‘What If…?’ Season 2 Review – A Different Direction For A Familiar Universe

Marvel’s second season of What If…? kicks off today with an unprecedented Disney+ release schedule of one episode is being released each day for nine consecutive days. This creative release strategy is nostalgic and reminds me of the serialized approach to many of the animated Marvel series from my childhood. Earlier this month, GVN was given a sneak preview of the season premiere titled  “What If…Nebula Joined the Nova Corps?” as well as the third episode titled “What If…Happy Saved Christmas”. 

Marvel’s What If…? thrived in its first season by embracing the serialized anthology nature of traditional comic books. Individual storylines with one unique change to each episode’s premise allowed the writers to explore different versions of established characters on their unique journeys. This structure was then combined with the “Marvel” strategy used to assemble the Avengers, creating its own self-contained superhero team of seemingly unrelated characters assembled by the narrator, the Watcher, to protect the Multiverse.

Further Exploring the Worlds of the Multiverse

With the overarching multiversal conflict of the first season resolved (or so it seems), the sophomore season of Marvel’s exciting animated series is now given the space to explore new worlds and plot lines, delving into different tones, aesthetics, and genres. While the protagonists of the first season are set to return at some point, these first episodes continue the self-contained world-building premise that initially made the show intriguing.

Looking at the series from a broad overview, the first season of What If…?  felt very much at home within the MCU. Despite the slight variations in tone and world-building it still felt very familiar in terms of the humor and characterization. However, the second season appears to be taking the multiverse concept a step further than its predecessor. From the opening scene of the first episode’s rainy and bleak setting, it is clear that the worlds of the multiverse can be far more different than we realize.

Despite being separated in terms of release scheduling, Marvel’s choice of showcasing the unlikely pairing of “What If…Nebula Joined the Nova Corps?” and “What If…Happy Saved Christmas” gave a peek into the breadth and variety that Marvel’s multiverse still has to offer. While the Nebula-centric episode is dystopian and suspenseful, the Happy-centric episode is simply full-blown craziness with out-of-this-world levels of silly. Both episodes commit whole-heartedly commitment to their premises, pushing past what has long been considered “standard” for the MCU.

Further Exploring a Universe Fifteen Years in the Making

My enjoyment of What If…?  is best summarized in the fact that instead of continuing the expansion of the MCU, the series takes a moment to simply exist in the world that has been established over the past fifteen years of its storytelling. Taking place in alternate parallel universes allows Writers Team AC Bradley and Matthew Chauncey to explore unexpected character pairings and interactions. The fun of this premise is especially prominent in Happy’s episode as the sarcastic security guard is paired alongside another comedy-centric MCU character for a seemingly perfect pairing.

Another highlight of the series is seeing the cast of the MCU return to play different versions of their characters. The first episode is anchored by Karen Gillan’s return to playing this alternate version of Nebula. This take is distinct from her MCU counterpart but still feels in line with the character that audiences have come to know. It is hard to delve further into this topic without spoiling Marvel’s surprises but let’s just say there are a few more returns kept under wraps that will be sure to bring a smile to the faces of long-time MCU fans.

The only downside to the series is that its twenty-two-minute run time per episode sometimes seems to limit its creativity. Simply put, the runtime simply does not feel like enough time to explore the worlds that the writers have crafted. While the more comedic episodes of the series do not feel lacking, the more drama-focused episodes will often rush to a conclusion or lack the characterization needed to leave an impact. This juxtaposition becomes clear when comparing the two episodes and their different tones.

The Power to Innovate and Explore

The first episodes of Marvel’s What If..?  are a promising start to the second season as the creatives shake up the status quo from what audiences have come to expect from Marvel. Despite a growing opinion that Marvel’s content has become generic, this series serves as a reminder of the ability to innovate and explore new corners of the MCU.