What If? (2×08) What If… The Avengers Assembled in 1602? Review

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

The latest episode of What If? checks back in on where Captain Carter left off following the cliffhanger ending of episode 5. As this episode title suggests, it takes place in 1602, giving viewers another Avengers configuration. This new universe summoned her because they were in need of her help. A universe that The Watcher himself deemed destined to die, Carter was determined to nonetheless save. Meanwhile, the episode definitely stayed true to its setting. With most of the original Avengers cast appearing to voice their roles, this twist made for an interesting dynamic as it showed familiar characters in a different light. The main issue here is a growing series of rifts opening up in the sky as two time periods began to stick together, putting the fate of this new universe in jeopardy. Queen Hela, a casualty of the latest rift, made Carter a target for Thor, the new king. Despite the target on her back, she persisted but possible solutions were limited by the capabilities of the time. As a result, Carter would have to be creative.

Borrowing from classic folklore though with an MCU twist, Carter found herself in the middle of a larger adventure as the key was finding out what or who was causing the 1600s and the early 21st century to stick together. In order to do so, she and the team she assembled needed to acquire the Time Stone from Thor’s scepter. From there, the story became a race against time where everyone played a part across a hectic and action-packed turn of events. Against all odds, this new universe was saved but it would come at a cost that Carter was all too familiar with. Positioned as a major part of this season, her story was far from over as another cliffhanger saw her saved by another familiar face, presumably setting up a season finale that can be anything.

The sheer number of familiar characters (and actors), depicted through a medieval lens and constrained by the setting, easily makes it one of the most entertaining episodes of the series but the format of the series is nowhere near enough to sustain its premise.

still courtesy of Marvel Studios

If you liked this, please read our other reviews here and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter or Instagram or like us on Facebook.

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.