What If... What If?

I started my reviews of this season of "What If" bemoaning the fact that this is the last run of what ought to be an infinite show, but I end it thinking that, perhaps, I'm OK with there not being any more.

The Watcher (Jeffrey Wright) has broken his oath of non-interference and is now held by his peers ready to be executed. He's joined by Captain Carter (Hayley Atwell) who has also been captured. At the final moment they are saved by Infinity Ultron (Ross Marquand) and escape on Birdie's (Natasha Lyonne) start ship. However, The Watchers are all powerful and the team prove no match for them, until The Watcher makes a desperate choice.

I don't think this was bad, but I can't help but feel "is that it?" about this conclusion. It's so small in scale relative to what we've seen elsewhere. All the basic elements remain strong, it still looks good and the vocal performances are strong - with Jason Isaacs a welcome addition as The Eminence, a leader of the Watchers. Though again, there's nothing to visually match some of the scenes we've seen in the previous seasons.

Perhaps this season has steered to close to the existing variants, a fact only exasperated by desperate glances at crossover characters that could have been stories had the show decided to go another way. Instead, we've returned to versions of characters we've met before. It's perhaps no co-incidence that the two best episodes, the Agatha Harkness song and dance one, and the Russians on tour episode which had the least to do with pre-existing storylines.

What could and perhaps should have been a show of infinite variety and story telling has become bogged down by itself.

... Or a 10 year old kid?

The first season had a wow factor, in addition to being the first new animated Marvel series, exploring the multiverse and infinite possibilities. The episodes were presenting a character story, to eventually assemble them all in a 2 episodes finale, that was epic.

Season 2 explored more original/unknown characters, but got lost in between with poor writting and some lazy story shortcuts, definitely suffering from the short lengh/few episodes of the season. Some episodes still had a sense of creativity and a tone by themselves though.

Now, season 3... was the most uninteresting season. The writting was so lazy, the jokes were lame, and there was mostly no plot at all, with huge shortcuts and plot holes. The "what if" pitch wasn't even obvious in every episode, some were just parallel stories but I couldn't find any "what if" reason for it.

The finale was absolutely NOT interesting, I couldn't care less about those characters and the Watcher.

Honestly, I hope season 3 writers didn't go on the WGA strike cause they have absolutely no reason to, seing how little writing skills they have... I hope there will never ever be a What if 4th season. Such a disapointment.

Marvel's "What If...?" was introduced with the tantalizing promise of limitless storytelling potential. The concept - exploring alternate realities in a vast multiverse - teased infinite possibilities, from reimagining iconic characters to reshaping pivotal moments in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Over its three seasons, the show has delivered its fair share of thrilling action, surprising twists, and inventive scenarios. Yet, as the series finale, "What If... What If?" attempts to tie a bow on this grand experiment, it inadvertently underscores the gap between its premise and its ultimate execution, showing that the show may have tried to bite off a bigger piece than it could actually chew.

The episode pits our heroes against a group of Watchers in an explosive, multiverse-shaking battle. While the fight itself is visually stunning - showcasing the series' consistently excellent animation and creative action choreography - it falls short of delivering the emotional weight of thematic resonance one might expect from a show with such an ambitious concept. The climactic battle, though entertaining, feels more like an obligatory spectacle than a meaningful conclusion. For a series that promised endless possibilities, it's hard not to feel underwhelmed by an ending that leans so heavily on the more formulaic storytelling beats of the MCU. A bright spot is the long-awaited focus on the Watcher, the enigmatic narrator who has loomed large over the series. This episode finally delves into his backstory, providing a glimpse into his motivations and vulnerabilities. However, this exploration comes far too late to resonate deeply. Had the Watcher been more of a developed character earlier in the series, his arc might have carried the emotional heft necessary to elevate the finale. Instead, it feels like an afterthought, a missed opportunity in a series brimming with untapped potential. As the series closes its multiversal book, it's clear that "What If...?" didn't fully capitalize on its premise of limitless storytelling. The show often played it safe, favoring action-packed escapades over truly bold or experimental narratives. That said, it's hard to deny the sheer fun the series offered along the way. From zombie superheroes to dark twists on beloved origin stories, "What If...?" provided plenty of enjoyable moments, even if it didn't always aim for the stars.

"What If... What If?" serves as a microcosm of the series as a whole: visually impressive and undeniably entertaining, but constrained by its reluctance to embrace the full potential of its concept. While it may not have delivered on all its promises, "What If...?" was still a fun, imaginative ride - and for fans of Marvel's multiverse, that's worth something.

Well, all good things must end. I just wish that there could have been more. This was an excellent series, but far too short. And while I did enjoy this final episode, it could EASILY have been another half hour longer, to properly explain and wrap up what was happening.

It was a treat over the last three seasons to get to hear the voice talents of the original characters do slightly - or even vastly! - different takes on their roles. And a few new characters were excellent additions to the MCU.

Particularly, I loved Captain Carter, dude bro Loki, Evil Dr. Strange, and this version of the Watcher himself. Jeffry Wright was fantastic in the role, able to project awesome gravitas along with a sense of wonder, and then throw in some humor here and there. Great casting.

And WAAAYYY too late, because I could have used a lot more of her, was Byrdie (Byrdie The Duck, I presume was her full name?), who was a cool visual design and voiced perfectly by Natasha Lyonne. If they wanted to do a spinoff featuring her and her folks, I would be pretty happy.

Some things didn't quite work along the way, of course. Kahhori just never quite gelled the way they obviously hoped she would. Sorry, Marvel, just repeatedly using a lackluster character doesn't make her better. And a few episodes were clunkers along the way - but luckily very few.

Overall, though, I'd say this series was a rousing success, with outstanding visuals and fluid animation, creative stories, well-acted voices, and a very engrossing overarching plot. One of Marvel's best TV series, I think.

Marvel's What If...? Is a captivating animated anthology that reimagines pivotal moments from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Season 1 stands out with its inventive storytelling and stunning animation, exploring alternate realities where beloved characters take unexpected paths. Season 2 continues this trend, delving deeper into the multiverse with fresh narratives and exciting twists. However, Season 3, while still enjoyable, didn't quite capture the magic of its predecessors for me. Overall, Season 1 remains the pinnacle of creativity, making it a must-watch for any Marvel fan eager to explore the endless possibilities within this beloved universe.