What If…?: 8 Unpopular Opinions About The MCU Show (According To Reddit)

Marvel’s What If…? gave fans some wild possibilities in the multiverse, switching up the roles of the MCU’s established characters and introducing some shocking storylines. It’s not surprising that the show has stirred up debates and unpopular opinions within the fandom.

MCU fans have taken their more controversial views to Reddit where other commenters can chime in and share their thoughts on the unpopular opinions. With the recent conclusion of the first season of What If…?, it’s the perfect time to delve into some of the fans’ more contentious sentiments about the show.

The First Episode Is The Weakest

Season 1 of What If…? started on a high note, with Captain Carter’s introduction as the world’s first Super Soldier instead of Steve Rogers. SuperDaly10 isn’t too impressed by the episode, though, saying “it’s the weakest episode due to it being a retelling of a movie instead of an original story.”

While episode 1 may not present the strangest alternate reality in What If…?, it still serves as the ideal introduction to the show. The fact that it retells Captain America: The First Avenger through Peggy Carter’s experiences shows viewers what the series is all about. As Ultron explains in the last episode, each universe can have slight differences. There aren’t always going to be drastic changes like Marvel zombies – the small details are part of the appeal.

The Art Style Is Not Distinctive

What If…? is an exciting venture into the world of animation for both the show’s creators and its fans. Some of its viewers like Rishi_Eel don’t appreciate the art style, however, explaining how “too much effort was put into making the facial features exactly match those of the actors.” They argue that its art style is “not distinctive.”

The experienced illustrator behind What If…? actually made it a point to keep the characters as similar to the actors as possible. In an interview with The Verge, Ryan Meinerding talks about how they were aiming for a look that was realistic yet stylized. The illustrator with over a decade of experience in the industry explains that part of the fun of the show is being able to take “something that’s based in reality” and translating it in a “monumental and powerful” way. It makes sense that the animated series is still grounded within the MCU’s original palette and art style. Its established actors have become familiar faces for the franchise’s fans who would likely want to see realistic but improved depictions of the actors who play as the superheroes.

The Jokes Are Annoying

Humor is a crucial part of any MCU film or series and it’s no different for this show. The Redditor ambivalentbasil thinks that creators took it too far this time, though, pointing out how the “jokes and the side comments” are annoying. They add that there are not enough “serious moments anymore.”

Most fans would agree that comedy has become an important aspect of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. A lot of the best quotes from What If…? are humorous lines from characters like Peggy Carter and Scott Lang. The show wouldn’t be the same without witty side comments that can help lighten the mood and make viewers laugh. These don’t usually take away from the gravity of its darker moments, like Tony Stark and Bruce Banner’s death.

The Voice Acting Is Horrendous

Fans were likely thrilled to learn that several MCU actors returned for What If…? to voice the iconic characters. The user nyeehhsquidward isn’t impressed by their voice acting, though, describing their work as “horrendous.” They highlight how the “trained voice actors replacing the missing stars are outshining” actors like Chris Hemsworth and Sebastian Stan.

Much like how the show’s creators decided it would be best to stick to a realistic art style that’s still based on the MCU’s established brand, it makes sense that the show would feature familiar voices. It would be weird to hear characters like Doctor Strange and Peggy Carter with completely new voices, after all. While the voice acting isn’t perfect, it’s far from being awful, as the celebrities are still able to bring the superheroes to life in an entertaining way.

The Episodes Are Too Short

What If…? had mostly 30-minute episodes that were often action-packed and fast-paced. This doesn’t sit right with Mhunterjr who says that their “only real complaint is that they are too short” and give viewers “little opportunity to breathe.”

This is an issue that has been addressed by the show’s head writer A.C. Bradley, who appeared on Deadline’s Hero Nation podcast. He admits that because of the pandemic, they had to trim down the episodes, which were originally meant to be around 45 minutes. However, he explains that the shorter length also allowed them to stay “true to the comics” which often end with cliffhangers. The shorter episodes enabled them to pick “the best parts” and most fans would agree that they did it well.

T’Challa’s Star-Lord Is Unrealistic

The second episode of What If…? has quickly become a fan favorite, thanks to its depiction of one of the most powerful variants of Star-Lord. T’Challa’s Star-Lord was a bit too powerful for the Redditor Slippery_boi, though, who says that the Wakandan royal “feels like a Sue at times with how hyper-competent and successful he is.”

It makes sense that T’Challa is able to positively impact the Ravagers, save Drax’s family, and stop Thanos’ evil plan. Unlike Peter Quill, he’s not an average person who has no previous experience with diplomatic relations and political decisions. At a young age, the prince has already seen how his father is able to successfully run his kingdom. His motivations and prior experiences give him a significant advantage over other Star-Lord variants in the multiverse.

The Emotional Moments Don’t Work At All

As expected from a show that often reveals what could go terribly wrong if characters make certain decisions, there are several emotional scenes that highlight the consequences of the heroes’ actions. According to Cydonian___FT14X, these “emotional moments (other than episode 4) don’t work at all.”

Most fans would probably say that it’s not just Doctor Strange’s episode that brought them to tears. Since the show was made with long-time MCU fans in mind, most viewers know and love the characters in the series. This makes moments like Natasha Romanoff’s introduction into a universe that “lost their Widow” and Clint Barton’s death emotional moments for audiences. Despite these events taking place in alternate realities, they still happen to the superheroes that fans know and love.

The Show Is Too Dark

What If…? is meant to ask intriguing questions about what would happen if pivotal moments don’t take place as they did in the movies. The user DMMSB isn’t too happy about the answers the show presents, saying that its storylines are “almost too dark.”

Part of the appeal of the series is that it doesn’t shy away from asking difficult questions and showing wild results. Its heartbreaking and often shocking moments keep viewers interested in the twisted events of the multiverse. From Doctor Strange’s monstrous transformation to the horrifying zombie takeover, the show emphasizes how different things can be outside of the hopeful universe fans have grown used to. It’s a creative and bold approach that makes every new episode an unexpected and exciting one.

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