What If…? S01E01 is the first instalment of the first season of an animated superhero anthology series created by A.C. Bradley for the streaming service Disney+, based on the Marvel Comics series of the same name. The premise of What If…? is to tell familiar stories from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) but with an alternate reality twist. Like the comic book, the series is narrated by The Watcher (voiced by Jeremy Wright), who guides the viewer through the changes to MCU canon.
Entitled “What If… Captain Carter Were The First Avenger?” What If… ? S01E01 provides a delightful alternate story where Peggy Carter is the one injected with the Super Soldier serum rather than Steve Rogers. Peggy names herself Captain Carter – though why she is not called “Captain Britain” is beyond us – that seemed like the most obvious choice in the circumstances.
READ OUR REVIEWS OF LOKI SEASON 1.
What If…? S01E01 is essentially a different retelling of Captain America : The First Avenger and to all intents and purposes it is a fun, entertaining ride. The characters are voiced by the original actors and the animation is top notch as well. Rather than the typical popular cartoony anime style, What If… ? S01E01 has an art direction that is similar to Into The Spiderverse, and it looks superb, with a sheen of realism that fits the narrative well.
Unlike most MCU stories, the What If…? episodes will be standalone and not connected in any way to each other. Which is a pity, as it would have been an interesting challenge to string together one over-arching plot over the nine episodes in Season 1. Thus, the inevitable result will be that the novelty factor of the series will wear out quite fast without any connective tissue, so to speak, running through the season. Enjoy it while it lasts!
Now streaming on Disney+.
… still there’s more …