For three years running, Marvel Studios has delivered its annual animated anthology, What If…?, offering fans a creative, often quirky, and sometimes outright bizarre dive into alternate realities. This year, What If…? Season 3 is poised to continue this tradition, dropping episodes daily during the holiday season, much to the delight of MCU enthusiasts. While the show consistently delivers visual flair and imaginative scenarios, a question lingers: is it truly exploring the most compelling “what ifs” the multiverse has to offer?
Despite the vast potential of the multiverse concept, What If…? often seems to sidestep the most obvious and intriguing alternate scenarios stemming from pivotal moments in the established Marvel Cinematic Universe timeline. The very premise of the series, to explore branching timelines where key MCU events unfolded differently, feels somewhat underutilized. Instead of deeply probing these impactful junctures, What If…? frequently opts for more whimsical, less consequential deviations.
Technically Brilliant, Narratively Divergent
As with its predecessors, What If…? Season 3 undoubtedly excels in its technical execution. The animation remains a visual treat, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the medium and delivering breathtaking set pieces that live-action would struggle to replicate. Imagine Celestials locked in cosmic combat or mecha-suited Avengers battling monstrous Hulks – these visually stunning scenarios are brought to life with remarkable artistry in animation.
Even beyond the grand spectacles, What If…? demonstrates finesse in smaller, more grounded sequences. Fight choreography feels impactful, and car chases are rendered with thrilling dynamism. The show effectively mirrors the accomplished visual language of the live-action MCU, proving animation’s capacity to deliver both масштаб and nuanced action.
The voice acting, a recurring point of discussion, remains generally strong, even with the choice to prioritize MCU actors over seasoned voice performers. While voice acting is a distinct skill set, many MCU regulars acquit themselves admirably in their animated roles. There’s a spectrum of performance, with standouts like David Harbour (Red Guardian), Seth Green, and Kat Dennings delivering particularly energetic and nuanced voice work. While some, like Anthony Mackie and Oscar Isaac, may exhibit a slightly less seasoned approach to voice acting, their commitment to their characters is evident. The decision to bring back original MCU actors adds a layer of authenticity, although the contrast with seasoned voice actors or recasting choices is sometimes noticeable.
Storytelling Leans into Silliness in Season 3
However, after three seasons, a sense of fatigue with What If…?‘s narrative direction is starting to set in for some viewers. While the production quality remains high and individual moments shine, the overarching feeling is one of unfulfilled potential. The core desire of many Marvel fans was to witness multiversal variations of significant MCU events – branches that felt like plausible deviations from the established canon. We’ve glimpsed this potential in live-action projects like Loki and Spider-Man: No Way Home, where the stakes felt tangible and the alternate realities resonated deeply because of their connection to the main timeline.
The yearning was for explorations of scenarios like: What if half the universe survived Thanos’ snap? What if Tony Stark hadn’t made the ultimate sacrifice? What if Captain America hadn’t been lost in time? Instead, What If…? often veers into far-flung, less impactful scenarios, exemplified by the hypothetical of Howard the Duck marrying Darcy Lewis.
These plotlines sometimes feel detached from the core MCU narrative and seem more geared towards lighthearted, inconsequential fun. While this approach might have been initially intended as a series of low-stakes, standalone adventures, Season 2’s move towards a unified timeline, and Captain Carter’s subsequent leap into live-action, complicate this interpretation.
A Partial Course Correction in What If Season 3?
Season 2’s focus on Captain Carter, while adding narrative coherence, arguably constrained the imaginative scope of the series. While Captain Carter’s character is welcome and her transition to live-action is a positive development, it did seem to limit the breadth of multiversal exploration. What If…? Season 3 appears to be stepping away from a singular overarching narrative, shifting towards what feels like a series of more sentimental, morality-driven tales, emphasizing themes of love, friendship, and kindness. While these themes are positive, some viewers might find the tone leaning towards overly saccharine.
Captain Carter and the Guardians of the Multiverse are expected to return in What If…? season 3, but their role may be less central than in the previous season, allowing for a wider range of stories and characters to take center stage.
Season 3 of any show, particularly one potentially signaling its final run, often suggests a willingness to take greater risks and push creative boundaries. What If…? seems to embrace this by leaning further into its unhinged side. This is perhaps best illustrated by an episode featuring Howard the Duck and Darcy on a galaxy-spanning chase to prevent their offspring from being weaponized – a storyline firmly planted in the realm of the absurd.
This episode, and indeed much of the season, embodies What If…?‘s signature brand of whimsical nonsense. Whenever genuinely compelling narrative threads emerge, they often get overshadowed by a wave of silliness. Perhaps expecting more significant, MCU-relevant stories from What If…? is misaligned with the show’s true intentions. However, the feeling of missed opportunities persists, especially given the high production values and the vast canvas of the multiverse.
So, is What If…? Season 3 worth watching? Unequivocally, yes. It remains a well-crafted and visually impressive production. The show’s dedication to lighthearted entertainment is commendable. It offers more screen time for beloved, and sometimes overlooked, MCU characters, along with surprise appearances. And, importantly, it delivers animated scenarios that are unlikely to be seen in the live-action MCU. While pacing can be rushed in places, some characters could benefit from deeper development, and a stronger connection to core MCU storylines would be welcome, fans of the previous seasons will likely find plenty to enjoy in Season 3’s multiverse of madness and merriment.
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What If…?
Superhero Animation Action Adventure
6/10
Release Date 2021 – 2024
Showrunner Ashley Bradley
Directors Bryan Andrews
Writers Ashley Bradley, Matthew Chauncey
Franchise(s) Marvel Cinematic Universe
Cast
- Samuel L. Jackson
- Stanley Tucci
Pros & Cons
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The animation is excellent, again.
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There is a lot of imagination on show.
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The opportunity to see more of the MCU’s lesser characters is a positive.
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Some of the voice acting is uneven.
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The What If concept is too untethered from tangible MCU storylines.
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Certain episodes are just too silly.
New episodes of What If…? season 3 release every day from December 22 to 29 on Disney+
