What If... Captain Carter Fought the Hydra Stomper?

In the first few minutes of this episode, The Watcher claims that he doesn't like to do sequels. That may be the funniest line of this entire show, as we know that Marvel loves doing sequels, especially to successful stories, and the first story we got about Captain Carter - the episode that began this show - was a very entertaining retelling of the Captain America story. And then, it only makes sense that this episode would retell the story of "The Winter Soldier" in its own unique way, which brings Carter face-to-face with this universe's version of Steve Rogers in a solid and entertaining episode.

This is another fun adventure with Captain Carter. Hayley Atwell has been a part of this universe for a very long time now, and her presence is always felt in these stories, and it seems like she's having a lot of fun with this particular version of Peggy. Peggy Carter as a badass is also a thing of beauty to behold, and there are some very impressively animated action sequences where she gets to fight through hordes of mindless cannon fodder. Again, they manage to keep the emotional stakes intact, therefore capturing the hook of what made "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" such a compelling film. There's a lot of history between Peggy and Steve Rogers, and it's different from Steve and Bucky, therefore giving it a different way to play it. With that said, the final act and the reveal of who is behind Steve's condition was very anticlimatic, especially because it ties into a film in the MCU that really isn't among my favorites. A certain character makes her return and it felt like a thud, despite the return of a very big name to the role. It was again manufactured to capture the same emotions as the finale of "Winter Soldier," but it doesn't pack a punch nearly as hard, also because the focus gets lost in the shuffle and the action. However, the final scene of this episode added another intriguing layer to the multiverse and may set up the big overarching storyline that this season has not yet established.

"What If... Captain Carter Fought the Hydra Stomper?" is certainly not as effective as the film its based on, but is still a solid effort. Hayley Atwell is having the time of her life with this version of Peggy Carter and the animation keeps getting more refined, especially during the episode's many high-paced action sequences.

Another strong episode here, maybe they're back on track? I hope so. I hope it's not gonna be like a tag-team thing of two bad episodes, followed by two good episodes, then followed by two bad episodes and so on.

Either way, this is a pretty good episode really. We get more of Captain Carter, we get more of Black Widow, we even get kind of a mirror of the scene from The Winter Soldier of Natasha picking up Steve from his run in the black car, except this time it's Captain Carter picking up Natasha from her run.

Anyway, Captain Carter vs Hydra Stomper + Natasha vs half a dozen widows + a Fallout-looking "American town" + a teaser for future episodes = a pretty solid episode.

What If...? Season 2, Episode 5 delivers a gripping and emotionally charged story, exploring the consequences of fractured alliances and unanticipated team-ups. The episode expertly balances action and character-driven moments, immersing viewers in a world where familiar heroes face unfamiliar challenges.

The voice performances remain stellar, with Hayley Atwell standing out as Peggy Carter, infusing her character with both strength and vulnerability. The animation continues to shine, with dynamic action sequences and a darker, more atmospheric tone that heightens the stakes. This episode's narrative takes bold risks, offering an unpredictable yet satisfying twist that keeps the audience invested.

The episode's strength lies in its ability to merge thought-provoking "what if" scenarios with heartfelt storytelling, leaving viewers reflecting on the fragility of trust and the resilience of hope. While some pacing issues might detract slightly, the episode still stands out as a highlight of the season, showcasing the creativity and depth that defines What If...?.

Rating: 8/10.

So, I loved the first season! There were maybe 2 or 3 episodes that I didn't really enjoy, but the rest were fairly good! So when the second season came out, each episode was okay. It wasn't embracing the concept, and was really rushing it. Episode 4 with Iron Man was pretty good, but could've used more emotional moments.

This episode was AWESOME! The first act was meh, but towards the middle things got so good! It just got better and better! Now this is on the level of the Ultron and Murder Mystery episode for me!

I know there is probably a lot of opposition towards this opinion. It could be I'm just happy seeing a marvel episode that I'd like to rewatch, but everything was heightened in this one. The action was amazing to look at, animation was improved, the episode left parts for Peggy and Widow's relationship. I also felt the stakes.

But I'm still waiting for this season to embrace the dark side of the multiverse. Kill some characters off, take risks. That's what I loved about the first season. Everything was so crazy and unexpected, you didn't know who would survive (Zombies episode).

But I hope this show keeps this up!

Captain Carter was part of the Avengers in the Battle of New York.

Bucky Barnes is the American Secretary of State but he finds himself in danger.

What if Steve Rogers had not died. That he was alive and became a Hydra stomper after getting brainwashed.

Bucky tries to get through Steve, knowing Steve would do the same if the positions were reversed.

Captain Carter and the Black Widow try to somehow salvage the old Steve in a safe house in St Kilda in Scotland. His suit is keeping Steve alive who has barely aged over the years.

Eventually both women discover that this was all a ploy by Melina Vostokoff. She arrives with her Red Room academy. Melina's beef is with Captain Carter and the Black Widow.

This is very much an alternate take on Captain America: The Winter Soldier as well as the Black Widow movie. It is good to see both women uniting and it seems there is more to come from Captain Carter.