The final thread is sewn in the final episode of what appears to be the final season of an epic rollercoaster ride of a series. The previous episode weaved everything together, from the Watcher’s interventions, and the reveal of a multiversal cosmic Avengers unit jumping through these alternate realities to right wrongs and serve justice where needed. The What If..? Season 3 Finale titled “What If…What If…?’ presents a final, cataclysmic episode culminates in an epic showdown than the boss fights of the previous two seasons.
The What If..? Season 3 Finale opens with a brief and to-the-point origin story of our Watcher, Uatu (voiced by Jeffrey Wright, The Batman). Comic book readers likely already knew this. While naming the character isn’t the shocking reveal one might think it’s having a name which gives meaning and Life to this episode. The theme is about identity, being an individual, and not blindly following orders because it’s deemed so by higher powers. Uatu, as one of the Watchers, found meaning in his duties by observing and learning from each alternate reality. It appears the lesson he took close to heart is one of nobility, honor, and a sense of justice.Â
As Infinity Ultron (Ross Marquand, The Walking Dead) attempts to stop the Eminence (Jason Isaacs, the Harry Potter series) and his counsel, viewers can only sit and watch helplessly as his attempts ultimately end with a fatal outcome. The animators do such a great job of making you feel, even though this character wiped out all life in his universe. The animation throughout the episode continues to be stellar, with facial expressions and an unbelievable show of galactic power from all characters.
This isn’t just a knock-down, all-out battle to the death. The Eminence and The Watcher debate and justify their actions, exploring reasons for why and why not to interfere. It’s truly astonishing to see a fight with such explosiveness yet dialogue so powerful and meshes together like a colorful ballet of electricity. Uatu’s desire for the survival of his friends result in bequeathing them his own power, which give Captain Carter (Hayley Atwell, Agent Carter), Byrdie the Duck (Natasha Lyonne, Poker Face), Storm (Alison Sealey-Smith, X-Men ’97), and Kahhori (Devery Jacobs, Echo), an upgrade none of us could truly fathom, but the animators gave us one hell of a light show to make us believe.Â
The Eminence and his counsel seem to hold victory in their grasp, and again viewers can only sit back and watch in terror as their heroes are being erased not just from their existence, but from all existence, all realities. However another sacrifice is made in which The writers, animators, and producers hit all the emotional buttons as all of reality is saved.Â
I was blown away by the level of detail in the animation, and what had to have been the most well scripted, and thought out dialogue I’ve ever heard. The end of the episode features our characters on a somber yet humble note, while also eloquently teaching a lesson in which viewers could take to heart as well.
The final chapter of What If…? possessed the big fight feel with a pivotal moment in Marvel history. While one question may remain unanswered, a new question arises. What’s next?
