The first season of What If...? is an American animated anthology series from Marvel Studios that explores alternate timelines in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), showing what might happen if key moments from the MCU films occurred differently. It premiered on Disney+ on August 11, 2021, and consists of 9 episodes, concluding on October 6, 2021
. Key details about Season 1:
- The series is narrated by Jeffrey Wright as the Watcher, who observes these alternate realities
- The season features many MCU actors reprising their roles in voice form.
- Notable storylines include Peggy Carter becoming the first super soldier instead of Steve Rogers, T'Challa becoming Star-Lord, and a zombie outbreak affecting the Avengers
- The season was produced by Marvel Studios Animation with A. C. Bradley as head writer and Bryan Andrews directing
- The episodes explore pivotal moments from the MCU's Infinity Saga and creatively reimagine them, often with darker or unexpected outcomes, such as heroes dying or tragic endings
- The season received generally positive reviews for voice acting and creative storytelling, though some criticism was directed at the animation style and episode length
- The season also introduced a story arc that connects episodes, culminating in the final episode where the Watcher breaks his oath to intervene
- The show was part of Phase Four of the MCU and helped expand the multiverse concept introduced in other MCU projects like Loki
Overall, What If...? Season 1 offers a fresh, imaginative take on familiar MCU characters and stories by exploring alternate possibilities within the multiverse framework
