It’s been two years since the release of Marvel’s What If Season 1 but just like that first season, Marvel’s What If Season 2 arrives just after a season of Loki. Loki Season 2’s multiverse-shaking events ended just last month, so it’s still fresh on everyone’s minds. Does the second season of What If promise more juicy multiversal scenarios? Read on to find out.

Same Old Multiverse

A scene from Marvel Studios’ WHAT IF…?, Season 2 exclusively on Disney+. © 2023 MARVEL.

Unfortunately, Marvel’s What If Season 2 doesn’t really address or capitalize on the ending of Loki Season 2 but it does acknowledge it in one simple shot at the end of the series (I won’t spoil what it is). Instead, Marvel’s What If Season 2 is more of a continuation or sequel to the first season, so it doesn’t actually feel like much of an anthology series anymore. For an anthology series to be classified as an anthology, each season usually features different storylines that aren’t connected to each other. However, Marvel’s What If Season 2 picks up on that final scene from Season 1 and let me tell you, there’s a lot more Captain Carter this time around.

At least three of the nine episodes in the second season focus on Captain Carter, so whether you like Marvel’s What If Season 2 will depend heavily on how much you like Captain Carter. If you haven’t watched the first season, Captain Carter refers to a variant of Peggy Carter who became the ‘Captain America’ of her universe.

As a result of the focus on more serialized storytelling and on Captain Carter (as well as continuing the plot threads of the previous season), Marvel’s What If Season 2 does feel a bit smaller in scale. Overall, it’s not as grand as what happened in the first season. Also, several of the episode concepts this time around are unimaginative, uninspired, generic and predictable. For instance, one episode focused on Happy Hogan saving the day and another one rehashed the events of Thor Ragnarok by replacing Thor and Hulk with Iron Man and Gamora. None of it was as exciting as the episodes in the first season because of how predictable they are and how safe they feel. I feel like the potential of the series is still very much limited by only adapting from or riffing on the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). This series could be so much more if it’s not limited by the MCU.

Kahhori in Marvel Studios’ WHAT IF…?, Season 2 exclusively on Disney+. © 2023 MARVEL.

That being said, the best episodes in Season 2 were definitely ones that featured lesser-known characters getting the spotlight like Cate Blanchett reprising her role as Hela in Episode 7 (which also featured Wen Wu from Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings), and Episode 6, which featured a brand new original Native American character named Kahhori created for the series who is a highlight of the entire season. This series is best when it tries to do something unexpected and new.

The biggest and most praiseworthy improvement of Marvel’s What If Season 2 is the better animation and higher production quality overall. Looking back in comparison, the animation in Season 1 looks more stilted and cheap. The choreography has also been much improved, with some impressive fight scenes in here that impressed me. It’s clear that the animators were more inspired by anime perhaps. I even swear that there was one character who looked like he was doing the iconic Spirit Gun move from Yu Yu Hakusho.

Still Limited By The MCU

(L-R): Xu Wenwu and Hela in Marvel Studios’ WHAT IF…?, Season 2 exclusively on Disney+. © 2023 MARVEL.

My biggest issue with Marvel’s What If Season 2 remains the same as it was with the first season. It’s disappointing that the series is still restricted to spinning off from events that have already happened in the MCU. What this means is that we won’t be seeing never-before-seen characters from the comics popping up; merely riffs on what we’ve already seen in the MCU. It limits the scope and potential of the series, and with the MCU dangerously close to crumbling due to increasing superhero fatigue, Marvel’s What If Season 2 could have done a lot more to make itself stand out and be more unique.

It’s ironic because, in one of the episodes, The Watcher himself narrates and points out that “what’s the point of revisiting the story when there are infinite stories to be told?”.

To that, I say; Exactly, my wise friend. Practice what you preach, Marvel and Disney.

FINAL SCORE: 60/100

We received an early access screener of Marvel’s What If Season 2 courtesy of Disney+ Hoststar Malaysia. The first episode is now streaming on Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia, with new episodes debuting every day until 30 December 2023 for a total of 9 episodes.