What If... What If?

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.

Only one word can define this last season, it is simply "DISGREAT" whether it is at the level of the story which is poorly developed or even the characters who are simply pathetic. I would have hoped for better.

We could have been offered better stories since there are a multitude of different universes, I was captivated by the first season but the second season cooled me down and now the third has simply disgusted me.

There are several variants of peter parker, tony stark, steve roger, wanda, shuri, nick fury... that could have been developed but instead they gave us characters that everyone quickly forgets.

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.

So you telling me that anyone can become a watcher. Like way overpower characters that can beat anything. Like the fight scenes don't make any sense. The superior watchers suppose to be this ultra powerful gods who are treated like no ones and dumb characters. That they suppose to see everything and couldn't see this? And also the same super serum that captain America took, and some how Peggy is the most powerful character? This is very lazy writing and really dumb downs other characters who really lost everything and had to take DEFEAT to grow as a person and LEARN/TRAIN to better their powers. This is qualities what a good character should have. Not an overpowering character that can beats anything just because, same characters that other strong characters faced defeat and had to learn to get better. Just lazy writing. What if season 3, Peggy character the one above all. Really leaves a bad taste in your mouth. Seeing how other characters with same power actually struggling and learning. Just to come an overpowered character that we have to pretend is a mirror to a beloved character.

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.