Marvel Animation’s What If…? makes its grand return to Disney+, with the first of 8 brand-new episodes marking the show’s final season.
The final season promises to be an interesting watch, with teases of huge multiversal implications promised. Popped will be bringing you daily reviews for the final season, each written by various writers from the team. So make sure you’re following, so you don’t miss a single review!
BIG THINGS HAVE SMALL BEGINNINGS…
The Watcher’s early narration sort of teases how this final season is going to go – “Big Things Have Small Beginnings”. Sort of ironic given the scale of the opener. However, if this opener is considered ‘small,’ the scale of the events leading to the series finale promises to be monumental.
The roster of Mech Avengers includes Moon Knight, Monica Rambeau, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian, Shang-Chi, Melina Vostokoff and Nakia – just a good idea of some of the potential team-ups we might be getting in Doomsday and Secret Wars.
It’s a new mix, and a nice one too. Whilst there’s nowhere near as much as team collaboration you’d expect – there are some strong Avenger moments throughout, especially towards the end of the episode.
THE MIGHTY AVENGER PROTOCOL
The episode’s final act sees The Mighty Avenger Protocol put into place. Imagine watching the final fight of a Power Rangers episode. A villain has doubled in size, and the Rangers are required to form their Zords together, into the silhouette of a Megazord. Each of the Avengers’ Mechs shift in size, creating The Mighty Avenger.
I wasn’t overtly excited for this episode to come out, and was hesitant when I discovered it was the season opener, but after watching the episode in all of its Tokusatsu epicness, I was pleasantly surprised.
While the Mech Avengers concept brings unique action sequences, the team collaboration feels underdeveloped. Much of the backstory for the Gamma War is conveyed through concept art–esque cinematics and in-universe animated clips depicting the previous team, which detracts from the immersive potential of the episode, restraining it from an extended, more focused narrative with the option of including even more over-the-top storytelling.
CAPTAIN AMERICA
I am very excited for the future of the MCU, more specifically seeing Sam Wilson’s Captain America making some of the big calls as leader of the Avengers. His role in this episode feels like a nice practice run for his inevitable leading role in the forthcoming Avengers films – with his leadership skills on full display as the Avengers come face to face with an army of Gamma Beasts.
Sam’s final message to Mega-Hulk is easily the episode’s highlight – his simple, “All I see is a friend” encapsulates the redemptive power of friendship, anchoring individuals even in their darkest moments. By reaffirming the Hulk’s humanity, Sam Wilson challenges the destructive narrative of his new self, and disrupts any form of further conflict in the episode’s closing moments.
FINAL THOUGHTS
While the Mech Avengers concept offers explosive action and Power Rangers-infused nostalgia, the episode’s pacing and reliance on exposition hold it back from reaching its full narrative potential. That said, the strong start sets a promising tone for the rest of the What If…? Season 3.
New episodes of What If…? arrive daily on Disney+ up until December 29. Check out the trailer below:
The Review
What If... the Hulk Fought the Mech Avengers?
While the Mech Avengers concept offers explosive action and Power Rangers-infused nostalgia, the episode's pacing and reliance on exposition hold it back from reaching its full narrative potential. That said, the strong start sets a promising tone for the rest of the What If...? Season 3.
