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Bocaj Funny but not helpful from Here or thereabouts (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
Funny but not helpful
#301: Aug 18th 2021 at 7:18:42 AM

I will admit that I uttered “what the fuck” when it was revealed that T’Challa talked Thanos out of his infinity plan

Anyway, hope this convinces anyone who was worried that the What If series was going to just go through movie plots. Because this went in a radically different direction

I liked that the Collector got to show his chops and that he’s a lot more dangerous when against someone that isn’t Thanos with several infinity stones and that he got to do his thing of busting open the collection to fight with

I thought the Howard cameo was going to amount to more but oh well

and in defense of Peter Quill he started from a much worse emotional place than T’Challa and wasn’t trained from birth to eventually become a king. Instead of raising up the Ravagers he got dragged down by them somewhat. I’m not going to blame him for not managing the ludicrous CHA goal of talking down an arc villain

On that note, it is funny how the ending scene with Ego kind of uses that “divert from the main timeline and suffer” thing that What If used a lot while not being as egregious with it. T’Challa Star-Lord has been a net benefit for the universe but Peter is in a worse position to resist Ego now without the bonds he made to the Guardians. As the Watcher said, this could result in the end of the world. The imperfect Peter Quill is what is needed for the universe to muddle on through. Just like him fucking up against Thanos was apparently necessary for the ONE path of victory Strange saw

I quite enjoyed the episode

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TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#302: Aug 18th 2021 at 7:40:41 AM

The setup was a little WTFy and I had a few beefs. Thanos being on the team weirded me out; especially the way his desire to murder half the universe was treated as a wacky quirk. "Ha ha, it's funny 'cause they told him to its face that he's a genocidal monster!" Um. Sure.

Also, Star-Lord is a title Quill's mom gave him as previously noted. Similarly, T'Challa never had a problem with Wakandan isolationism until Character Development well into his adulthood caused him to see reason. So "T'Challa is a rebellious scamp who chafes under the yoke of Wakandan isolationism and yearns for freedom, winding up becoming the legendary Star-Lord" didn't really work for me as an explanation for how we got here.

I also felt that Yondu, like Thanos, is a darker character than this episode gives him credit for. He's a remorseless pirate noted as the evilest remorseless pirate; he was exiled from the Ravagers when he violated the remorseless pirate code by trafficking children - and that's a plural; he had a business relationship with Ego. Quill wasn't a one-time job. Yondu's one and only redeeming quality is his love for Quill; it's hard to imagine him pulling a complete 180 and willingly becoming Galactic Robin Hood.

Everybody in this episode felt horribly flanderized. Except the Collector, anyway.

But despite my qualms with how they set it up, I still had a good time with the events themselves once it got going. The characters felt wrong and the beats around Thanos, in particular grossed me out. But the action was good and the drama, particularly surrounding Wakanda and T'Challa's father was heart-wrenching.

Also I cracked up on that final scene. Watcher's like, "And then everyone died horribly when Ego's master plan went off without a hitch. The end." What a note to end on. [lol]

Edited by TobiasDrake on Aug 18th 2021 at 7:42:11 AM

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HandsomeRob Leader of the Holey Brotherhood from The land of broken records Since: Jan, 2015
Leader of the Holey Brotherhood
#303: Aug 18th 2021 at 8:08:58 AM

I also enjoyed this. Yeah, the Thanos thing was weird, but I suppose we have to assume T'chala talked him out of the plan at a very early point in time.

It does raise the question of where Gamora is though.

I also kinda feel sorry for Quill. He has two great accomplishments (saving Xandar, and then the entire universe) and not only did the Infinity War / Endgame duo logy render them moot (by Thanos just rolling in and decimating Xandar and then the Snap), but now this series shows the universe would not only be 100 times better if he'd never been kidnapped, but he ultimately amounts to even less than he is in the main universe, and will now be responsible for it's destruction by virtue of not having the emotional support to resist Ego's manipulation.

Though with some luck, maybe T'challa will help save him as well.

One Strip! One Strip!
Ohmknight _(o)_ from the End Since: Jul, 2020 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
_(o)_
#304: Aug 18th 2021 at 8:15:22 AM

[up]Yeah. I don't think this will be the last time we see this particular universe.

Edited by Ohmknight on Aug 18th 2021 at 11:15:51 PM

The Final Name
Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#305: Aug 18th 2021 at 8:18:02 AM

I'd like to revisit this one but Chadwick Boseman's death does throw a wrench into things.

jjjj2 from Arrakis Since: Jul, 2015
#306: Aug 18th 2021 at 8:22:14 AM

It's animation. They can just replace the voice. That's what they're doing for Tony in fact.

You can only write so much in your forum signature. It's not fair that I want to write a piece of writing yet it will cut me off in the mid
TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
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#307: Aug 18th 2021 at 8:24:23 AM

It's what they already did for Steve. Hydra-Stomper Steve Rogers is played by Josh Keaton, best known for providing the voice of Spectacular Spider-Man's Peter Parker. From a skinny kid in Queens to a skinny kid in Brooklyn.

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Bocaj Funny but not helpful from Here or thereabouts (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
Funny but not helpful
#308: Aug 18th 2021 at 8:25:01 AM

If I do have a question about things its why the Black Order doesn't seem to have a connection to Thanos here. Or it doesn't really come up. You'd think they'd have something to say to each other but they're treated as just elite mooks.

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HalfFaust Since: Jan, 2019
#309: Aug 18th 2021 at 8:57:35 AM

[up] I guess maybe T'Challa got to Thanos before he ever recruited them? So he only knows them by reputation. Though I'm not sure if that works timeline-wise.

Yeah, it seems like What If is totally fine with re-voicing. Though this episode got a very impressive amount of actors pack: Quill is the only one I know changed.

jakobitis Doctor of Doctorates from Somewhere, somewhen Since: Jan, 2015 Relationship Status: I'd need a PowerPoint presentation
Doctor of Doctorates
#310: Aug 18th 2021 at 9:11:55 AM

Some of the characters did feel "off" but I can roll with that as they are NOT "our" versions. Just because Mainline T'Challa was fine with isolationism (until he wasn't) doesn't mean THIS one is. Same for Thanos, Yondu etc.

I don't think we're supposed to go in thinking this is EXACTLY the same except for the one point of divergence. There may have been smaller differences that were less consequential than the "main" one.

"These 'no-nonsense' solutions of yours just don't hold water in a complex world of jet-powered apes and time travel."
magnumtropus Since: Aug, 2020
#311: Aug 18th 2021 at 9:20:50 AM

For all we know, Young T'Challa started out curious about the world, but became more isolationist as he grew up. Maybe he began to understand where his father's cynicism came from.

Edited by magnumtropus on Aug 18th 2021 at 8:23:23 PM

Ohmknight _(o)_ from the End Since: Jul, 2020 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
_(o)_
#312: Aug 18th 2021 at 9:32:30 AM

What I'm wondering is how the character pages will be done. Will we be putting tropes for every variant character in this series?

The Final Name
AlleyOop Since: Oct, 2010
#313: Aug 18th 2021 at 9:34:53 AM

So far it seems like What If is going pretty hard with the Fix Fic. A lot of the choices here felt a little iffy, but I guess that is the nature of taking risks. I'm looking forward to the zombie one or whichever episodes start to go into darker territory.

Asherinka from Winterfell Since: Jan, 2018
#314: Aug 18th 2021 at 9:36:00 AM

[up][up][up]I'd rather not think too much about it and just enjoy the ride.

[up][up]We are creating subfolders for variants who are sufficiently different from their main counterparts and play an important role in the series on the same pages where main characters are. We are adding a single Alternate Self entry to the folder of the main character otherwise.

All variants who got separate subfolders are currently highlighted in bold script here: What If…? (2021).

[up]I'm looking forward to the Doctor Strange one. It should be dark and emotional, and there are rumors it might affect the main continuity. And he is one of my favorite characters.

Edited by Asherinka on Aug 18th 2021 at 7:42:35 PM

Of all the things at risk, the loss of an objective reality is perhaps the most dangerous.
jouXIII The One Who Knows Many Things from Between the Multiverses (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Shipping fictional characters
The One Who Knows Many Things
#315: Aug 18th 2021 at 9:45:20 AM

The moment I saw good!Thanos, I had to pause and laugh nearly a minute.

@HandsomeRob Gamora most likely is still in Zen-Whoberi(her home planet), since it's possible that Thanos never attacked it in this timeline due to him going straight.

Edited by jouXIII on Aug 18th 2021 at 7:46:26 PM

I assure you, I'm perfectly trustable person
Asherinka from Winterfell Since: Jan, 2018
#316: Aug 18th 2021 at 9:47:08 AM

[up] Or Gamora will decide that while Thanos grew soft, she shouldn't, and will become the Galactic Conqueror instead of him.

Of all the things at risk, the loss of an objective reality is perhaps the most dangerous.
Bocaj Funny but not helpful from Here or thereabouts (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
Funny but not helpful
#317: Aug 18th 2021 at 9:48:29 AM

I see it less fix fic and more that the writers had certain characters they wanted to play with and greased the narrative to get there quickly

Edited by Bocaj on Aug 18th 2021 at 12:48:41 PM

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jouXIII The One Who Knows Many Things from Between the Multiverses (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Shipping fictional characters
The One Who Knows Many Things
#318: Aug 18th 2021 at 10:03:27 AM

[up]x2 Assuming the conqueror!Gamora and Star-Lord!T'challa are in same timeline.

I assure you, I'm perfectly trustable person
Cortez from Parts Unknown (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#319: Aug 18th 2021 at 10:05:47 AM

I'm guessing the catch of this new reality, which seems better in some ways, is that This Ego will probably have an easy time convincing this Quill to accept his offer.

miraculous Goku Black (Apprentice)
Goku Black
#320: Aug 18th 2021 at 10:07:37 AM

Theirs no one now to stop his sociopathic plan now. Unless something else happens.

"That's right mortal. By channeling my divine rage into power, I have forged a new instrument in which to destroy you."
Tabs Since: Jan, 2001
#321: Aug 18th 2021 at 10:20:31 AM

Maybe in this universe he's just like one of the numerous children who couldn't do celestial powers and gets killed.

Weirdguy149 Former King from Lumiose City Since: Jul, 2014 Relationship Status: I'd jump in front of a train for ya!
Former King
#322: Aug 18th 2021 at 10:22:29 AM

Ego will be a problem regardless of whether he succeeds with Quill or not.

The legend has returned.
Cortez from Parts Unknown (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#323: Aug 18th 2021 at 10:28:35 AM

Peter probably will succeed, though this version of Ego wouldn't know for sure yet since Quill never touched an infinity stone.

TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#324: Aug 18th 2021 at 11:32:53 AM

Do note that in the main timeline, the thing that made Quill turn on Ego wasn't the Guardians. It was Ego, totally out of fucking nowhere and for no possible reason, announcing that he killed Quill's mom. Just awkwardly tossing it out there, injecting it into casual conversation in the midst of achieving his goals, because I guess there was no other way to deliver this information to Quill.

Since there's no reason he wouldn't give the same logic-defying confession mid-plan this time around, I don't think these events make Quill more likely to go along with Ego's machinations. They just make Quill less likely to survive his enraged outburst and subsequent fight.

With regards to the Black Order, Thanos does assert that he has firsthand knowledge of how intense and powerful they are. So, presumably, they were working for him before T'Challa convinced him to abandon course. At which point he fired them or whatever and they found new employment.

Edited by TobiasDrake on Aug 18th 2021 at 11:34:49 AM

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Bocaj Funny but not helpful from Here or thereabouts (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
Funny but not helpful
#325: Aug 18th 2021 at 11:34:12 AM

Ego was prepared to use Peter as a battery. So he could still do his plan

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