When the whole split-Strange thing revealed, I was expecting a happy ending where the good-Strange win or managed to talk down the evil-Strange.
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What If...? |Spoiler OT| Groot Was One Of Us?
- Thread starter Deleted member 1248
- Start date
- Spoiler Entertainment OT
When the whole split-Strange thing revealed, I was expecting a happy ending where the good-Strange win or managed to talk down the evil-Strange.
As was I. And it's why I'm enjoying this series so much: it didn't deliver that.
The ending to the Doctor Strange episode was much more in line with the comic series in that it's not a happy ending.
I hope season 2 that they have more writers/guest writers to helm each episode. I feel like the writing is the weakest, or at least most inconsistent, part from episode to episode for me.
Maybe they have the directors of the different movies advising on the script and characters, but it's something where I think that some stronger dialog/jokes/story/character could have helped elevate the series more as a whole, especially since each episode is literally like a short film and the series in an anthology. Getting various names to write an episode could also be a big draw for the series. On top of that, the expectations are high given the source material in the films and even What If? type of stories in the comics. I think that is the thing the Doctor Strange episode did for me; it wasn't just the downer ending that felt more conclusive (and more like an episode of the Twilight Zone), it was that it went a little bit further to tap into an aspect of the character we already know and draw some emotion out of the story. I felt this Killmonger episode was able to do that as well, whether it was the real-life parallel to losing Chadwick or just the themes they were able to tap into from Black Panther and Iron Man that felt like a clever use of the characters and worlds, it felt like for me the story was able to strike an emotional chord, or at least evoke emotion.
For all the criticisms of the zombie episode I've seen here, there was an emotional core to the story, even if all the execution of the story didn't quite stick the landing strongly. I think the format, even at the 30 minute runtime, can completely work, but they need the scripts to be air tight and punchy. The jokes and the emotional character moments can't really just flop with the pacing being what it is.
Not only can it be a bit of a fun playground for writers (directors? maybe not since it's animation and a different process than live-action), but since they already have gotten all these big name actors to reprise their roles, make sure they get lines to flex their acting a bit and have fun with it. I think some moments seem like they have given that to some of the actors, but some actors feel a little wasted or at least under-utilized and since this may have been some of the first voice acting for some of them, having strong lines, fun dialog, and clear vocal direction seem like the sorts of improvements that could make short episodes punch above their weight.
Maybe they have the directors of the different movies advising on the script and characters, but it's something where I think that some stronger dialog/jokes/story/character could have helped elevate the series more as a whole, especially since each episode is literally like a short film and the series in an anthology. Getting various names to write an episode could also be a big draw for the series. On top of that, the expectations are high given the source material in the films and even What If? type of stories in the comics. I think that is the thing the Doctor Strange episode did for me; it wasn't just the downer ending that felt more conclusive (and more like an episode of the Twilight Zone), it was that it went a little bit further to tap into an aspect of the character we already know and draw some emotion out of the story. I felt this Killmonger episode was able to do that as well, whether it was the real-life parallel to losing Chadwick or just the themes they were able to tap into from Black Panther and Iron Man that felt like a clever use of the characters and worlds, it felt like for me the story was able to strike an emotional chord, or at least evoke emotion.
For all the criticisms of the zombie episode I've seen here, there was an emotional core to the story, even if all the execution of the story didn't quite stick the landing strongly. I think the format, even at the 30 minute runtime, can completely work, but they need the scripts to be air tight and punchy. The jokes and the emotional character moments can't really just flop with the pacing being what it is.
Not only can it be a bit of a fun playground for writers (directors? maybe not since it's animation and a different process than live-action), but since they already have gotten all these big name actors to reprise their roles, make sure they get lines to flex their acting a bit and have fun with it. I think some moments seem like they have given that to some of the actors, but some actors feel a little wasted or at least under-utilized and since this may have been some of the first voice acting for some of them, having strong lines, fun dialog, and clear vocal direction seem like the sorts of improvements that could make short episodes punch above their weight.
The timing works against the writing, the pace is sped up a bit too much to give the dialogue any time to breathe.
If we're getting 9 episodes a season, I think I'd rather see 3 unique stories each season told over 3 part episodes than 9 stories told so abruptly.
If we're getting 9 episodes a season, I think I'd rather see 3 unique stories each season told over 3 part episodes than 9 stories told so abruptly.
I love the scenario's they keep coming up with and the expansion of what we already know at a much faster pace, but these cop out endings are a bust.
I get the comics can end abruptly as they're just peeks into a What If scenario, but TV is a different medium. You can't keep asking to the audience to make up their own endings.
I get the comics can end abruptly as they're just peeks into a What If scenario, but TV is a different medium. You can't keep asking to the audience to make up their own endings.
Seems the open endings are a nod to shows like The Twilight Zone as well. Even Uatu's narration is reminiscent of Rod Serling's in The Twilight Zone framing the stories like a cautionary tale.
pretty sure in this timeline T'chaka only ordered the death of N'jobu and didn't directly kill him which is why killmonger is so cordial to him
That's the point of the show though. It's a thought experiment to lead to an entirely different outcome and the infinite possibilities each multiverse can have.
Where did they go from there after the found out about Killmonger? Who knows? It doesn't matter. The point of the show it to think about expanding the idea that in infinite universes anything can and does happen.
These are not meant to be episodic shows. They are all self contained because each one is a different multiverse. Everything is canon. Because if you can imagine it, it happened in one of the multiverses.
This is to train people to be more accepting of the crazy shit we're getting ready to see in Phase 4 and beyond. Nothing more.
I think I would prefer an Exiles like series to What If, but it's completely a personal preference thing.
This was the most boring episode to me.
Because it felt like a parallel Black Panther Story line. The most interesting things about this What If are the parts that would have come after the credits. I wanted to see what Killmonger did after takin the throne of Wakanda. I don't want to see a different plan to the one that already technically succeeded in Black Panther.
I'd have rather this whole episode get turned into a montage, and then we get to see what happens when he truly has all that power/army at his disposal.
Because it felt like a parallel Black Panther Story line. The most interesting things about this What If are the parts that would have come after the credits. I wanted to see what Killmonger did after takin the throne of Wakanda. I don't want to see a different plan to the one that already technically succeeded in Black Panther.
I'd have rather this whole episode get turned into a montage, and then we get to see what happens when he truly has all that power/army at his disposal.
User Banned (1 Week): Inflammatory and Insensitive Commentary
I have to wonder what would happen if Boseman mentioned his condition to the higher-ups.
Like, this wasn't out of nowhere. He was diagnosed in 2016, the same year he first appeared in Captain America Civil War. Granted, filming was done in 2015, before the diagnosis, but he had a movie lined up in 2018 and roles to play in the Avengers duology.
Though I have to wonder if they didn't expect Black Panther to blow up the way it did.
Still, Boseman knew he was on limited time, and should have mentioned this. Frankly, the fact future movies won't have T'Challa just feels wrong.
Like, this wasn't out of nowhere. He was diagnosed in 2016, the same year he first appeared in Captain America Civil War. Granted, filming was done in 2015, before the diagnosis, but he had a movie lined up in 2018 and roles to play in the Avengers duology.
Though I have to wonder if they didn't expect Black Panther to blow up the way it did.
Still, Boseman knew he was on limited time, and should have mentioned this. Frankly, the fact future movies won't have T'Challa just feels wrong.
It's impressive how an episode that is so rushed can be so boring. Dr Strange episode aside, this has been such a disappointment
These worlds need a conclusion.
I felt like I was watching the birth of Rescue at the end and the show just decided that was enough let's move on.
This show desperately needs clone wars style arcs
I felt like I was watching the birth of Rescue at the end and the show just decided that was enough let's move on.
This show desperately needs clone wars style arcs
T'Challa having almost no presence in Infinity War, but being the first out of the portal in Endgame a year later even though it would make more sense for it to have been Sam, to me has always said they didn't know he'd be as big as he was.
Around the time of his death, reports from his family were that he was absolutely confident he was going to beat the cancer until the last few weeks of his life.
He was also all over the Infinity War marketing. Front and center on posters. A pretty clear indication that they didn't realize how gargantuan he would be.
Oh man, that's tragic....
Still... probably should have had a contingency plan in place.
Btw, there are shots in some of the trailers that do show a continuation to this episode so this one does at least get followed up on.
Welp, there goes my idea that they were going to use this as set up for Black Panther Wakanda Forever and make that film take place outside the sacred timeline.
I was behind a few episodes but caught up tonight. Zombies is actually one of the better episodes I thought. It's got better pacing and felt most like an actual MCU thing out of any of them.
I didn't care for the Killmonger episode because they never believably explained away Nick Fury. Fury and SHIELD would have intervened and put a stop to Killmonger long before it got to where it did.
I didn't care for the Killmonger episode because they never believably explained away Nick Fury. Fury and SHIELD would have intervened and put a stop to Killmonger long before it got to where it did.
I love anthology shows, but this ain't it. Captain Carter, Dr. strange (kinda), the zombies ep, and kinda this one were the best. However, all of these except strange went far too far. They shouldve been multi-parters or has their own shows. None of these have any business being in an anthology show, especially with how open needed Carter and Killmonger were. Anthologies tend to be open ended, but Killmonger stretched it way too much. I'd be shocked if we don't get a follow-up to this episode.
the zombies one was the weakest of the lot imo ... pretty terrible writing. still top is the guardians one
I don't see why Fury would get involved. Killmonger was part of the American armed forces, he was seemingly an ally, there was no reason up front for Nick or SHEILD to even keep tabs on him. Pepper was the only one who caught on to his act and she was skeptical of him from the jump.
Short ass episodes being rushed is hurting this series
Like Disney doesn't have enough $$$$$ to make this an hour long show
Like Disney doesn't have enough $$$$$ to make this an hour long show
Nick Fury had his finger on everything in the Phase 1 era.
No way an elite black ops guy trained specifically in coups goes AWOL to save Stark (instead of alerting authorities or even Stark himself, and the also let the other soldiers die first before stepping in) then has access to Vibranium and is also at the center of the deaths of Rhodes, Stark, and the effing prince of Wakanda without him stepping in. Fury had access to Jarvis as well.
It needed a scene where Killmonger was shown interacting with Hydra or the compromised SHIELD agents because that would explain Fury's ignorance of it all.
Dunno. I was hoping for a 'What if the bad guys win' episode on Killmonger more than anyone else. Still, this is probably the best one yet.
I remember Rick Jones dying making the Kree-Skrull War infinitely better.
In this timeline without Stark becoming Ironman what business would Fury have with him?
If I recall, they legally can't make it more than 42 minutes unless they want to lose the ability to use Spider-Man.
I really don't think they constructed their entire series over whether or not they can use Spider-Man for a single episode (so far).
Perhaps, namely because they probably could've pushed it up to the 42 minute limit if that were the case. I'm just saying that legally speaking, they can't go past that mark without needing to ask Sony first.
That said, we are going to get follow-ups to some of these going by the trailers.
That does make me wonder if Disney could get around that sort of thing by, say, making a series of 22-minute episodes and releasing them two at a time. What's the meaningful difference between 20 two-parters and 10 one-parters? Is that the sort of thing Sony would get litigious over?
The whole point of "What If" is they take one thing from the universe we've been following and change it. "What if Fury Didn't Exist" is its own separate thing.
Sure, but I don't think they constructed their entire series over whether or not they could use Spider-Man. The show entered production well before Invincible premiered so I don't think the idea of an hour long animated series ever entered anyone's mind as a possibility.
even if it did they wouldnt have done it because they would have wanted to use spider-man and the contract they have with sony explicitly says they cant do that.
earnestly none of these have felt rushed enough where i feel like the writers are struggling to make it fit in 30 minutes so i feel like itd just be a slower paced show with even less going on. 30 minutes is fine.
But then the next question will be 'what happened about the next movie villain?' Like seen countless times in this thread.
I just see them as a 'day in the life of' this universe, knowing it will continue but we just watched a single day.
I acknowledge this, but that doesn't save some of the earlier episodes from feeling like unfinished thought.
Yeah, they keep killing off Tony Stark lol.
Man, what an awful timeline that was. Rhodes, dead. Black Panther, dead. Tony Stark, dead. And you got this villain lying his way through everything. "I built the machines to destroy the machines." 4D chess with this guy.
Man, what an awful timeline that was. Rhodes, dead. Black Panther, dead. Tony Stark, dead. And you got this villain lying his way through everything. "I built the machines to destroy the machines." 4D chess with this guy.
