We already said that this second half of the first season of ‘What if…?’ it pointed to some cross between the various characters in the anthology led by El Vigilante. That moment has finally come with the last episode, for now, of the Marvel series, which puts our narrator breaking his oath to gather the greatest heroes of the multiverse.
By the way, from here on, spoilers for ‘What if …?’ (1×09)
After being revealed in the previous episode to VisionTrón, that is, the amalgam between Vision and Ultron, as the great villain of the saga, it is time to break that oath of non-intervention and, together with Dr. Strange from episode 4, the Vigilante will begin to gather the Guardians of the Multiverse.
In previous episodes …
Namely: Captain Carter (1×01), Star Lord T’Challa (1×02), Killmonger Panther (1×06), Party Thor (1×07) and a Gamora from a Universe that we have not yet explored, will be summoned by the cosmic being with him. sole purpose of stopping the threat. They are the new Avengers, multiversal.
It is so curious, as deep down something predictable, the fact that the strategy of AC Bradley and his collaborator Matthew Chauncey, around the series is to repeat that same motif of “we are facing something bigger” that Phase 1 of the UCM proposed to us. With distances, yes. Since the trick was already seen, it was necessary to be somewhat more audacious in its presentation.
So the formation of this group has been somewhat more concealed and, on the other hand, less developed. We could even speak of less justified, as could be the case with Killmonger. Nor does it help that the limitation of footage per episode of each series does not allow a greater depth or, even an explanation, why these beyond “because they are what we have seen in the series.” That if instead of these, the Vigilante had seen ‘Elite’, another rooster would have sung to us.
Beyond putting on something picky with questions that we already know well enough (the script of the series has never been brilliant), this ninth episode of ‘What if …?’ It has the strength that we could expect from an end of the arc. The battle with Ultron is epic, prodigious and not without those twists that Marvel productions handle so opportunely. On the bad side, we have precisely those formula flaws that the franchise has dragged on from almost the beginning.
Knowing your place within the Marvel of phases
The most important, perhaps, of this series finale is How does he know perfectly what his place is, and what has been, within the machinery. Making the protagonists aware that they are an alternative within a myriad more, more than them, speaks to us and the power of imagination. Of those stories that is “the only thing” that the Vigilante has. It is a claim to fly free of corseted continuities and canons.
I do not know if all this is a forewarning of all that is to come in the present and future phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as something more independent, but of course it is a great plea in order to give continuity to a series like this. It certainly makes you want to see more of Black Widow in that world without her; or see the reunion of Captain Carter with her beloved Steve Rogers that shows the post-credits scene.
While the anthology it has been somewhat irregular both in tone and in stories, ‘What would happen if…?’ has proven to be a satisfying alternative look at the Marvel we love so much. Hopefully in season 2 we can see braver and stronger bets… I think he deserves that twist.