A Lot Of Marvel Fans Have The Same Understandable Complaint After Watching What If…?’s Season 3 Finale

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As someone who has spent countless hours immersed in the intricate tapestry of Marvel‘s multiverse, I must say that the final episode of What If…? left me with a bittersweet mix of emotions. On one hand, it was exhilarating to see the grandeur of the multiversal battle and the tantalizing glimpses of potential spin-offs. On the other, the disappointment over unused opportunities weighed heavily on my heart.

The variants teased at the end were nothing short of a dream come true for any Marvel fan, particularly the Scarlet Witch Duck and Samurai Ghost Rider duo. I can’t help but wonder what it would have been like to see these characters in action, instead of yet another iteration of “What if Peggy Carter was really important?”

However, it’s important to remember that even the most brilliant minds sometimes stumble when it comes to executing their vision. As they say, even a watched pot never boils as slowly as a poorly-written animated series. Despite the occasional misstep, What If…? has been an exciting journey through the cosmos of Marvel’s multiverse, and I can’t wait to see where they take us next – perhaps in the form of a one-shot starring Deadpool as Wolverine. Because let’s face it, who wouldn’t want to see that?

Having binge-watched countless Marvel movies and series over the years, I can confidently say that I’ve become quite the superhero aficionado. So, beware! Major spoilers are about to follow for the grand finale of “What If…?” on Disney+. If you haven’t yet streamed it with your subscription, you might want to turn back now! Trust me; this twist will leave you in awe and questioning reality itself.

Among all TV series concluding in 2024, or any year, nothing quite matched the unique charm of Marvel’s multiverse-shattering anthology titled “What If…?”, which recently concluded its third and last season just before the 2025 television lineup begins. The final episode featured the shocking demise of a significant character, Captain Carter, as well as the (likely non-canonical) elimination of the Council of Kangs. This unexpected ending stirred up many similar complaints from viewers who felt let down by the last season and the show in general.

In the aftermath of the finale’s release, there has been a significant amount of criticism on social media regarding the second half of the episode, where we were introduced to an array of fascinating variant characters. However, these intriguing characters, regrettably, didn’t seem to play substantial roles in the actual show, sparking discontent among viewers. Let’s delve into what was depicted, and the reactions that followed.

Some Standout Variants That Were Teased in What If…?’s Finale

A significant part of the finale for What If…? revolves around Uatu making a case that his universe-altering mistakes were ultimately beneficial, but this argument falls flat with the Eminence, the Incarnate, and the Executioner. This leads to a fight, and when Uatu’s attempts fail, they merge into an enormous power and decide to eliminate all variations of Peggy, Byrdie, Storm, and Kahhori across all realities, triggering the initial wave of shocking transformations.

Toward the final moments, additional unseen alternate heroes appear, coinciding with Jeffrey Wright’s Uatu offering his concluding remarks. This unexpected grouping presents an exhilarating assortment of combined characters that would have been thrilling to delve into in any fashion. Here are some top-tier suggestions:

1. In the waning moments, previously unseen alt-heroes make their surprise entrance as Jeffrey Wright’s Uatu concludes his musings. This diverse ensemble offers an exciting array of hybrid heroes that would have been a joy to develop further in any context.

2. Just before the credits roll, additional hidden alternate heroes emerge, joining Jeffrey Wright’s Uatu for his final reflections. The combination creates a thrilling lineup of crossover characters that would have been fascinating to examine more closely in any manner.

3. As Jeffrey Wright’s Uatu wraps up his thoughts, the remaining unseen alt-heroes suddenly appear. Together, they form an electrifying roster of fusion characters, which would have been a delight to investigate further in any capacity.

  • Black Panther Storm
  • Wolverine Peggy Carter and Sabretooth Peggy Carter
  • Riri WIlliams’ Punisher
  • Weapon X Thanos
  • Scarlet Witch Duck
  • Samurai Ghost Rider
  • Old West Loki
  • Maestro’s Dr. Strange

As a lifelong Marvel fan, I must admit that the team-up of Scarlet Witch and Samurai Ghost Rider in the What If…? finale was nothing short of breathtaking! It was as if my wildest dreams had come to life before my very eyes. Growing up, I spent countless hours pouring over comic books, imagining what it would be like to see these characters come together on screen. To finally witness this dream become a reality was truly a magical moment for me.

However, while the thought of more adventures featuring this dynamic duo fills me with excitement, I can’t help but feel a tinge of concern. As much as I love Marvel, I’ve seen my fair share of spinoffs that didn’t quite live up to expectations. I worry about the potential for this new team-up to suffer a similar fate.

In the end, I’m hopeful that the creative minds behind these characters will take their time and craft a story worthy of such an iconic pairing. If they can deliver on the promise shown in the finale, then I have no doubt that Season 4 or a spinoff dedicated to Scarlet Witch and Samurai Ghost Rider would be a hit among fans like me. Fingers crossed!

How Fans Reacted To What If…?’s Final Episode

Generally speaking, feedback on the last season of What If…? was predominantly negative to downright severe. People searching for the series during the holidays might have been left bewildered by an entire episode centered around Howard the Duck and Darcy giving birth to a species-blending baby. (It’s great that Kat Dennings is back in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it’s quite an unusual storyline.)

In the final analysis, it appears Marvel might have benefited by eliminating all the animated elements related to variants, as these seemed to be the main topics of discussion among viewers. To start off, let’s explore the general feedback on this point before delving into more specific comments.

  • The funniest thing about #WhatIf is that it ends with a montage of variants who look infinitely more interesting than the ones the show was about. – @therealsupes
  • MAESTRO SUPREME?! That would have been so much cooler than saying “what if Peggy Carter was really important” for the thousandth time lol. Marvel needs to stop this kind of bullshit and focus more on those they showed at the end – @TonystarsR2011
  • I’m crying literally all their ideas are “What if this character was this character instead” So glad this shitfest ass show is over – @celestialdevils
  • WHAT IF we gave you a glimpse of these cool variants and never do anything with them – @MyTimeToShineH
  • The ending of what if I shows how they fumble a show Basically the ending is: yeahs here what we COULD’VE done” 😭 BOI I GOT HEATED – @qCandywing
  • You gotta give it to #WhatIfSeason3 for ending the series with a montage that was basically “What If… we did any of these more interesting variants instead of what we did for Season Three.” – @mktoon

For a member of the “What If…?” creative team, it can be challenging, as many critics may remain supportive of the artwork and designs for unused versions, but they might still express their criticisms towards the show itself.

As a devoted movie enthusiast, I must admit that not every soul enjoyed the last installment of the animated anthology we all love, as it leaned towards the grim side. However, let’s wrap up this tale on a brighter note.

The Watchers concluded with a triumphant finale, magnificently displaying the incredible variety of Marvel characters across all universes, leaving us spellbound and sending shivers down our spines.

As a long-time fan of Hugh Jackman’s portrayal of Wolverine, I was eagerly anticipating the possibility of seeing him reprise his role in “What If…?” However, it seems that fate had other plans, and the project wasn’t able to secure his services. Nevertheless, I remain hopeful for the future, even if this particular storyline doesn’t involve Deadpool. I have learned over the years that the world of Marvel is full of surprises, and who knows what twists and turns await us in the years to come?

As things stand, it appears that What If…? has been finalized in its current form. It remains undecided whether Marvel will pursue more animated stories centered around The Exiles or if we can expect standalone specials similar to the One Shot series of old.

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2024-12-30 05:07