What If... The Avengers Assembled in 1602?

First things first, I haven't read much of the 1602 universe in the comics, so I have no idea how much of it they've borrowed for this. Although I DO know that Stark is some kind of powerful, popular, respected knight in the books, where he's not that here. Anyway...

The writers have done really well in showing how much Captain Carter is like Captain America in the 616 universe. It just further cements that they're a pretty iconic MCU couple.

Much like the previous 2 episodes, though, it really would have been nice if we could have got a bit more of this, though? Surely with streaming having done away with the need to rely on adverts and designated time slots, they could run these episodes longer than 20ish minutes when necessary? By that same token, though, there was a little bit too much 'filler' here, but that could also have been used better with more time for the story to breathe.

Like I said, though, it's not the strongest episode this season, but it's still (mostly) a good one, if a little too short and rushed.

It is a trip to the Elizabethan period than medieval times. Captain Carter lands in 1602.

Queen Hela is taken away by an entity but Captain carter is blamed by Hela's brother Thor.

He becomes king and wants Carter under arrest. Now Captain Carter has to prove her innocence and locate Hela.

She is joined by Tony Stark, Hulk and a Robin Hoodish Steve Rogers and his merry men of that era. There is even Happy Hogan as a musketeer type.

They all need to band together but it may not be enough. Instead some of them want to have their own mash up.

Captain Carter can also see the Watcher and she needs to persuade him to be more than an observer.

It was sometime hard to fathom why or how some of the people had superpowers such as Hogan.

It was fun with some inspiration from Neil Gaiman's Marvel 1602. It is the kind of thing the What If... series should excel at.

It's probably not wrong to assume that if Marvel Comics had existed in the beginning of the 1900s, this is probably the setting their comics would have had. This is a setting that is so familiar to those early years and the swashbuckling days of Errol Flynn, and it would have been interesting to see how it would have been had it been the form of the world. And that is why we have these stories, and this may be the most unique so far. And it's also one of the season's most entertaining with its mix of adventure storytelling and brilliant animation to boost.

These are the kind of stories that I want to see from this show. Not only does it present an original storyline and present the events of the creation of the Avengers in a different way, but it also sets it in a very interesting timeline. And one that actually fits very well. It's a part of the show's overarching narrative and it really starts to set Peggy Carter as the front figure for this show, and she's a great one to follow. This one continues to add to her tragedy and it feels unfair that one character will have to go through all of this, yet we can't get ourselves to look away because of the engaging narrative. It's fun to see these different characters in these situations and change the dynamics a bit, yet still stay true to the characters that they are variants of. It expands the show's mythology, and asks a lot of new questions that I'm not sure we'll actually get the answers for in the finale. The animation continues to be spectacular and the action sequences are so fluent and dynamic and it's crazy that Marvel still hasn't done anything that is similar to it in their live-action projects. The new designs are awesome and all the actors do great jobs, especially Hayley Atwell who always gives it her all when she portrays this character. It sets us on a path for a very intriguing finale that could go in any direction, all of them as intriguing as the next.

"What If... the Avengers Assembled in 1602?" goes in an entirely different direction, presenting a whole new story with these characters, to pretty great results. It features stunning action sequences and overall great designs, while the story is slowly starting to lead towards a very interesting, and possibly hugely consequences season finale coming up.

Why did they bother setting this in 1602 if they weren't going to even try to adapt the original Neil Gaiman series? Gaiman's 1602 was a smart limited series that remixed characters from the Marvel comics with an historically accurate setting. I doubt the writers of this episode even read the wiki entry for the original 1602 comics, much less glanced at the series itself.

Disney took one of the best What If?-style stories and made a low brow, badly written platform for the central MCU characters. It might as well have been set at a Renaissance faire in Ohio. Series 2 of this show has been pretty bad, but as a fan of Gaiman's 1602 this was gross.

The eighth episode of What If...? Season 2 immerses viewers in a richly imagined Elizabethan alternate reality, where Marvel's iconic characters are reimagined within a world of knights, sorcery, and political intrigue. Drawing loose inspiration from Neil Gaiman's 1602 but forging its own unique path, the episode delivers a fascinating and inventive take on the Avengers mythos.

The story follows Captain Carter, who is transported to this 1602-era world by the multiversal disturbance caused by Wanda, now reimagined as "Wanda-Merlin." Stranded in this timeline, Captain Carter must piece together alliances with familiar figures like Nick Fury, who serves as the spymaster for England's crown, and a scheming Loki, who weaves his usual manipulative web in the royal court. These reinterpretations of beloved characters are both clever and engaging, breathing new life into their familiar dynamics.

The core of the episode focuses on Captain Carter's efforts to repair the temporal anomaly while grappling with the consequences of her actions, particularly after failing to protect the king's sister. This failure turns Carter into a fugitive, leading to an uneasy alliance with other heroes scattered throughout the timeline. The story weaves elements of suspense, action, and character drama, showcasing the stakes of rewriting reality itself.

Visually, the episode is a masterpiece. The Elizabethan setting is richly detailed, with cobbled streets, sprawling castles, and dimly lit dungeons providing a captivating backdrop for the action. The animation effectively merges historical aesthetics with Marvel's signature flair for the dramatic, especially during the climactic battle scenes.

Hayley Atwell once again excels as Captain Carter, bringing gravitas and vulnerability to the character. Tom Hiddleston's Loki steals the spotlight as a cunning royal, striking a perfect balance between charm and menace. The chemistry between the cast keeps the narrative grounded, even as it ventures into fantastical territory.

While the episode provides plenty of intrigue and action, it does feel slightly rushed in its exploration of certain characters, particularly Wanda-Merlin. Her motivations and connection to the anomaly could have been given more depth, adding weight to the stakes. Additionally, some viewers may find the absence of certain iconic Avengers slightly disappointing, though the story holds up well with the characters it does feature.

Overall, What If... The Avengers Assembled in 1602? Offers an inventive and visually stunning exploration of an alternate timeline. Its blending of historical drama and superhero storytelling feels fresh and engaging, even if it leaves some narrative threads slightly underdeveloped.