By Rob LoAlbo

Spoilers for episodes 1-3

Since the time Marvel delved into the television realm a few months ago on Disney+, we’ve since gotten some great episodic, must-see tv that generated a good deal of heat and attention. Taking many chances with its format and approach to the MCU, Kevin Feige and Co. pushed the brand in many new and interesting directions. After three fairly-high quality-almost home run shows (that last episode of Falcon & Winter Soldier, tho), the track record is strong.

So, in the vein of chance-taking, it makes sense that Marvel would develop a show like the recent What If…? If you’re not familiar, here’s the premise: based on the popular comic book line of the same name, the story follows The Watcher, a sentient being who observes but doesn’t interfere with the galactic goings-on of members of the MCU, as he retells various previously told storylines with our all-too familiar characters. The twist is that they are taking place in the Multiverse, with each story allowing for one small change that alters the entire outcome of the story, showing the many possibilities within each timeline. For example, we are retold the Guardians of the Galaxy story but with one small event altered: what if Yondu picked up T’Challa instead of Peter Quill? You get the idea.

The voice cast is stellar, bringing back just about everyone who has ever appeared in a Marvel movie (minus Downey, Evans, and Johansson). It’s fascinating to see everyone joining in on the (contractually obligated?) fun, even giving us the late Chadwick Boseman’s final performance. The storytelling is geeky, on-point, and riveting. The show’s imagination and sense of humor is well-developed and faithfully honors the intent of the original material. The show utilizes cel-shading animation which gives 2D objects a 3D feel, feeling like a video game or a comic book come to life. It’s a clever cost-cutting way of bringing all of these individuals into the same room without making them actually show up on screen. In short, it’s craft is astounding.

So why am I having a hard time enjoying this show?

First, I have to say that I’m not alone. There are many who have not made this appointment television for them the way Loki and WandaVision was, where each week ended with us gasping and immediately turning to social media for support. Thus far, the social media chatter is mostly based on the concept, with each person developing their own scenarios rather than engaging in discussion of the show. Even in my very Marvel-centric household, one of us has checked out, one of us is on the fence, and I am of the “I’ll get around to it eventually” mentality. For many, it’s just not a must-see, and for those of us watching, some, like me, are struggling.

So, having watched the first three aired episodes, here’s what I think are the major problems with the show.

First and foremost, it’s animated

I know it’s not just me as I’ve read that many people have been having trouble with the animation style. Yet, I am grappling with it on a much more fundamental level, with the concept of it being animated in the first place. Being animated, the action has lost the “wow” factor for me because physics and choreography aren’t registering in my brain. As someone who loves to study the art of filmmaking, I have trouble seeing the art here (and remember: I loved Into the Spiderverse!). It might be because when I’ve experienced these characters before in the MCU, those were the ones I cared about, not these cartoons. That I am getting the cartoon version of the SAME characters here, it’s just not the same feeling and level of engagement. Perhaps it might work if these were new characters not yet introduced or were not trying so hard to mimic their IRL counterparts. But because they are animated, they are not human to me like their movie alter egos. I loved watching the show Agent Peggy Carter, but here when she decides to take the mantle of Cap over Steve Rogers, I can appreciate her character’s direction but I can’t connect to her as a cartoon. Yes, there are many who LOVE the DC animated universe and gobble up every expertly crafted film and show they have, and I’m sure that they are quality shows, but I just can’t get into them BECAUSE they’re animated.

The concept of What If…? is intriguing, but ultimately I can’t care

*We’re not even supposed to be here today!*

It’s a neat concept for a storyline, played out with Fight Decks all the time. But when we have to sit back and watch an episode where The Avengers all get killed off one by one (episode 3), I have trouble with any kind of stakes because I know that no matter what happens in the show, it all gets reset at the end of the episode. Hulk blows up and dies? Meh, he’ll return next week. A scrawny Steve Rogers uses the Iron Man suit in 1945? Clever, but what else? What is the ultimate impact of these choices and character arcs other than just a slight geek out at what could have been? Sure, it was cool that T’Challa was able to convince Thanos away from his genocidal plan here, but he actually didn’t in our MCU- half the universe was STILL snapped away. It’s rumored that Chadwick Boseman will show up in 4 more episodes as different versions of himself, so all that goodwill he garnered in episode 2 is now lost when the next half hour airs. It’s the same problem I have with historical fiction movies: their stories are valid, but ultimately I can’t care because they never really happened as they end when the movie ends.

Returning characters are stiff, as a result of animation and storyline

I should start by mentioning that not every actor is a voice actor. Watching Michael Douglas frantically scream his lines as Hank Pym reminded me of that fact. Louder and faster does not make one’s voice animated. So while some actors who are amazingly effective at conveying their acting through their voices (is there anything Chadwick Boseman can’t do? Really?!?) those who rely on movement and facial expressions have a hard time conveying emotion. So although it was a welcome delight to see Clark Gregg’s Agent Coulson again, we aren’t really seeing him now are we? Without the droll facial reactions and physical comic timing, it’s pretty bland. So many of the things we loved about these characters are missing, and their appearances play much like a badly organized, ill-advised, over-the-hill reunion tour where the band just isn’t playing as well as it used to.

The characters and moments are sometimes too insidery

*Remember me? No, not Swiper the monkey…*

Many of the episodes are shot for shot remakes of past MCU filmes. Multiple scenarios and moments are replayed but with that one twist in mind. Yes, you can still follow the story, but there is so much required pre-viewing in order to get all the moments. This week’s episode even managed to ret-con The Incredible Hulk into the fold, putting Mark Ruffalo in the Ed Norton driving seat (is the MCU trying to gaslight us?). The second episode took plotlines and characters from Black Panther, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 1 and Vol 2, and Avengers: Infinity War, so for anyone tuning in for a half hour of escapism, you might be buried in homework. Don’t remember who Taserface or The Collector is? You’re out of luck on those in-jokes. It’s like standing around the cool kids at school and laughing just because everyone else is but not really knowing what the in-joke is. With that approach, these episodes turn into nostalgia porn instead of clever storytelling.

Ultimately, none of this impacts anything

WIth the reset button being pushed each week, there is no connective tissue between each episode, so no matter what a character accomplishes, or doesn’t, week to week, it doesn’t matter with the series. If the shows had some threads that we could spot week to week it would make us feel smart, like we do when in the films a character pops up from another Marvel movie. There are ramifications when that happens in the MCU, but in this show, a character showing up or going away means nothing. This week Iron Man died, but I know I shouldn’t grieve because I’ve seen him in the commercials for an episode involving him and Kilmonger. (None of it matters and chaos rules!) And that’s just the show: these events have NOTHING to do with the movies. Zero impact. We love the MCU because it’s an ongoing story with many webbed connections spanning huge timeframes. When we take a sidequest like this that comes to nothing, it’s received as a waste of time. We love the MCU because the story is always advancing and growing: this show just gives us discarded script ideas.

With six episodes still to go, I’m hoping to be wrong on these points because I want to enjoy the show. Maybe it has some growing pains to get through. Maybe some connective tissue will be revealed in future episodes and these events will impact the MCU. It’s not for lack of effort on the showrunners; everyone seems to be trying their hardest at bringing quality Marvel material to the small screen. I just feel that the concept is not worth exploring in nine half-hour animated episodes. It’s a bust despite itself, but at least Marvel is trying something different while the rest of the superhero world goes to see ANOTHER Batman movie (no, no...this time it’s grittier and with more villains!)

*Zombies eat brains: don’t worry, you’re safe.*

Welp, at least I have the What If…? zombie episode to look forward to.

Star City Rating: 2 of 5

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