What If... Strange Supreme Intervened?

The second season of Marvel's " What If" comes to a conclusion with an interesting, if slightly underwhelming finale. One the whole, this second season has been good, but perhaps not as strong as the first.

Captain Carter (Hayley Atwell) meets up with her multiversal Avenger friend Dr. Strange Supreme (Benedict Cumberbatch) who askes her for help. He's been collating the multiversal destroying threats but cannot subdue Kahhori (Devery Jacobs) from her universe. Carter agrees to help, but soon comes to realise that it is not Kahhori that in the danger, but Strange himself, who has arrived at an even more despicable plan to assuage his grief.

My criticism of this seasons overlying story is that it feels a bit more thrown together than the one in the first season. Beyond seeing Strange a couple of times, there wasn't really much set up to this one in the last few episodes. This episode too feels a bit thrown together around a few interesting ideas, namely the battles between Strange Supreme and Captain Infinity, as Carter becomes. A throw everything at the wall and see what sticks approach. That central fight - reintroduces us to almost all the characters we've ever seen in "What If", though some of them, such as Infinity Killmonger Black Panther noticeably and obviously don't speak - as presumably Michael B Jordan wasn't interested or available for such a small role.

It looks really impressive, the vocal performances are good (I feel like Cumberbatch puts more into playing the role in animation than he does in live action, or maybe the character has just gone to a more interesting place here).

It just feels less well thought out than in the first season, so much so I think I'd have preferred not to have a season story and just let the episodes live as individual storylines. I'll watch season three, but I'd like a bit more invention and maybe some more genuine "what if's" and not just other stories.

There's this thing you do as a child. Wow, the infinity stones are cool. So's thor's hammer, etc. More is better right?

Well no, but as a child you really don't care.

As an adult, this episode is a bit difficult to take seriously.

As a kid, this episode is fantastic.

This episode does justice to what "what if" is all about. What could happen: how goofy can we be, what if the bad guy wins.

In this case, everyone has a crazy unnecessary battle where everyone gets to use overpowered weapons for a good old fashioned brawl.

Captain Carter always seemed a little lazy: the first avenger with a gender swap, same plot and all. Captain Carter finally got the chance to stand on her feet in this episode.

Seriously, this episode should have been a LOT longer. Possibly even left for another season in order to showcase some of the background characters we see in this one. That being said, though, I really hope they're done with the over-reliance on an overpowered Captain Carter. Don't get me wrong, she's an interesting character, I just think they're relying on her too heavily. I mean, Strange Supreme is an interesting character, too, and it would have been nice to see them use him a bit more previously...maybe even have episodes kinda shared a bit more evenly between the two?

Anyway, as the review title says, the episode has an amazing concept, it just would have benefited a LOT (like the previous two episodes, funnily enough) from being longer. Or maybe even do an Infinity War/Endgame with it and split it into two? I don't know, I'm not a professional writer or anything, I just think they could have done it at least a little bit better. Done the characters a bit more justice...

Summary: Amazing concept, but too rushed.

The ninth and final episode of What If...? Season 2 delves deep into the complexities of Doctor Strange Supreme's character, exploring themes of redemption, sacrifice, and the far-reaching consequences of tampering with the multiverse.

Plot Overview

The episode begins with Strange Supreme enlisting Peggy Carter's help to stop Kahhori, a powerful being whose actions threaten the multiverse. As the narrative unfolds, it becomes evident that Strange Supreme has ulterior motives, leading to a confrontation that tests the limits of their abilities and their understanding of right and wrong.

Character Dynamics

The interplay between Strange Supreme and Peggy Carter is central to the episode's emotional depth. Strange Supreme's internal struggle and his secretive nature create a compelling dynamic, while Peggy's unwavering sense of duty and moral compass provide a stark contrast. This relationship drives the narrative forward, highlighting the complexities of trust and betrayal.

Visuals and Animation

The episode's animation is a standout, with vibrant colors and fluid action sequences that capture the mystical and otherworldly essence of the multiverse. The depiction of magical battles is particularly impressive, showcasing the vast array of powers at play.

Themes and Messages

At its core, the episode explores the dangers of unchecked ambition and the moral ambiguities inherent in the pursuit of power. It serves as a poignant reminder of the delicate balance required when navigating the multiverse and the profound impact of one's choices.

Conclusion

"What If... Strange Supreme Intervened?" serves as a fitting conclusion to Season 2, offering a thought-provoking narrative that challenges perceptions of heroism and villainy. It leaves viewers contemplating the broader implications of the multiverse and the responsibilities that come with wielding such power.

Rating: 7/10

A compelling and visually stunning finale that delves deep into character complexities and the moral dilemmas of the multiverse.

Hope Kevin Feige will take a screenwriter at least once who will at least write a 2-3 cool episode, not even a season. Almost the whole season is fecal. There were at most a couple of good episodes, and then the idea of Avengers 1602 was taken from comics, so strong is the impotence of ideas from the creators of the show. Kahori, who in the final series was the strongest of all and could almost win solo, for example Thanos with his army. So they made the Persian whom I saw in my first life just a couple of days ago, it just makes me want to laugh)))). Just take all the ideas for the comic book series and that's it, otherwise I can no longer look at this nonsense of the screenwriters.