New episodes of Marvel’s What If…? stream Wednesday’s on Disney+.
Synopsis
A grief-stricken Doctor Strange uses the Eye of Agamotto in a dangerous effort to change the past.
Review
We’re three weeks in and Marvel’s What If…? has given us three heavily contrasting views in to the MCU multiverse. We’ve had high action with Captain Carter, family drama with T’Challa and a murder mystery with the Avengers. But all this left me wondering where the series may go next.
To my complete surprise this week’s episode, “What If…? Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead of His Hands,” went in another entirely new direction. It’s a portrait of grief which really seeks to explore the human condition. Emotionally it shares more in common with Avengers: Endgame than the rest of the MCU, lingering on its losses.
Given the relatively short amount of time we have spent with Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), his character is one of the most well realised in the MCU. His idiosyncrasies are clear and translated perfectly in this animated version. Cumberbatch’s vocal performance is also easily the best of any returning MCU actor this season. Clearly implementing his learnings from playing Smaug, his vocal performance is beautifully nuanced.
The episode gives Cumberbatch the opportunity to portray the character at a number of different stages. Pre his car accident is reminiscent of his portrayal in the 2016 Doctor Strange film. Then, post-accident there is a wonderful, staged descent in to grief and rage. Finally when the Ancient On (Tilda Swindon) catches up with his counterpart, we see a more straightforward Doctor Strange who feels closely aligned with his live-action portrayal.
It’s a huge opportunity for any action, in any medium, to portray such a range. Cumberbatch not only revels in it, he succeeds in making it believable and relatable.
Having Rachel McAdams return as Christine Palmer also serves to enhance the experience. their chemistry transitions well thanks to A.C. Bradley’s script. In fact, we spend more time exploring their relationship than in their first big screen outing. Despite that fact we’re able to root for Strange’s mission to save Christine thanks to that delightful chemistry.
There’s a tragically organic flow to the episode which mirrors the darker side of grief. Strange’s journey also mirrors that of his live-action origin, but for different reasons. Though there is a degree of melodrama it feels in keeping with the character and never strays from the realm of possibility. The self-destructive sense of ego is recognisable in all of us, whether we want to or not.
As Strange’s actions escalate so too do the visuals. The animators had a lot to play with this week, making this episode one of the most spectacular of the series. Creature designs feel familiar and laden with Easter eggs. They also allow for plenty of huge set piece moments which would be difficult to recreate in a live-action VFX setting. But despite the size and scope the visuals never distract from the underpinning message of despair.
Ultimately, this episode of What If…? may serve as the catalyst for merging multiverse worlds on-screen. Outside of Loki this is our first example of a character sharing screen time with another version of themselves. Visual cues in this episode may also link a number of moments across the series. Strange’s perception of The Watcher (Jeffrey Wright) also marks a huge turning point.
The dramatic conclusion feels like a wonderful jumping off point for Strange, or a version of him, to begin searching the multiverse. Narratively, What If…? has reached the point where the pieces are naturally beginning to fit together. But where we go next is anyone’s guess…
Verdict
This week’s episode of What If…? lands with an incredibly emotional weight. Led by stunning performances from both leads, the episode lingers long after the credits have rolled.
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