What If…?: What’s hidden in plain sight in episode 1

“What If… Captain Carter Were the First Avenger?” not only takes cues from existing comics, it also bends the rules regarding its own premise.

Alternate History is a fascinating sub-genre in science fiction and fantasy. The idea that events as we know them could’ve been completely different if a certain event had or had not happened  offers up all kinds of imaginative storytelling possibilities. Comic books saw the potential for this almost immediately, including Marvel.

Thus, in 1977, they published an anthology series entitled What If…?, featuring different versions of previous Marvel Comics stories. The original series lasted for just seven years, but What If…? has been relaunched several times since. And now, it has its own animated Disney Plus series, this time focusing on how the Marvel Cinematic Universe might have changed for the better or for the worse. And appropriately, its first episode tells the story of what would happen if Margaret Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) instead of Steve Rogers (Josh Keaton) became the MCU’s “First Avenger.”

However, as we’ve done for past Marvel Studios/Disney Plus television offerings, this is a column about finding Easter Eggs and clues, and about making comparisons with the original comic book source material. As this is What If…?, we’ll also be exploring whether the events that take place during a particular episode would’ve have actually happened given what we know about the original films on which they’re based. In the case of “What If…Captain Carter Were the First Avenger?” it’s not much of a SPOILER to say that the creators may have cheated just a wee bit.

However, before we can explore such nods like Peggy calling the train operation “Where Eagles Dare” (a reference to the Richard Burton, Clint Eastwood WWII action thriller of the same name), or Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) declaring, “You almost ripped my arm off,” we must first address one important question:

Who is The Watcher in What If…?

Well, it’s probably more accurate to ask “Who are the Watchers?” as there’s one than one. The Watchers, as created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, are one of the very first sentient beings in the known universe. They have the ability to see space-time, meaning they can look into the past, possible futures, and into different realities. They also, as stated by the Watcher (Jeffery Wright) at the beginning and end of this episode, vow to only observe and never interfere under any circumstances. The reason for this is because, centuries ago, they inadvertently caused the destruction of an alien race after helping them to scientifically and technologically advance faster than they were naturally capable of.

Not that they always follow this, particularly the Watcher who monitors Earth and our host of What If…? Uatu. See Uatu, who makes his home on the Moon, developed a soft spot for human beings over the past few millennia observing us. Thus, although he doesn’t interfere directly, he does, on occasion, make his presence known to the heroes and indirectly guides them to the right course of action. It’s a technicality which has gotten him into trouble many times with his fellow Watchers, particularly after he helped the Fantastic Four from having Earth be eaten by Galactus in the classic “The Coming of Galactus” (Fantastic Four #48).  And, of course, he’s been the narrator for the What If…? comic.

This also isn’t the first time the Watchers have appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. You may recall we had a glimpse of them in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,  which also included another Marvel-ous cameo by the late Stan Lee.