What If…?: Every episode ranked from best to worst

5. What If… T’Challa Became a Star-Lord?

I had to put aside my sentimentality when ranking this episode. This will likely be the favorite episode of many fans because it was the last major contribution to the Marvel Cinematic Universe from Chadwick Boseman before he sadly passed away due to his battle with cancer.

And while I am not giving it the top spot, there is still plenty to love from this episode of What If…? The first litmus test of how different this story was going to play out came right at the beginning. When I saw the same opening sequence Peter Quill experienced play out on Morag with T’Challa in his place, I wanted to see how Korath would respond to T’Challa as Star-Lord. The differences in character required a completely different reaction.

I was not disappointed. Instead of being underwhelmed by Peter Quill, Korath was a total fanboy of T’Challa. This one scene would set the tone for the rest of the episode.

T’Challa’s version of Star-Lord has a major impact on all of the characters around him. He rehabilitates almost all of the criminal underworld because of simply who T’Challa is, most notably, the Mad Titan himself, Thanos.

It was a great episode, and the touching tribute to Chadwick Boseman at the end was especially moving. I can’t imagine there was a dry eye by the end of the episode.

4. What If… Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead of His Hands?

In a show full of good episodes and unique stories, “What If… Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead of His Hands” is definitely in the top half of the series. It took the story of one of the least discussed entries in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, changed one detail, and it had the largest impact on the universe surrounding Doctor Strange.

The single twist in this episode of What If…? has Christine attend the event Stephen Strange invites her to. But when the car accident occurs this time, his hands aren’t injured, Christine passes away. He takes the same steps that lead him to becoming Doctor Strange, but the loss of the woman he loves sees him take drastic steps to try to undo this one action.

Despite his best efforts, he can never undo her death. It is then revealed by The Ancient One that her death is an Absolute Point, one that can never be changed because to do so could cause the collapse of the universe.

This doesn’t deter Stephen Strange, and he continues to look for ways to change it. But we learn in the confrontation with The Ancient One, there are now two versions of this timeline. One where Strange sinks further into his desire to have Christine back, and the other where he accepts it. It sets up a great confrontation between the two versions of Stephen Strange.

“What If… Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead of His Hands?” succeeded because it had the largest implications on the story told. It also went further in depth on the character of Doctor Strange and how he believes he can fix everything and how his arrogance in that regard can sometimes backfire with major consequences.