Marvel’s What If…? season 1 has reached the halfway mark – here’s what it’s got right and wrong so far.
Surreal as it is to say, What If…? has already reached the midway point of its first season. Plenty of intrigue surrounded Marvel’s first foray into animated series territory before its release. And, for the most part, it’s been largely well received by the studio’s fanbase. With five episodes down, and another four to go, now seems like the perfect time to offer a half-term report on how What If…? has fared. Below, we’ll discuss what we’ve liked about the anthology show, as well as what hasn’t worked, so far. Spoilers follow for What If…? season 1, so proceed at your own risk. As Marvel’s first in-house animated series, What If…? required a signature look: one that was comic book-like in style, but not so cartoonish that it wouldn’t seem compatible with the movies it’s based on. The show’s chief creative team settled on an aesthetic influenced by classic US illustrators including J. C Leyendecker and Tom Lovell. But, with both artists’ works entrenched in the early 20th century, there was the potential for What If…?’s art style to appear outdated. The series’ look, though, works. It brings a 2.5D, cel-shaded stylization to the MCU – one that offers an aesthetic that’s not only novel, but also familiar to audiences. Aside from some issues with character likeness (Rachel McAdams’ Christine doesn’t look like her real-life counterpart), What If…?’s art style fits well. The animation, too, feels fluid and graceful. It exaggerates the movements of the series’ characters somewhat, as all animated series do, but does so without being goofy. After all, What If…? is canon in the MCU, so creating a caricaturist style of animation wouldn’t have felt right, or likely been received well. As for its episode ideas, What If…?’s various standalone stories provide a welcome opportunity to mix and match superhero team ups. It’s been fun to see characters interact with those that they wouldn’t ordinarily meet. Seeing Star-Lord T’Challa joke around with the Ravagers, Nebula and even Thanos has been a particular highlight. Other episodes have showcased potential Avengers line-ups in other universes, too – particularly those comprising lesser known heroes or side characters. What If…?’s Zombies episode is a wonderful example of this, allowing underused characters to shine and lead from the front. The Wasp, Okoye and even David Dastmalchian’s Kurt (Ant-Man’s friend from his solo movies) are given more prominent roles in proceedings, and it feels liberating for the MCU. What If…? affords Marvel with the opportunity to make its most popular heroes dispensable: unlike their live-action counterparts, the likes of Captain America and Iron Man can be killed off in these different realities.
