‘What If?’ Season 3 Review: Exploring the Multiverse

Marvel Studios’ animated anthology series, What If…?, has returned with its third and final season, premiering on Disney+ on December 22, 2024. This season continues to explore alternate realities within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), presenting familiar characters in reimagined scenarios that challenge the boundaries of storytelling.

A Bittersweet Conclusion

As the series reaches its conclusion, Marvel TV boss Brad Winderbaum describes the finale as “bittersweet” and “melancholy,” aligning with the broader MCU multiverse storylines and the end of the Multiverse Saga. The Watcher, voiced by Jeffrey Wright, remains central, guiding viewers through these alternate narratives while experiencing his own journey.

Diverse and Imaginative Storylines

Season 3 comprises eight episodes, each delving into unique “what if” scenarios:

• “Go-Avengers: Heroes of the Gamma War”: An anime-inspired episode where the Avengers pilot mechs to combat Mega-Hulk monsters, showcasing a blend of genres and creative storytelling.
• Agatha Harkness in Hollywood: Featuring a 1930s screwball Bollywood musical number with Agatha Harkness and Kingo, highlighting Marvel’s willingness to experiment with different styles and narratives.
• Red Guardian’s Redemption: An episode where Red Guardian prevents the assassination of Howard and Maria Stark, leading to an unexpected alliance, adding depth to lesser-explored characters.
• Howard the Duck and Darcy Lewis: A whimsical journey where the duo embarks on an intergalactic pleasure cruise, blending humor with cosmic adventures.
• Eternals Reimagined: An alternate take on the events of Eternals, leading to Earth’s destruction and an authoritarian regime under Quentin Beck, offering a darker perspective on the MCU.
• Western-Themed Episode: Exploring a Western genre setting, showcasing Marvel’s versatility in storytelling.
• Revisiting Season One Characters: Bringing back fan-favorite characters from the first season, providing closure and continuity. Wikipedia

Notable Character Appearances

This season introduces new characters and reimagines existing ones:

• Storm as the Goddess of Thunder: Alison Sealy-Smith reprises her role as Ororo Munroe/Storm, now wielding Mjolnir, blending X-Men lore with Asgardian mythology.
• Byrdie: Natasha Lyonne voices a new character, adding fresh dynamics to the MCU’s expansive roster.

Critical Reception

Early reviews highlight the season’s strengths and areas for improvement:

• Collider: Praises the series as a highlight of the MCU’s latter portion, allowing exploration of fan-favorite characters without disturbing existing canon.
• FandomWire: Notes that while the season concludes with a fun story arc showcasing possibilities in the MCU, it only lives up to some of its promise, describing it as “imperfect, but undeniably exciting to watch.”

Release Schedule

The season follows a daily release format, with each of the eight episodes premiering consecutively from December 22 to December 29, 2024.

Conclusion

What If…? Season 3 serves as a fitting conclusion to Marvel’s exploration of alternate realities, offering imaginative storylines and character developments that expand the MCU’s narrative landscape. As the series bids farewell, it leaves a legacy of creative storytelling that challenges the conventional boundaries of superhero narratives.