Topaz (Rachel House) is about to crash into Tony with the melt stick mobile, but Valkyrie crashes into her. The melt stick flies off the cart and lands at the Grandmaster’s feet, touching him and turning him to goop. Tony crowns Valkyrie the new king of Sakaar, and just when he’s ready to head home, Gamora says she must take him to her father. At the very last second, Gamora leaps toward Thanos and Tony throws her the melt stick, killing the mad titan.
‘What If…?’ Season 2, Episode 4 Is a Step Back From Previous Episodes
Although this episode offers a moderately good time, it’s still several levels below the previous three episodes. The series reserves the right to get as silly as it wants, given the nature of the project, but straying too far from the path can cause problems. Mick Wingert does a fine job as the voice of Tony Stark, but it’s impossible to truly recreate the magic of Iron Man without Robert Downey Jr.
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