‘What If…?’ Season 2 Is A Mind-Bending Journey Through the Multiverse

Merry Christmas, Marvel fans. What If…? Season 2, the second installment of the studio’s fascinating animated show, is a wonderful gift to viewers just in time for the holidays. Writer and executive producer A.C. Bradley and team find greater success by stepping farther into the multiverse with out-of-the-box team-ups between beloved MCU characters that have no business interacting. Season 2 starts strong and manages to carry that steam toward another action-packed, multiversal finale — earning its emotional moments through intimate storytelling while providing plenty of laughs and Easter eggs.

‘What If…?’ Season 2 Relishes in Unexpected Team-Ups and Perfect Nostalgia

One thing that will blow viewers’ minds this season is the incomprehensible combination of characters collaborating to battle the constant threats their respective universes have to offer. And, through it all, The Watcher (Jeffrey Wright) remains an intriguing figure observing whatever chaos is unfolding around him.

Episodes 2 (“What If Peter Quill Attacked Earth’s Mightiest Heroes?”) and 7 (“What Hela Found The Ten Rings?”) in particular house the most unlikely teams of heroes, showcasing each character in a completely new way to how they previously were shown. From Hela (Cate Blanchett) and Wenwu to Mar-vell (Keri Tombazian) and Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell), the new relationships between characters you would have never even thought about putting in the same room (let alone asking how they got there) are intriguing and highly entertaining.

The standout duo is undeniably Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau) and Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings), on par with Peggy Carter and Natasha Romanoff (Lake Bell). Their banter and shared loyalties will undoubtedly be appreciated by viewers. As long as audiences suspend their disbelief on how certain characters arrived where they are — like Korg bartending at Howard the Duck’s (Seth Green) casino on Xandar — they’ll be able to enjoy the often-goofy situations they’re asked to sit through.

Some Episodes of ‘What If…?’ Season 2 Stand Out From the Rest

Fans of the classic MCU will adore the earlier episodes more than others. They provide immeasurable nostalgia to their source projects and perfectly highlight the lead characters. Transporting viewers back to classic Marvel locations such as Avengers Tower and The Triskelion and reuniting us with old favorites like Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders) and Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell), the early episodes in What If…? Season 2 are a love letter to the stories that brought us to where we are today.

If you’re looking for a thrill, Episode 1 (“What If Nebula Joined The Nova Corps?”) is striking and carries a spy-thriller aspect, reminiscent of Ridley Scott‘s groundbreaking Blade Runner. Karen Gillan returns as Nebula and delivers another electrifying portrayal of the character. Jude Law also returns for an enticing appearance as Yon-Rogg, joining Nebula on her action-packed adventure and reminding fans why he’s a villain in the billion-dollar Captain Marvel franchise.

The most intriguing episode by far features a brand new Marvel character created specifically for the show, Kahhori. “What If Kahhori Reshaped The World?” will undoubtedly become a fan favorite, as the style and content are unlike anything Marvel Studios has ever produced before. The episode provides some of the most incredible storytelling and most original concepts we have seen from the studio in quite a while, a testament to Marvel working closely with members of the Mohawk Nation to properly honor the character. The results are spectacular and hopefully provide the leg-work for Kahhori to make her way farther into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

‘What If…?’ Season 2 Manages to Top Season 1

Practically every episode of the newest season is able to deliver an engaging story, however, every series delivers weaker episodes now and then, and What If…? Season 2 is no different. “What If… Iron Man Crashed Into The Grandmaster?“ in particular lacks excitement and authenticity, and is far from being on a similar level to the rest of the episodes. The content surrounding Tony Stark (Mick Wingert) is almost beginning to feel repetitive, and it feels as if the episode is capitalizing on Ragnarok’s success rather than expanding on another, more intriguing storyline with lower-profile characters. Those are the episodes in which both seasons thrive. Gotta hand it to Jeff Goldblum, though — the Grandmaster is iconic.

The final installment of What If…? Season 2 has some incredible moments and matches the high stakes of Season 1. The previous season’s finale — the Guardians of The Multiverse led by Strange Supreme (Benedict Cumberbatch) — was a solid outing, with a high potential to affect the main timeline in the future. Season 2’s finale mirrors the connectivity of the previous season with a climactic team-up including Strange Supreme and Captain Carter along with other interconnecting characters from throughout the season. Seeing an epic ensemble conclusion after exploring their individual timelines makes for an exciting watch and ends the season on a high.

Overall, Season 2 of What If…? manages to top the previous season with the groups of characters they threw into the mix. I mean, you try telling Marvel fans in 2016 that Howard Stark (John Slattery) would make Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) think twice about an execution. What a turnaround!

Give Me More Multiverse!

What If…? truly deserves to be a recurring series from Marvel Studios. It delivers endless mind-boggling and unique stories involving characters that viewers will never get tired of seeing. The series gives fans unique insights into the lives of various iconic characters that wouldn’t be explored in any other Marvel projects. The concept is truly fascinating and the possibilities of where the MCU could travel next are endless. What If…? deserves more seasons to truly stretch its legs, play around with its vast bullpen of characters, and dial up the multiversal stories to another level.

What is your favorite episode of What If…? and did Season 2 live up to your expectations? Comment below or let us know on the Agents of Fandom socials.