What If… Captain Carter was the First Avenger?
During the later era of the MCU’s Phase 1, Marvel Studios took a step ahead in pleasing audiences with the inclusion of One-Shots in the home media releases for Blu-Ray and digital access. Beginning as cool Easter eggs-driven shorts seeking to either provide just a little extra to the movies we already loved, or to actually add to the widening reality that was the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Of the five One-Shots released, the fourth and most memorable was one based on Peggy Carter in the days following Steve Rogers’ supposed death. Having joined the Strategic Scientific Reserve (SSR) following WWII, Peggy’s now relegated to a desk and suffocated by the oppressive rule of her sexist boss, John Flynn–a role Bradley Whtiford resumes in this episode. When the opportunity rises, however, Peggy successfully handles a mission solo, but is reprimanded for it… only to be recruited by Howard Stark to lead the newly formed S.H.I.E.L.D.
The One-Shot was successful enough to spawn a critically acclaimed but short-lived TV series, Agent Carter, which functioned both as a prequel, and replacement series to the better known Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Unfortunately, it didn’t last very long, getting nixed following a second season and a total of 18 episodes.
Thankfully, Peggy Carter has been a long favourite among fans, and while she’s been Captain America in the comics already, she has finally hit the screen as Captain Carter, delivering a character for whom fans have long clamoured.
Captain Carter’s journey is obviously different from her comic book counterpart’s, but What If…? offers all the hope that she might be more than just a novelty character confined to this series.
Bring her on, Marvel!
What If T’Challa Joined the… Pacifiers?
Related: Black Panther is the Hero the World Needs Now!
The loss of Chadwick Boseman has hit film and fans in ways we couldn’t have expected. Despite a relatively short tenure in the MCU, Boseman’s take on the iconic Black Panther was nothing short of seminal, setting the bar high for the superhero cause. In just three years, Boseman left an indelible mark on the MCU, and his influence is felt even today.
Straying a little further from Captain Carter, this second episode of What If…? isn’t as particularly seamlessly integrated into the MCU’s prior continuity. In a bit of a stretch, the Ravagers, delegated with a task by Yondu, end up recruiting a young T’Challa instead of Peter Quill… cue multiverse-wide rejoicing by fans who still blame Peter for the Blip.
But the bigger picture is the impact of T’Challa’s leadership and idealism. Say what you will about his forefathers’ decisions, T’Chaka must have raised the boy right if he could convince even Thanos to lay down his plans. This episode racks up even more fan-service references than the last, but the true beauty lands in the still-appropriate alternate lives led by the other could-be members of the Guardians of the Galaxy… especially Peter.
While there’s clearly more to What If…? then we’ve been told, this some “quiet” episode (in big picture terms) interestingly points not to what we are being shown, but rather, what we aren’t being shown… like what’s happening with Gamora?