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.

Here's a second "What If" where there isn't really a "What If" about it. This is a continuation of the first seasons overarching plot - where the Guardians of the Multiverse defeated Ultra-Vision.

Have been sent home by The Watcher (Jeffrey Wright) Peggy 'Captain' Carter (Haley Atwell) leads SHIELD for decades. SHIELD HQ is attacked by the Hydra Stomper, which has kept Steve Rogers (Josh Keaton) alive and barely aged. They repel the assault and Black Widow (Lake Bell) confesses that she knew of rumours about the continued existence of the Hydra Stomper, though didn't want to unnecceasily hurt Peggy by mentioning them. They travel to Russia, to locate the notorious Red Room, where the Widow program conduction their training and where the programming of Steve Rogers has taken place.

So this is a cool mix of the stories from "Winter's Solider" and "Black Widow", with a return to the MCU for Rachel Weisz as Melina as some nice alternate world lore for this one - about who is present for the Battle of New York and what happens to Bucky Barnes. I would say again it's not really a "What If" - it is, by the shows open admission and unlikely sequel to an earlier story. It does though pave the way for what I assume is going to become the returning story for this season, as it ends with Peggy being pulled into the past and it would be an unusual resolution if it's not going to be picked up on again.

As ever, it looks great, the vocal performances - even those from the non MCU versions are pretty good. Lake Bell is doing a bit of a Scarlett Johansson impression, though I don't feel Josh Keaton is really that close to Chris Evans.

It's another good fun story that hopefully is part of the wider series again, but I guess we'll see.

Plot

Captain Carter's mission to save Steve Rogers sets her on a collision course with new enemies.

Cast

The usual array of MCU regulars and unfortunate recasts.

Verdict

I was stupidly excited for What If, alas my expectations have not been met. My not being keen on the animation style aside I've found the What If's to be quite underwhelming, and their insistence on making episodes connected rather than individual stories (Which I thought this was supposed to be) is highly frustrating This episode is an example of this, essentially a direct sequel to previous where we see Captain Carter and Black Widow as the leads. They're perfectly competent, the story is alright, it ties in nicely with MCU movies and events, but that's the problem it's just "Alright". I was entertained but just about and I'll have forgotten this in no time. What If has limitless potential, this episode is yet another than demonstrates that the concept was half baked.

Rants

Alas my original rant caused my review to be shot down. So I'll just summarize based on this. Rampant misogyny, good. Criticizing misogyny, bad.

The Good

Some great MCU connections Enjoyable enough I like Captain Carter as a character

The Bad

Still don't like the animation style The recasts It's all so, average.

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!