What If…? season 1 episode 2 review: When T’Challa became Star-Lord
What If…? season 1 episode 2 features a T’Challa Star-Lord. Some spoilers follow.
What If…? season 1 episode 2 is here on Disney Plus, with the full episode title of “What If…. T’Challa Became a Star-Lord?”
As the Watcher (Jeffrey Wright) exists out in the vastness of space, he shares with the viewers a number of fascinating alternate realities (thanks to Sylvie’s impulsiveness), one of which was seeing what happened if Peggy Carter became the world’s first super-soldier.
Also, for a real-world tearjerker moment, fans are quite enthused about hearing the late Chadwick Boseman reprising his role as T’Challa for What If…?’s second episode.
Most of the cast from the Black Panther and Guardians of the Galaxy movies return, in fact, which makes it a fun episode of remixed elements.
What If…? season 1, episode 2 is another great alternate adventure
Plot recap
In this reality, Yondu (Michael Rooker) delegated the capture of Ego’s son to Taserface and Kraglin, who mistakenly captured T’Challa in 1988 Wakanda.
20 years later, his influence has turned the Ravagers into a Robin Hood-like band of semi-do-gooders, who have not only saved Drax’s homeworld from a Kree invasion, but also convinced Thanos (Josh Brolin) not to Snap half the universe.
Like with the first Guardians film, it opens with Star-Lord attempting to steal the Power Stone Orb on Morag, only to be confronted by Korath, who here turns out to be a huge fanboy.
Nebula (Karen Gillan) tasks them to steal the Embers of Genesis, a terraforming agent, from the Collector (Benecio Del Toro). Thus a 1940s noir heist is embarked upon, featuring lots of cameos from various MCU properties.
Following several fistfights, the operation is ultimately successful, and the crew of Ravagers return to Earth for a visit with the Wakandans.
Meanwhile, Peter Quill works at a Dairy Queen in small town Missouri, when Ego returns, which the Watcher teases could lead to the end of the world.
Remixed elements and shoutouts
Cameos in What If season 1, episode 2 include Cap’s shield, the daggers of Loki and Dark Elf Malekith, Hela’s thorn crown, and the fist of the murdered Korg.
Alive cameos included Cosmo the Spacedog (a Guardians member in the comics) and Howard the Duck, and the Dark Order members (who work as the Collector’s security team).
Drax as an enthusiastic bartender is funny to see, as is the banter between various characters (especially everyone else’s concerns with Thanos’ depopulation plan).
The action scenes flow better than the previous episode, and the pacing seems noticeably less rushed. Also, the cast was able to emulate the roles well just through voice acting, and Boseman especially brought his generous spirit to the role. Nebula as a space version of Marilyn Monroe was also entertaining.
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What If…? season 1, episode 3 will drop on Disney Plus on Wednesday, August 25 at 3:01 a.m. ET.