Close Menu
  • Login
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Video Games
      • Previews
      • PC
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X/S
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Xbox One
      • PS4
      • Tabletop
    • Film
    • TV
    • Anime
    • Comics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse Comics
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Indie Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • Oni-Lion Forge
      • Valiant Comics
      • Vault Comics
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Event Coverage
    • BWT Recommends
    • RSS Feeds
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Support Us
But Why Tho?
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Trending:
  • Features
    Momo and Okarun share a close moment in Dandadan

    Momo And Okarun: The Gold Standard For Shonen Romance

    07/03/2025
    Ironheart Episodes 4 6 But Why Tho 1

    ‘Ironheart’ Explained: Explore MCU’s Bold New Chapter

    07/01/2025
    Buck in 9-1-1

    ‘9-1-1’ Has To Let Buck Say Bisexual

    06/29/2025
    Nintendo Welcome Tour promotional image of the maraca mini-game

    The One “Game” That Justifies The Nintendo Switch 2 Purchase

    06/25/2025
    Destiel Confession in Supernatural - Castiel (Misha Collins) and Dean (Jensen Ackles)

    The Destiel Confession: The Lasting Importance Of Supernatural’s Greatest Ship

    06/22/2025
  • Squid Game
  • K-Dramas
  • Netflix
  • Switch 2 Games
  • Summer Game Fest
But Why Tho?
Home » TV » REVIEW: ‘What If…?’ Season 2 Continues What It Started

REVIEW: ‘What If…?’ Season 2 Continues What It Started

Sarah MusnickyBy Sarah Musnicky12/22/20234 Mins Read
What If... Season 2
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

With the MCU in a rut, something has got to fill the creatively weird and zany void in our Marvel-loving hearts. What better way to fill in that dose of strange with What If…? Season 2. Heralded by the ever-present Watcher (Jeffrey Wright), the latest season re-embraces the anthology format of its predecessor and takes us through a variety of different takes on the familiar. After all, it is just a matter of asking, what if…But, with all of that said, the episodes are mixed in tone, pacing, and execution in the beginning.  It isn’t until the season dives into storylines planted in the previous season that it finds its stride.

True to its nature, the first three episodes stand alone. Ranging from neo-noir to a Die Hard-esque Christmas special, viewers are allowed to explore different realms of the MCU. Each story features a twist on the familiar, which will excite both new and old fans alike. However, it isn’t until we reach Episode 4 that the anthological format shifts. Building off of the Watcher’s actions from the previous season, the ripple effect is felt across the multiverse.

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Taking centerstage during this is Captain Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell). As a soldier and tool for others to use, Captain Carter is an object of pity and wonder. But with each episode she’s in, her growth and strength dazzle, and you can’t help but remember why she’s much-beloved. It’s what makes the end of her journey this season most impactful. That, and she’s a prime-time example of why our choices and decisions matter in What If…? Season 2.

Captain Peggy Carter isn’t the only hero worth watching in What If…? Season 2. The brand-new character, Kahori (Devery Jacobs), is a welcome addition to the MCU. The development of the Mohawk tribe in the MCU and how Kahori and her people come into their own power is well done. Without giving too much away, Kahori’s motivation to protect her people is something we can all relate to. And, when brought back into the overarching story later on in the season, there’s something awfully telling in how her narrative gets shifted by nefarious hands.

What If. Season 2 But Why Tho 1

Regarding the storytelling, the inclusion of the 1602 storyline is adjusted particularly for the overarching narrative we’re seeing play out. For comic-book fans, this may either annoy or excite you. For the purpose of the anthological format and taking into account the whole multiverse angle of it all, how writers A. C. Bradley and Ryan Little tackled this specific episode and adapted it to make it fit is pretty spectacular. If you’re looking for comic-book accuracy, though, you’re going to be out of luck.

The animation across the board is fascinating. The movement of the characters, particularly in the fight scenes, is fluid. It almost makes you forget how much of a time filler these fight scenes generally are in the MCU. That said, they do take up a lot of time across the season. What truly takes the breath away is the detailed work put into the settings. Whether it’s the Blade Runner-evoking planet of Xandar, the speedy roadway of Sakaar, or the South Dakota Badlands of Kahori’s tribe, the backgrounds are almost like a painting.

What If…? Season 2 starts off as you’d expect an anthology to be. The first three episodes lure you into a false sense of security, with each one feeling markedly different from the next. It isn’t until Episode 4 that the series finally settles in to tackle the meat of the story. While it should be noted that Episode 4 was originally intended for the previous season, it does bring up a feeling of frustration. If What If…? Season 2 was going to build off of what it had started in Season 1, why spend the first couple of episodes with stories not otherwise connected with the overarching plot?

What If…? Season 2 should be celebrated for building on the Watcher’s actions from the previous season. Introducing Kahori to the MCU also offers us an intriguing new hero that highlights the fine line power can bring. With Captain Peggy Carter’s story played out in a satisfactory way, there’s much good here. But the first three episodes do muck with the pacing of the series, and the continued reliance on long action sequences (a criticism that can likely be directed toward many MCU projects) lessens the overall impact of the series’ storytelling.

What If…? Season 2 is now playing on Disney+, with new episodes released daily.

What If...? Season 2
  • 7.5/10
    Rating - 7.5/10
7.5/10

TL; DR

What If…? Season 2 should be celebrated for building on the Watcher’s actions from the previous season. But the first three episodes do muck with the pacing of the series, and the continued reliance on long action sequences (a criticism that can likely be directed toward many MCU projects) lessens the overall impact of the series’ storytelling.

  • Watch Now on Disney+ with Our Affiliate Link

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous ArticleREVIEW: ‘Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End’ Episode 16 — “Long-Lived Friends”
Next Article REVIEW: ‘Dunki’ Is Simplistic Storytelling Buoyed by Heart and Charisma
Sarah Musnicky

Sarah is a writer and editor for BWT. When she's not busy writing about KDramas, she's likely talking to her cat. She's also a Rotten Tomatoes Certified critic and a published author of both fiction and non-fiction.

Related Posts

Taecyeon and Seohyun in The First Night With The Duke Episodes 7-8
7.5

REVIEW: ‘The First Night With The Duke’ Episodes 7-8

07/03/2025
Anthony Ramos in Ironheart Episodes 4-6

REVIEW: ‘Ironheart’ Episodes 4-6

07/01/2025
The Bear Season 4 But Why Tho 3
7.0

REVIEW: ‘The Bear’ Season 4 Tries to Bounce Back

06/30/2025
Squid Game Season 3
9.5

REVIEW: ‘Squid Game’ Season 3 Delivers An Emotion-Filled Finale

06/27/2025
Taecyeon in The First Night With The Duke Episodes 5-6
7.5

REVIEW: ‘The First Night With The Duke’ Episodes 5-6

06/26/2025
Cho Yi-hyun in Head Over Heels Episodes 1-2
8.0

REVIEW: ‘Head Over Heels’ Episodes 1-2

06/24/2025

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here
TRENDING POSTS
Taecyeon and Seohyun in The First Night With The Duke Episodes 7-8
7.5
TV

REVIEW: ‘The First Night With The Duke’ Episodes 7-8

By Sarah Musnicky07/03/2025

The First Night With The Duke Episodes 7-8 spends welcome time in pre-domestic bliss before new developments stir up trouble.

Together (2025) still from Sundance
8.0
Film

REVIEW: Have A Grossly Good Time ‘Together’

By Kate Sánchez01/27/2025Updated:07/04/2025

Dave Franco and Alison Brie’s Together (2025) is disgustingly funny, genuinely ugly, and just a good time at the movies.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 and 4 Alcatraz
9.0
PS5

REVIEW: ‘Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3 + 4’ Gives Old Games New Life

By Kyle Foley07/07/2025

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 and 4 is another example of how to breathe new life into a classic without losing touch of what makes the originals great.

Black Women Anime — But Why Tho (9) BWT Recommends

10 Black Women in Anime That Made Me Feel Seen

By LaNeysha Campbell11/11/2023Updated:12/03/2024

Black women are some of anime’s most iconic characters, and that has a big impact on Black anime fans. Here are some of our favorites.

But Why Tho?
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS YouTube Twitch
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Review Score Guide
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small contribution.
Written Content is Copyright © 2025 But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

But Why Tho Logo

Support Us!

We're able to keep making content thanks to readers like YOU!
Support independent media today with
Click Here