The premiere of What If… is a tough act to follow. The returning voice cast and computer-animated chemistry between an anabolic Agent Carter and still-skinny Steve Rogers set a heck of a standard. But like any good playlist, you have to kick it up a notch with the second.
In this reality, Yondu (Michael Rooker) sent a pair of his subordinates to abduct Peter Quill. Since “all Terrans look the same,” they grab the crown prince of Wakanda instead. The result of taking a highly educated royal from the most technologically advanced nation on Earth instead of an average midwestern kid is seen immediately.
When T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) reveals himself to others as Star-Lord, they immediately recognize him as a famous do-gooder. Quick eyes will notice that his ship is named differently, and the narrative explains how he not only convinced The Ravagers to work altruistically but also made a compelling argument that steered Thanos away from genocide (although maintains that this is “technically the wrong term”). When he discovers that Wakanda was destroyed by war, his professed love of exploring keeps T’Challa among the stars.
Rather than a scruffy nerf herder living hand-to-mouth, this Star-Lord is a mix of Robin Hood and Danny Ocean. His drinks are comped and a femme fatale like Nebula (Karen Gillan) will give him nicknames. But his next big heist runs him right into the being who took up Thanos’ place in the power vacuum, The Collector (a nearly unrecognizable voice by Benicio Del Toro). With the help of Howard the Duck (Seth Green), his crew makes a few unexpected discoveries while trying to liberate seeds that could feed the entire galaxy. Yondu has some explaining to do, but there’s a lot of fighting first, as The Collector has employed Thanos’ Black Order and equipped himself with a smorgasbord of iconic Marvel weaponry.
When all is said and done, the question remains: what ever did happen to Peter Quill? “Turns out that is partially explained with a potentially perilous cut scene, complete with fast food product placement. But we’re told that this is a story (hopefully) for another day.”
The episode is dedicated to the memory of Chadwick Boseman. It’s bittersweet to hear his voice but still have his performances in What if… waiting for us as the series progresses. That may be the biggest “What if…” of them all.
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