The third episode of Marvel’s What…If? is out and wow, this one brings the 'alternate reality' to the multiverse. Be sure to check out our review of last week’s episode. But, let’s just dive right in.
Episodes 1 and 2
The first two episodes of Marvel's new series eased us into the multiverse idea, with just one or two changes in the first episode (Captain Carter and Steve Rodgers as the first Iron Man) and then showed us how changing one character could literally change the universe in episode 2 (T’Challa becomes Star Lord instead of Peter Quill). So, with the idea of things ramping up in each episode, it was predictable that episode 3 would raise the stakes.
One quick note. These episodes, as of yet, do not tie together. Instead, we seem to be seeing a different universe in each episode. So, what happened in episodes 1 and 2 is not important to episode 3.
Avengers… not so much
The episode starts off by giving us an alternate take on the formation of the Avengers. Within the first few minutes, Tony Stark (aka Iron Man) is murdered, seemingly by Natasha (Black Widow) when she gives him an injection to help with his palladium poisoning (circa Iron Man 2). We then jump to the desert where Thor’s hammer (Mjolnir) has landed on earth (as seen in Thor). However, when Thor comes to retrieve the hammer, he too is murdered, seemingly by Hawkeye putting an arrow through his heart.
Next up, an escaped Natasha is trying to uncover who is behind the murders and she seeks out Betty Ross and Bruce Banner. In a predictable fashion, Banner is forced to transform into the Hulk to battle some soldiers led by General Ross. However, in the middle of the battle, he begins mutating and growing and eventually explodes in the most gruesome manner.
Loki makes an entrance
Meanwhile, the storyline of Thor is twisted, as Loki comes to earth with an army of Asgardians bent on vengeance for the murdered heir to the throne. Nick Fury is given a short day to figure out who is behind the murder of Thor of Loki will lay waste to the earth.
Fury initially considers using his intergalactic pager to call Capt. Marvel, but seems to have an epiphany. We then see him standing over the grave of Hope Van Dyne (aka Wasp) who in this universe joined SHIELD and died in the line of duty. It turns out her father, Hank Pym, has gone evil (wearing the Yellow Jacket suit) with grief and anger and has decided to punish Fury by taking away everything he cares about. In this case, the formation of the Avengers.
However, Fury made a deal with Loki to help him catch the killer and Pym is taken away by the Asgardians. All’s well that ends we…
Loki gonna Loki
In true Loki fashion, he decides to ‘stick around' for a bit, which means that one day later he has subjugated humanity under his rule. Well, that’s not great.
Not so fast…
The episode ends with Fury searching the remains of the airplane where Steve Rogers (Captain America) is encased in ice. And joining him… Captain Marvel.
Will this lead into the next episode? No idea. It clearly ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, but with this series, we’re still not sure if any of them will tie together. Stay tuned for next week's episode of Marvel's What…If?
