What If? (1×08) What If… Ultron Won? Review

For our review of the last episode of What If?, click here.

So What If? saves its best episode for last as everything many have hoped the series would be appeared to come together here. While merely another tale that will redeem the events of Age of Ultron though with the notable absence of James Spader as Ultron (though the voice they got in his place was fine), the episode also wraps up the events of the season thus far while setting the stage for an exciting season finale. Beyond The Watcher who has served as a narrator and whose presence has increased over the course of the season, the season has slowly established that these episodes are more than just one-offs and have some sort of connection thanks to characters who have somehow sensed his presence. In fact, the episodes are connected but how far the series will go with it remains to be seen. Suffice it to say that those who have been waiting for The Watcher to finally emerge will not be disappointed.

As mentioned, the episode served as a continuation of Age of Ultron by setting up a universe where Ultron had won. It began with Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow (Lake Bell) and Clint Barton / Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) fending off a horde of Ultron’s (Ross Marquand) drones. In this universe, Ultron managed to take Vision’s body and use it as his own. Programmed to bring peace to the planet, he of course took things a little too far. But why settle for just one planet? Laying waste to everything thanks to the Infinity Stones, including Captain Marvel, he found himself alone or at least that’s what it seemed. Though the Watcher was still doing his thing, it did not go unnoticed by Ultron.

Meanwhile, Black Widow and Hawkeye were still searching for a way to defeat Ultron. The Watcher was getting antsy as Ultron was getting closer. The answer was Arnim Zola (Toby Jones), or at least the computerized version of him who could infect Ultron from the inside. He had made multiple copies of himself (the last one was in Captain America: The Winter Soldier) with the only one left being in Siberia. After some careful convincing, he had agreed to help (or risk getting destroyed). With Zola’s consciousness uploaded, he just had to be uploaded to a drone that could then be used to infect Ultron.

With another horde of drones upon them, Zola was uploaded but Ultron was out of range because he was busy with The Watcher. Black Widow and Hawkeye would soon be busy themselves escaping the horde though not both of them would escape. In a reverse of Endgame, Hawkeye ,who was tired of fighting, made the sacrifice. Ultron and The Watcher, who was no slouch, had an epic battle through the multiverse. Barely escaping, The Watcher was met by the new Doctor Strange who offered to help as long as he agreed to break his oath.

So will The Watcher still be the watcher. He could definitely handle himself but a team-up with Doctor Strange will be something. Maybe other versions of characters will join him or at least will their stories find some sort of conclusion? The format will undoubtedly change if not see some tinkering. Who thinks Jeffrey Wright as a live action Watcher is a good idea?

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.