Choice, Change, and Consequence: The Deeper Meaning Behind What If...?
Erik M.
Marvel Studios’ first and only animated series, What If...?, which crosses over with the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), answers the age-old question: What would happen if one event—no matter how small or insignificant—changed the course of a story? What would happen to certain characters if another character’s actions deviated from the traditional path? And how would those events likely change the characters’ perception of their world? Lastly, how would certain characters react to those changes, would a character stay the same, or would they become a completely different person from their main counterpart?
In this bold new addition to the MCU, the Watcher, voiced by Jeffrey Wright, answers all those questions and even some unknown to himself.
The show ran for three seasons with a total of 26 episodes, yet each episode tackled a different MCU movie or series. Some episodes revisited the same films, such as The Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy, but explored them from different angles and plot points. Others introduced original stories like “What If 1872?” which takes place in the Wild West, or “What If Howard the Duck Got Hitched?” which imagines Howard the Duck as a husband and father.
The show’s focus on different MCU films and series encourages viewers to re-evaluate those stories and better understand their significance; not just as standalone pieces, but as vital parts of a much greater narrative. Some episodes even suggest that certain movies wouldn’t exist without the events of earlier ones. This perspective helps viewers appreciate the MCU as a whole and serves as a reminder that even when a story’s ending isn’t what we hoped for, the alternative could have been much worse.
One of the many features about What If...? is that it showcases many established characters from the MCU: Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, and the Hulk. But it also introduces original characters like Captain Carter (aka Peggy Carter) voiced by MCU actress Hayley Atwell, and Kahhori, voiced by Devery Jacobs, Jacobs voices a Mohawk woman who gains powers from the Tesseract and uses them to help liberate her people from colonizers. Viewers also witnessed the introduction of Storm to the MCU, voiced by veteran voice actress Alison Sealy-Smith.
What If...? also delivers funny and unexpected character pairings no one would have anticipated, like Howard the Duck (voiced by Seth Green) and Darcy Lewis (voiced by Kat Dennings), or Agatha Harkness (voiced by Kathryn Hahn) and Kingo (voiced by Kumail Nanjiani). With 15+ years of MCU content introducing a vast array of characters, it was refreshing to see interactions between characters who would never have met otherwise. These pairings further highlight the depth and charm of the Marvel Universe.
SideNote: My personal favorite episode is “What If Ultron Won?” Not only did Infinity Ultron destroy his world, but everything in his universe ceased to exist. While the episode was bleak and depressing at times, the episode highlighted themes of emptiness and the lack of self-fulfillment. It also taught that the selfishness of one individual can lead to dire consequences for everyone as a whole, but even in that pursuit, there can be a path to redemption.
In typical Marvel fashion, the show’s series finale presented a two-part original ending where the Watcher is forced to face the consequences of interfering with the multiverse. Although the Watcher was created to observe, not interfere, his decision to act reveals the power of choice, reminding us that our original purpose doesn’t have to define us forever. This turning point not only redefines the Watcher’s role, it also sets the stage for powerful alliances where actions, sacrifices, and moral convictions are front and center.
For example, as the Watcher breaks his oath to save characters like Riri Williams and Strange Supreme, those moments highlight the importance of decision-making and choosing one’s own path despite design. Additionally, as the Watcher is aided by Captain Carter and her team, those moments in the series emphasize the value of heroism and self-sacrifice, even in the face of godlike beings willing to annihilate entire universes.
The Watchers
SideNote: Ironically, the Watcher’s interference ends up saving the multiverse from death at the hands of the other Watchers.
The biggest lesson from What If...? is that there are always infinite possibilities, and no two stories, no matter how similarly they begin, have to end the same. Another powerful message is the importance of hope, even in the darkest moments, and the final lesson I took from the series is that actions speak louder than words and doing nothing when one has the power to help, is in itself, its own form of weakness.
What If...? made me realize that even a story with an established ending can be retold in new ways and still feel fresh. While the 26 episodes of What If...? were hypothetical, the final moments hint that there are always more stories to tell.
Perhaps Marvel will revisit What If...? in a future series, but until then, let’s be thankful for what we’ve been given and grateful that the MCU, for better or worse, turned out the way it did.
