This article of the new Disney+ animated streaming series What If...? does not contain significant spoilers.
When Marvel and Disney+ announced the creation of a stand-alone animated anthology-adjacent series called What If...?, I'll admit, I was skeptical. At first glance, it seemed like a recycling effort where the writers picked up failed MCU multiverse storylines from the cutting room floor.
Frankly, that's precisely what they did. However, just because a peanut butter cup falls on the floor doesn't mean it won't be delicious. The result is What If...? is a breath of comic-book fresh air. Exciting, funny, and audacious, with beautiful animation, this Marvel series exemplifies outside-the-box thinking and offers endless possibilities.
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Disney+'s What If...? Season 2 Review and Plot Summary.
The Disney+ series What If...? boasts a deep and talented cast. Jeffrey Wright returns as The Watcher, providing a character that serves as an anchor for the audience. The series also features Oscar-winning actors like Cate Blanchett, Annette Bening, and Sam Rockwell, along with MCU standouts Chris Hemsworth, Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, and Karen Gillan reprising their iconic roles.
As for standout episodes, there's the holiday-themed "What If... Happy Hogan Saved Christmas?", the entertaining "What If... Kaho Reshaped the World?", the arm-rest grabbing exciting "What If... Captain Carter Fought the Hydra Stomper?", and the wildly inventive "What If... the Avengers Assembled in 1602?" These episodes offer self-contained, stand-alone stories that maintain Marvel's high storytelling standards while ensuring an enjoyable experience.
However, let me say, What If...? may be the most ambitious anthology series ever produced. The episodes range from standalone originals ("What If... Iron Man Crashed Into the Grandmaster?") to highly entertaining homages that blend detective film noir with science fiction ("What If... Nebula Joined the Nova Corps?"). I must also mention that the animation is beautiful and eye-catching, complementing the genre's action.
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Is the second season of the Disney+ series What If...? Good or Bad?
I won't get into spoilers, but I will says the reason What If...? stands out from other animated streaming spin-off series like The Boys Presents: Diabolical (and, to a certain extent, Netflix's Love, Death + Robots) is the ambitious threads that writers, including creators A. C. Bradley and Matthew Chauncey, use to weave the series together. These threads may be strained, but they never break.
The other advantage is that the filmmakers are free from any canon restrictions the MCU imposes on future projects. This gives the series a renewed perspective, a revitalizing shift, and an invigorating change to the Marvel landscape. Just as those three points are somewhat similar yet distinct, that's essentially what What If...? offers, presented in a euphoric rush that's addictive.
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Is the second season of the Disney+ series What If...? Worth Watching?
What If... ? is watching if you are a Marvel diehard or new to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The writing is so good that you can enjoy each episode as a standalone experience, but it allows for enjoyment over the long, binge-filled weekend.
We can recognize that the Disney+ series What If...? has its hits and misses. Like any anthology series, some episodes will be better than others, which may lead to consistency issues in tone. However, that's precisely why What If...? cannot be held to the same narrative structure standard as other series.
What If... ? narrative cohesion isn't necessarily handcuffed to character development and plotting; the genre frees the series from those shackles of audience expectations. This allows for the unexpected where most of the MCU has grown predictable and stale.
Grade: 8/10
What did you think of the second second of What If...? ? Vote in our poll and let us know in the comments below! You Can watch What If...? season 2 with a subscription to Disney+
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