What If... The Emergence Destroyed the Earth?

After plenty of comedy in the opening of this season, episode five shows something very different. A dark and humourless vision of a planet gone to hell, and presumably, the start of this season through storyline.

The emergence of the Celestial in the middle of the planet is not stopped by The Eternals and the Earth is split apart. In the chaos and confusion, Quentin Beck (Alejandro Saab) rises to power with a combination of Stark Enterprises armoured core, his own affinity for deception and control over an all-powerful Vision. The resistance is struggling but manage to buy Riri Williams (Dominqiue Thorne) enough to create a weapon capable of downing the Synthezoid. But The Watcher (Jeffrey Wright) has seen her fail many times and knows she will fall again.

I suspect we will be revisiting the moment at the end of the episode for the remainder of the run, Jason Isaacs appearing as another "Watcher" is a welcome addition. Dominque Thorne makes her first appearance reprising her role from "Wakanda Forever". There's also a return for Emily VanCamp and Tessa Thompson - though both Benedict Wong and Jake Gyllenhaal have their roles played by soundalike actors.

The rest of the episode is fine. I feel like it skips over both what happened to the rest of the Avengers and how Beck took over Stark Industries a bit, to get to the story that it wants to tell. I liked the look of it though, particularly when Beck's illusion powers were again brought to bear.

I didn't enjoy this as much as say, the Russian buddy cop episode, but it was fine.

Cheap dialogue and Lazy Story writing. This episode was dramatically corny overall. Riri's character swings from cocky genius to winey hopeless child. This just gives the impression she's not as good as she makes herself out to be, because she clearly doubts herself, while blaming anyone and everything else when things go wrong. Every other character is just there to move Riri's saviour arch forward, there's no real story here.

The premise at the beginning was decent so that i thought we would see something similiar to the Ultron episode but instead we got an episode full of plot armor and stupid dialogue. Why do all the new introduced heros need to talk nonsense during high pressure scenes instead of focussing on getting the job done?

Riri was already annoying in wakanda where see could not match up to shuri or okoye and here she is even more annoying.

Sadly also Vision, Watcher and Mysterio disappoint in this episode.

But the saddest thing is that this episode is not even the wirst of this season. This leaves me with fear of the series to come when even what if is dismantled.

This season tries desperately to force the new Marvel roster on us, but since no time was spent properly developing these characters in the first place, it feels like bench players have been called in to replace the stars during garbage time.

But the stars aren't coming back, and we're left with second-rate characters trying to fill impossibly big shoes.

The concept of What If is to take risks-exploring the thin line between nostalgia for the original cast and reimagining familiar plots.

The most significant challenge so far is filling the void left by Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man.

Marvel-Disney insists on passing the torch to a character, Riri Williams, who had two versions in the comics-neither of which found much success.

Nobody seems to care about Riri Williams. The show has been delayed repeatedly and subjected to reshoots because the creators know it will be poorly received regardless of its quality.

Using What If to give her extra screen time in an attempt to build audience goodwill? It's a failure.

This episode ends up being the second worst of the season-only beaten by the Agatha episode.

It feels like the MCU has given up, running on fumes until Disney pulls the plug and initiates a full reboot.

Marvel's "What If...?" has always been a platform to showcase overlooked characters and stories, giving them the spotlight they often don't receive in the larger cinematic universe. This format has provided a stage for underappreciated heroes and villains to shine, and Season 3, Episode 5, "What If... the Emergence Destroyed the Earth?" exemplifies this approach beautifully. By bringing together lesser-seen elements of the MCU, it crafts an intricate and emotional story centered on a character who hasn't quite reached her full potential on the big screen, but hopefully will when her own solo show lands on Disney+ later next year - Riri Williams, aka Ironheart.

Riri Williams may have made a modest impression in "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever," but here she takes center stage, and Dominique Thorne delivers a standout performance. The episode builds on her genius-level intellect and resourceful nature, but more importantly, it gives her the depth and motivation that were somewhat lacking in her film debut. Watching her grapple with guilt, responsibility, and resilience as she embarks on a deadly mission to confront Quentin Beck in a post-apocalyptic Earth adds layers to her character. Riri's arc feels authentic, and her journey resonates as she evolves from a young inventor into a fully-realized hero. The tone of this episode is strikingly dark, a bold departure from the lighter, often humorous stories of previous episodes. The stakes feel real, and the grim atmosphere lends the story a gravitas that's both refreshing and deeply engaging. The post-apocalyptic setting is hauntingly beautiful, underscoring the devastation caused by the Emergence and Beck's authoritarian regime. It's a compelling exploration of a "what if" scenario where the consequences of the MCU's cosmic events are finally confronted head-on. Dominique Thorne truly shines as Riri, balancing vulnerability and determination in a way that makes her story feel both emotional and entertaining. Quentin Beck's portrayal as a cunning and manipulative villain is equally compelling, and his role as a symbol of unchecked power complements the episode's weighty themes. Jeffrey Wright brings a surprising emotional weight to the role of the Watcher, portraying a being torn between his duties and the morality of his inaction in the face of such despair.

"What If... the Emergency Destroyed the Earth?" is a masterful blend of drama, action, and character development, making it one of the standout episodes of the season. It highlights the untapped potential of Riri Williams while delving into the darker corners of the MCU, and reminding us of the show's great storytelling potential.