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Disney+ MCU Reflections Issue #32: “What If…” Episode 9

It's the conclusion of the first two-parter in "What If..." and boy is it a doozy. This episode is a culmination of everything we have seen this season. Infinite Ultron presents a threat to the entire multiverse, but he's not the only one. When we left off last week, the Watcher decided to break his oath. Now we pick up with the consequences of that decision.

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Disney+ MCU Reflections, Issue #31: “What If…” Episode 8

Watcher. Comics fans will remember Uatu, a member of the race of Watchers, immortal beings of great power whose duty is to observe events, but never intervenes. In this episode, however, The Watcher not only observes events but finds himself participating when Ultron threatens the existence of every universe. The Watcher becomes a character rather than simply a narrator, and must decide whether or not to violate his Prime Directive.

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Disney+ MCU Reflections, Issue #30: “What If…” Episode 7

"What If..." has not shied away from the darkest alternate possibilities in the MCU. We have watched Killmonger murder both T'Challa and Tony Stark. We witnessed Stephen Strange bring about the end of an entire universe. Even in the mostly lighthearted episode about T'Challa becoming Star Lord, it implied that Ego would end up victorious in that reality. But this week we took a little break from all of that negativity to ask: "What if Thor was a frat bro?"

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Disney+ MCU Reflections, Issue #29: “What If…” Episode 6

usually mean is that a lot of MCU villains are poorly developed, flat, and not very sympathetic. Malekith is probably the most egregious example, but you could include Kaecilius or Whiplash. But sometimes the MCU absolutely nails a villain. That is definitely the case in Black Panther. Killmonger is deeply troubled and carries a traumatized past. His plan was terrifying, but sympathetic too. So it only makes sense that they would bring one of the MCU's most fascinating villains back for a trip through the multiverse.

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Disney+ MCU Reflections, Issue #28: “What If…” Episode 5

There are a few classic horror monsters that have been around so long that it can sometimes be hard to do in a new an interesting way. Sure, I guess you can make your vampires pretty and sparkly, or make Michael J. Fox your werewolf, but zombies have been around in film so long that it's hard to make them new. Even "The Walking Dead" got boring by Season Five and anyone who tells you otherwise is deluding themselves. But wait a second, this is the MCU, and we're experimenting with alternate timelines. That means our zombies could use weapons, like the Iron Man suit, or magic and superpowers. Holy crap, that means this week we are asking: "What if... zombies!?"