So far, this show has offered a nice mix of stories. Some have been exact copies of the films they were based on, while others have actually done a good job of going away from the material and telling new and interesting stories. The sixth episode of the show's first season was focused on Killmonger in a situation where he saved Tony Stark from being captured by the Ten Rings organization, thereby making sure that he never became Iron Man. An interesting premise that gives life to an enjoyable episode, although one that never really gets the boost is needs to become a great episode.
The few clips of this episode that we saw in the trailer were very intriguing to say the least. There were a lot of nice things they could have done with a team-up like that. However, they decided to go a more predictable way with it, and instead of turning around certain elements, the creative team goes for the necessary punches, but none of them land all that well. The idea of having Killmonger as the focus point of this episode was great, and for the most part he works within the perimeters that they give him. There's not a lot that changes from the characterization he had in the film, but we still get to see some of the more caring sides of him. However, the episode does have a brisk pace that often is a little too brisk. A lot of things happen in a short amount of time, and it gets a little difficult to follow along with everything. I get that they're dedicated to telling these stories within the time limit they have, but I do believe some of them are a little too big for the amount of time they are given. It leads to an abrupt ending that sets up something that we might get to see down the line but doesn't leave any hints as to what the next step in the storyline may actually be. I think they're experimenting a little too much with these episodes, instead of focusing on giving us quality storytelling in small doses.
"What If... Killmonger Rescued Tony Stark?" is a fine episode that puts one of the best antagonists of the universe in the focus. However, the episode is a little too much to digest and it makes the pace falter a whole lot, so despite the enjoyable parts of the episode, it's still a little disappointing.
