Usually, What If...? uses previously seen scenarios and existing Marvel Cinematic Universe characters to tall brand new stories. However, ever since the reveal that Storm would make her debut during the third season of the Disney+ series, fans hoped things could take a shocking turn this time around and feature some never-before-seen characters in the MCU.
Fortunately, the sixth episode proved to be the case, as "What If... 1872?" featured a beloved superhero whose future is currently uncertain along with a supervillain who'll get their chance to shine soon enough in a live-action project.
Shang Chi and Kate Bishop face the dangers of the Old west
During the late 1860s, Shang Chi's sister, Xu Xialing, immigrated to the United States in an attempt to escape her father's tyranny. While searching for the American Dream, she soon came to the realization that things were not as promised. A shadowy crime lord under the name of The Hood attacked immigrants who arrived in the country and feasted on their fear (Fun fact: the supervillain will be an antagonist in the upcoming IronHeart series). Enraged by The Hood's despicable actions, Xialing decided to take matters into her own hands and faced him in a hand-to-hand duel. The only problem? No one ever heard from her again afterward, and The Hood continued to regularly kidnap people.
When Shang Chi heard about her sister's terrible fate, he decided to look for her. Fortunately, he wasn't alone, as Kate Bishop joined his crusade after losing her family to The Hood as well. The dynamic duo hears the magical supervillain has been going through multiple towns across The West, leaving no witnesses behind as well as a trail of destruction on his path. But perhaps the most intriguing part is that no bodies are found at the crime scenes. Instead, people simply go missing — just like Shang Chi's sister.
When Shang Chi and Kate arrive at one recently ransacked town, the two discover there is something different this time around: Someone managed to survive the attack. A little kid named Jun-Fan says he hid from The Hood and watched as he kidnapped his whole homestead using a Ghost Train. If that name sounds familiar, it's because Kwai Jun-Fan was an Iron Fist who operated in the Wild West on comic book pages. Now, I know we technically witnessed Danny Rand's introduction in the Netflix Marvel series, but it's nice to finally see the character's mythology be used in the MCU. Fingers crossed it isn't the last we hear from him!
Going back to the story: Jun-Fan tells Shang Chi and Kate the direction in which the Ghost Train left. But before our heroes are able to follow The Hood's tracks, the kid asks to join them and proves his worth by performing martial arts worthy of an Iron Fist. Seeing as Jun-Fan is capable of defending himself, Shang Chi and Kate take him with them, ride their horses into the sunset, and intercept the so famous Ghost Train. The three manage to board the vehicle and realize it's equipped with hover technology powered by what seems to be a Stark's arc reactor.
The Hood's plans are revealed
As the three heroes venture deeper into the wagons, they come across a horrible realization: Every missing person is onboard the train, placed perfectly still on a seat, and with a blank stare devoid of any light. It almost seems as if they were completely robbed of their consciousness. Tragically, a helpless Jun-Fan can't help but wonder why his father won't say a word to him. Once Shang Chi and Kate go to the next wagon, they come across dozens of bandits pointing their guns at them while Sonny Burch (who first appeared on Ant-Man and the Wasp) stands in the middle of the room.
Sonny informs Shang Chi that The Hood wants to see him, and asks Kate to stay behind. Meanwhile, Jun-Fan attempts to escape by going on top of the train, but two bandits get to him. Just when it seems Jun has no means to escape and his story is coming to a definite end, The Watcher intervenes (for the second time in a row this season, after saving Riri Williams' life in episode five). Free of their captors, Jun witnesses how the train stops, and Shang Chi finally comes face to face with The Hood. The supervillain attempts to persuade the hero to join them, but after failing to accomplish the task, the two start a fight.
Inside the train, Sonny Burch takes out a pocket watch and uses it to play a jingle that incapacitates Kate Bishop. Before the sharpshooter drops unconscious, she realizes this "persuasion device" is what The Hood has been using to kidnap people from all across the West and force them to get into the Ghost Train. At the same time, outside the train, Shang Chi realizes the despicable supervillain is, in fact, her missing sister Xialing. Turns out she defeated the original Hood when she first arrived in the country, stole his magical cloak, and started kidnapping people to turn them into an army that would fight to make The American dream come true.
With Shang Chi being taken aback by her sister's revelation and Kate Bishop incapacitated, everything looks grim for our heroes. Fortunately, Jun-Fan, the Iron Fist himself, rings a train bell that breaks the trance all The Hood's victims found themselves in. Free of the spell, Kate knocks out Sonny Burch with a single punch, goes outside the train, and shoots The Hood only to soon realize she had killed Shang Chi's sister. Moments before her death, Xialing loses the cloak and finally acts like her true self without any evil intentions — signaling she was simply being corrupted by the magical cloth.
Fortunately, Shang Chi and Kate are able to make amends, and they return to their hometown along with Iron Fist. The three have a happy ending, even if the same cannot be said for The Watcher who was reprimanded by his peers for breaking his oath and intervening in the stories he swore to merely observe. On the bright side, we won't have to wait long to learn what will happen to the cosmic entity.