Marvel’s animated anthology series, What If...?, returns for its highly anticipated third and final season, delighting fans with its unique approach to exploring alternate timelines within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). With episodes rolling out daily from December 22 to December 29, the series closes its multiversal doors, reflecting on its creative contributions to the MCU and the lessons learned along the way.
This concluding chapter offers viewers engaging narratives enriched with the beloved personalities from previous MCU entries, ensuring fans can indulge their curiosity about all the "what ifs" surrounding their favorite characters. The response to season three has been resoundingly mixed, balancing the series' whimsical adventures against the meaningful storytelling it sometimes lacked.
Reviews highlight how the latest season showcases the overwhelming visual flair and inventive storylines of What If...?. According to one insightful critic, "The animation is great and the medium is actively used to show setpieces..." This high praise reflects the series' adeptness at delivering fantastical scenarios impossible to recreate in live-action.
Taking its cue from franchises like Godzilla and Pacific Rim, Season 3 begins with the episode titled, "What If... the Hulk Fought the Mech-Avengers?" This opening adventure finds Bruce Banner's attempts to rid himself of his gamma affliction leading to catastrophic results, producing what is now called Apex Gamma Beast. Critics describe this episode as "hard to go wrong with the giant mecha vs. kaiju formula..." showcasing the creative visual diversity at play.
Character dynamics add richness to the narratives, particularly with Anthony Mackie reprising his role as Sam Wilson, providing the opportunity to demonstrate his leadership skills. These characters, both iconic and new, interact heartfeltly, which, according to one review, adds "solid emotional throughline to anchor all the larger-than-life spectacle." Unfortunately, the critiques also suggest there's discontent surrounding the sillier aspects of the stories, with some episodes feeling more frivolous than bold.
While the first two seasons had already established canonical moments, Season 3 seems tethered to the creative whims of the writers, offering conceptually fun yet narratively less significant tales. One reviewer opines, "It does acknowledge the universe is always full of questions... which will never fully be answered, but unanswered questions allow our own creativity to take hold and ponder... What If...?" This sentiment emphasizes the show’s recurring theme of endless possibility, albeit with the risk of veering too far from traditional storytelling.
Indeed, it appears some fans were left yearning for poignant narrative exploration rather than the whimsical escapism. The show has historically grasped at emotional elements—however, the gravity of those moments sometimes falls short. The reviews detail how many of the narratives are premised on humor and silliness, which some audiences embrace, yet others find distracting from the show's initial intention.
Nevertheless, the critics agree on one thing: What If...? Season 3 ends with style, wrapping up the various arcs and narratives it has built upon so carefully. One critique suggests, "This series has been one of the more popular MCU projects since it premiered..." implying potential for spin-offs and continued exploration of alternate realities within Marvel's universe.
Overall, the third season of What If...? provides fans with yet another dose of creative storytelling, albeit with some rapidly goofy moments. While the series bid farewell, the potential for animated adventures within the MCU remains vast, and as critics note, we can still expect more animated fun, particularly with anticipated projects like Marvel Zombies on the horizon. One reviewer encapsulated this dual-edge sentiment aptly by stating, "Ending What If...? is a mistake..." Highlighting the impact of innovative narratives What If…? has introduced to the Marvel lore.
