What If…? episode 3: What’s hidden in plain sight in episode 3

Who really murdered Hope?

As for Hank’s motive–avenging the death of his daughter Hope–it doesn’t just reveal how this particular universe started veering off course. It also, without saying so, reveals the identity of Hope’s murderer. I can’t take full credit for this as it was pointed out to me by a friend, but, there’s a key line of dialogue during Nick Fury and Hank’s supposed Tete-a-tete in the graveyard. “Agent Hope Van Dyne was killed on a mission outside Odessa, Ukraine.”

What’s so significant about Odessa? Well, this is that other callback to Captain America: The Winter Soldier I was talking about. During that movie, Natasha tells Steve Rogers about an extraction mission of an Iranian engineer that went pear-shaped, from which she almost didn’t make it out alive. The incident took place five years prior to the events of The Winter Soldier, which would have been 2009, one year before the events depicted in this episode. The name of that assassin was, of course, the Winter Soldier, a.k.a. a brainwashed-by-Hydra Bucky Barnes.

What If…? doesn’t come right out and say it, but the implication is clear: in this alternate timeline, Hope, who in this universe was a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, went on that mission instead of Natasha. And unlike Natasha, Hope died. Thus it was Hydra, via Bucky, who killed her. And since Hydra infested S.H.I.E.L.D., Hank isn’t entirely off base holding them responsible.

Loki wins?

One unintended consequence of Hank’s murders is that, without the Avengers, Loki (Tom Hiddleston) takes over the world in less than a day. If you watched Thor, then you also know the reason he’s the “Crown Prince of Asgard” is because Odin fell into the Odinsleep during Thor’s exile to Earth. He also declares himself “the rightful King of Jotenheim,” which also matches with Thor, as Loki would’ve learned about his true parentage around this time.

That he’s openly carrying the Casket of Ancient Winters, which originally belonged to the Frost Giants, into battle. Of course, Loki manipulated events during Thor, including Thor’s exile to take over Asgard. And although he wants to avenge his brother’s murder in this episode, it’s also obvious he’s using it as a pretext for invasion.

But would the Norse God of Mischief really hold onto power? The end of the episode shows Fury finding Captain America (and his shield) in the arctic ice, and also having summoned Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel. Jim Rhodes should still have the War Machine armor since his fight with Tony in Iron Man 2 would’ve still taken place. Also, even though Sif (Jaimie Alexander) and the Warriors Three are seen on Loki’s side, they were already suspicious of Loki’s intentions as seen in the movie Thor. And let’s not forget about Wakanda, because despite their isolationism, would T’Challa have really stood by and let the Earth be conquered?

Basically, this seems like another episode of What If…? with an open ending, featuring a world that could be revisited later on. Though it what seems to be in store in the next episode, there’s a good chance it will be.

Any Easter Eggs or clues we missed from What If…? season 1, episode 3? Let us know down in the comments!