What If... The Red Guardian Stopped the Winter Soldier?

The entire episode has a very weird dialogue and feels like it was written by someone who only knows about soviet russia through internet jokes. With inserting random foods into sentences as if that is how anyone talks or the constant meaningless communist-capitalist slogans that serve no purpose other than attempting to be a joke, this episode really falls flat. It is another big step in the show's continuous decline after a good first season. It's becoming increasingly harder to keep watching it and giving each episode the benefit of the doubt that it will suddenly be, well, good. The show really lost its tracks and this episode really displays it.

Marvel's "What If...?" has consistently excelled at pairing unexpected characters, creating fresh dynamics that reframe the MCU's familiar events. The third episode of its third season, "What If... the Red Guardian Stopped the Winter Soldier?," is a prime example of this potential, imagining an alternate timeline where the boistured Red Guardian clashes with and ultimately teams up with the brooding Winter Soldier. The pairing feels natural given their shared histories as super-soldiers burdened by the ideologies of their respective natures. And it makes a very fun buddy romp that feels like a ride, although it isn't without the occasional shortcomings, especially with its tonal inconsistencies.

The episode opens with the Winter Soldier's infamous mission to eliminate Howard Stark, but Red Guardian's unexpected interference leads to an explosive confrontation. Watching the relationship between these two flawed characters develop is one of the episode's highlights. Red Guardian's bombastic humor contrasts sharply with Bucky's stoic demeanor, and their journey from enemies to reluctant allies feels both genuine and earned. The episode does a great job of highlighting their similarities even as their differences lead to moments of humor and tension. However, the episode often struggles to balance its tone. The comedic elements, primarily driven by Red Guardian's larger-than-life personality, are entertaining but sometimes excessive. Moments of silly humor, while in line with the character, occasionally disrupt the pacing and dilute the impact of the more serious moments. Thankfully, Bucky's gravitas helps ground the episode, and his introspective moments offer a poignant counterbalance to the antics of his Soviet counterpart. While the episode is enjoyable, it doesn't fully embrace the boundless creative potential of the "What If...?" premise. The storyline feels more like a plausible side plot within the MCU rather than a bold reimagining. It's a solid concept, but it doesn't push the boundaries of the "endless possibilities" the series promises to explore. The ending, while fun, leaves a lot to be desired in terms of coherence. The choices made by the characters and the events of the episode should have had significant repercussions on the MCU timeline, but by the conclusion, the broader universe seems oddly unchanged. This inconsistency makes the episode feel disconnected from the rest of the show's premise and somewhat diminishes its impact.

"What If... the Red Guardian Stopped the Winter Soldier?" is a mixed bag. The dynamic between Red Guardian and Winter Soldier is compelling, and their character arcs are handled with care, but the uneven tone, missed potential, and confusing ending hold it back from being a standout entry in the series.

This is my favorite episode so far. David Harbour, who plays the Red Guardian, does an amazing job in this episode. Seriously, can we get a series or a continuation of this episode.

The episode does an amazing job on how deadly the Winter Soldier and the Red Guardian are. Honestly, this is the most action that I've seen the Winter Soldier in. It's great to see the Red Guardian in his prime. Of course the question is raised on which Red Guardian it is. Anton Ivanov was the 6th Red Guardian in the comics, although considering that the Black Widow was married to the 2nd Red Guardian in the comics, there is an obvious difference in the timeline.

There isn't a ton that you have to know about the episode besides that Bucky was brain washed and the story line of Antman 2.

All in all, decent pacing, a lot of action, lots of laughs, and an overall great episode.

What if Season 3, episode 3 still isn't an episode that can compete with the better episodes we've gotten in the past two seasons of What If, such as the 1692 episode or the Ultron won episode, but compared to the other two episodes that have dropped so far in terms of writing this, this ones very enjoyable and not to mention thought out by pairing up the different personalities of Red Guardian and the Winter Soldier during a time in which they could've ran into each other. David Harbour's voice acting is so good, and although Red Guardian can get a little annoying, at least for me during the first half of the episode, his heart does shine through the rest of it which immediately makes you care about him during the progression of the episodes actions and gets you to see just how much of a good guy he really is.

Stay kind everyone! You're all awesome.

I liked this episode. I think it is the best of the 3 I've seen so far. I really liked the chemistry between the Winter Soldier and the Red Guardian, and I also liked the SHIELD scientist. But I want to know how the premise changed the timeline. What happened with Tony if his parents survived the attack? Will he still become Ironman? How would the world would have changed if Howard Stark kept working for more time? Just like his son, Howard was a genius. He could have changed the 90's. Well, watch this episode, it has serious moments and it was fun too. I think you will enjoy it. Give it a try.