What If…? is now in its eighth and penultimate episode on Disney Plus with a big final twist. Here is our review of What If…? Episode 8
ORIGINAL TITLE: What If… ?. GENDER: Superheroes. COUNTRY: United States. DIRECTOR: AC Bradley. DURATION: 9 episodes, 34 mins approx. DISTRIBUTOR: Disney +. RELEASE: September 27, 2021.
Whatf If…? arrived on Disney Plus in its eighth penultimate episode, thus approaching the end of this first season. An episode that certainly was able to amaze for an unexpected twist in the plot, but which at the same time brought great confusion. What was presented from the beginning as an anthological series, therefore with separate episodes that presented hypothetical universes not linked to each other, seems instead to have a common narrative line. A line that we discover towards the end of the episode and that brings to light many issues of script to be analyzed.
Overall, a choice that is surprising, but not in a positive way, because it appears to be disconnected from the general concept of the series, as well as an attempt to find a common thread of the whole plot at all costs.
When Ultron Is Not Defeated | What If…? Episode 8
Starting from the beginning, it is important to analyze what actually happens in this penultimate episode. We suddenly find ourselves in a hypothetical universe where Ultron is not defeated by the Avengers and therefore rules the world along with its artificial intelligences that control everything and predict every move through technology. The only two survivors to carry on the battle alone are Natasha and Clint, aka Black Widow and Hawkeye that thanks to their gifts of pure strength and cunning move silently in a world controlled by machines. Exhausted and now on the verge of giving up, they are supervised from above by the Observer, who would like to intervene, but his role does not allow him to do so.
The role of the Observer | What If…? Episode 8
Just the Observer, here acquires the role of conducting line of the whole plot of this season: in the past episodes we have simply seen him introduce us to the alternative universes, while here we see him conversing with Ultron and actively intervening in the plot, although without being able to influence the course of events. The observer and Ultron break the third wall, talk to the viewer, talk about what we have seen so far and somehow try to justify it.
This is certainly the real sore point of the episode as well as the one that makes the entire series creak, because it brings us in front of a different concept from the one that was presented. An anthological series, which no longer is, an attempt to unite all the hypothetical worlds we have seen and a consequent questioning of the hypothetical worlds themselves. At this point, everything we’ve seen so far could acquire a new sense towards the ending and could even tie into a single plot. An example of this we see already in the Watcher’s conversation with Dr Strange, which is clearly the product of episode 4 and its hypothetical world.
Conclusion
If throughout this mini series we have always noticed its flaws, hoping for a recovery towards the end, what we have actually seen is a drop that has made a really confusing script overflow. Many and too many elements concerning characters, storylines and contents are stuck in an anthological semblance, to then suggest that they will all be joined towards the end. An end that at this point will also be a way to pull the strings of the entire season, reconnecting all the pieces we have seen up to this point and trying to put them together in this hypothetical context. A final therefore that as spectators takes a lot of work, but at the same time there is the risk that it will not convince us.
Points in favor
- Attempt of narrative twist
Points against
- Hasty storytelling
- Confusing plot
- Detachment from the concept
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