If last week’s episode of What If…? didn’t particularly capture the feeling and overall tone of the concept, this week does that and then some. It’s also the last appearance for Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa. The second episode of Marvel Studios’ What If…? combines the fun of the concept of the show with a story that really needs to be a movie the more I’ve watched this episode. Those heartstrings will get tugged on, but you’ll be left with a happy ending though the whole episode.

This Proves That Marvel Has Something Special With What If…?

The basic plot for this episode is, what if T’Challa was the one that Yondu kidnapped instead of Peter Quill. The voice cast retains everyone that you’d want to hear in the episode, including Josh Brolin as Thanos. Yes, Thanos makes a huge appearance in this story. If you loved Guardians of the Galaxy, you’re going to really appreciate this episode. It takes that concept of throwing together characters and seeing what sticks. By the time we’re in the meat of the episode, our big bad isn’t who you’d think it is. What they’re fighting over isn’t trivial either and it ties up the other question of “what happens to Peter Quill?”.

The action in this episode is just as great, if not better than the previous one. It takes the Marvel relationships that you know and turns them slightly off-kilter. You get a heroic moment from Thanos, and there’s a villain that makes clear sense here. Finally, there’s more Howard the Duck. That’s it for spoilers though, watch the episode.

Chadwick Boseman’s performance isn’t his last, if reports are true, and his voice is used in other places in What If…?. But this was a fitting way for him to go out. That once-in-lifetime performance he’s given as T’Challa and Black Panther is here in full force. You hang on every word. It really goes to show just how magical of a performer that Boseman was.

My Only Criticism Is That We Didn’t Get Enough

This episode captured that same Guardians of the Galaxy quality that the first film captivated us all with. That weird, quirky, but familiar feeling with all these characters coming together. Episode Two of What If…? made me want more. I want more of T’Challa as Starlord, I want more of Thanos as a good guy. It just makes me want more of everything this episode had to offer. Obviously we have a season two of the show coming, but like with Black Panther, it’s impossible to replace Chadwick Boseman. His performance takes this episode from being great to an all-time piece of Marvel entertainment.

The rest of the cast including Djimon Hounsou, Michael Rooker, Sean Gunn, and most of the other Ravagers return and Hounsou in particular really changes his character up. He becomes a loveable goon in a way that his original character was not. It’s moments and performances like this that make What If…? a show that has so much promise. That promise is on full display in this episode and we’re all better off for it.

If you didn’t enjoy the previous episode because it was derivative of a previous Marvel movie in Captain America: The First Avenger, you’ll be pleasantly and wonderfully surprised by this second episode.

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