It’s the wrath of continuity as worlds collide in the What If…? season 2 finale. “What If… Strange Supreme Intervened?” was written by Matthew Chauncey, directed by Bryan Andrews and features an all-new, all-What If…? Marvel Studios opening logo.
The Watcher (Jeffrey Wright) welcomes us to London in 1602, a world at peace. He credits this peace to Captain Carter (Hayley Atwell). See also: “What If… Captain Carter Were the First Avenger?”, “What If… Captain Carter Fought the HYDRA Stomper?” and “What If… The Avengers Assembled in 1602?”
RELATED: Read our recap of What If…? Season 2 Episode 8, “What If… The Avengers Assembled in 1602?”
Carter is seated across a pub table from Strange Supreme (Benedict Cumberbatch). As the pair banter, Strange magics their ales into single-malt scotches. Carter says he’s a lifesaver. She asks if he might offer her a lift home, as well. She says she’d call a taxi but she left her purse in another dimension.
Strange says anything for a fellow Guardian of the Multiverse. The Watcher recalls the events of both “What If… The Watcher Broke His Oath?” and “What If… Doctor Strange Lost His Heart Instead of His Hands?” He highlights that both Strange and Carter have a backstory characterized by the loss of their respective soulmates. However, the Watcher says that now two legends will have to band together to “face a threat unlike any the multiverse has ever faced.” But what if… one of those legends isn’t Strange?
What If… Strange Supreme Intervened?
Strange welcomes Carter to the Sanctum Infinitum, his “humble abode.” It’s not humble: the kitchen has a pizza oven. Carter asks if he’s been here all alone. Strange says not quite, he’s been busy. The walls are lined with beings hellbent on destroying their respective universes. Now, they are miniaturized and entrapped in crystal. Infinity Ultron, Loki and Thanos are named. You can see a version of young Quill (“What If… Peter Quill Attacked Earth’s Mightiest Heroes?”) and a few other intriguing entities.
RELATED: Geek Girl Authority Crush of the Week: Maria Hill
Carter summarizes: he’s collecting universe killers. Strange says someone’s gotta do it, and it won’t be the Watcher. Carter asks if saving the multiverse one universe at a time is his self-imposed penance. Strange says he knew she’d understand. But he says there is one thing he could use her help with. Carter says she’d rather go home. Strange assures her she will, but first, he needs help.
Carter surmises that one of them escaped. Strange asks how she knew. Carter cites Gremlins, Aliens and Jurassic Park: “Collect enough dangerous, well, anything, and something always escapes.” Strange says she can help him save the world (or several of them) then he can return her to her universe.
RELATED: David Aja Shares Art Created for The Marvels Cast and Crew
But Carter declines. She cites the Watcher’s inevitable intonations. Strange acknowledges he’s a fifth dimensional being with a soothing voice. However, he says the Watcher can be wrong. Strange asks if saving the world of 1602 was the right thing to do. Carter’s been convinced.
What If… Captain Carter Hunted the Universe Killer?
Strange tells Carter that he lost the trail of the villain in the South Dakota badlands (or what’s left of them in that universe). Also, the villain uses she/her pronouns. Carter asks why Strange can’t retrieve his quarry himself. Strange explains that Carter is an unknown variable. His quarry would see him coming a mile away. Next, he magics Carter’s armor from the 1602 version to the modern day edition. She thanks him. Strange instructs Carter to bring “her” back. Then, Strange will send Carter home. Carter asks how she’ll know her quarry. Strange assures her she’ll know.
Carter crosses the portal and enters the badlands. She draws her shield. As she crosses the snowy terrain, she finds a Mount Rushmore variant featuring the Red Skull. Carter is joined by the Watcher. He explains that neither Steve Rogers (Josh Keaton) nor Carter survived in this universe. Without either of them to stop him, HYDRA accessed the Tesseract’s powers. The subsequent war destroyed the world.
RELATED: Everything to Remember Before The Marvels
Carter tells the Watcher to buzz off if he’s not there to help. The Watcher questions why Carter is meddling in another world after supposedly learning her lesson. Carter says that while the Watcher watches, Carter gets involved. The Watcher says it’s not about watching, it’s about seeing. Carter says Strange found a way to watch and see, getting involved and making a difference. The Watcher heavily sighs. He says he doesn’t think he can bear to narrate what might happen next.
The Watcher leaves. Carter is soon confronted by Kahhori (Devery Jacobs). Kahhori asks if Strange also asked Carter to help him save the multiverse. Carter says yes, from Kahhori. Kahhori says Strange is the universe killer. Then, Kahhori returns Carter’s shield.
The Forge
Kahhori tells Carter that Strange is her real enemy. But before she can continue, Carter and Kahhori are portalled back to the Sanctum Infinitum. Strange thanks Carter for finding Kahhori for him. Meanwhile, Strange attacks Kahhori by shooting a Kirby Krackle-ing beam at her. Kahhori asks Carter if Strange told her about the forge. Strange tells Carter not to listen to her. Kahhori says Strange isn’t just hunting universe killers. He’s also hunting righteous heroes. Kahhori says he’s feeding everyone to the forge. Strange continues to deny everything. As Kahhori is crystalised, she says Strange is attempting to resurrect his universe — the one he destroyed. Strange declares he won’t let Kahhori stop him.
RELATED: Movie Review: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Carter realizes Strange is attempting to bring back his lost love, Christine Palmer. Strange says if anyone could understand, it’s Carter. Carter insists it is madness. Strange says she’d do the same thing for Rogers. Carter says she’d never do this for Rogers. She blocks Strange’s beam with her shield. Carter continues that Rogers would never want her to pay such a high price.
But Strange says it’s a small price to pay and reactivates his beam. Carter attempts to stop him with her shield. However, he’s protected by a force field. Instead, Carter uses her shield to break the crystals containing Strange’s prisoners. Soon, they’re joined by variants of Star-Lord, the Great Protector and others. This causes more crystals to be knocked from the walls.
RELATED: Graphic Novel Review: The Super Hero’s Journey
Kahhori says Carter is just as crazy as Strange. Carter tells Kahhori that they must destroy the forge before Strange can sacrifice anyone else. Kahhori tells Carter to hang on tight.
What If… The Universe-Killing Variants Fought?
Kahhori uses her powers to quickly transport herself and Carter through the Sanctum Infinitum. However, the battle raging complicates things. A variant of Xu Wenwu (Feodor Chin) orders others to bow to the Ten Rings. Meanwhile, a cyborg Rocket Raccoon variant causes significant mayhem. Carter admits a prison riot of universe killers might not have been her best idea.
The duo travels further into the Sanctum Infinitum but their progress is halted by Zombie Wanda (from “What If… Zombies?”). She’s joined by legions of other zombies. Carter cautions Kahhori to be careful. However, Kahhori already knows, as zombies are pretty universal (which is its own kind of bad news). Soon, Zombie Wanda chases Kahhori. But Kahhori is able to overcome her. Carter and Kahhori are holding their own when the hordes stop in their tracks, their eyes glowing green.
RELATED: TV Review: Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur
The cause is revealed to be Hela (Cate Blanchett). She arrives riding upon Garm. Hela demands Kahhori and Carter kneel. Kahhori says the last woman to demand that of her regretted it (“What If… Kahhori Reshaped the World?”). Hela says she’s no ordinary woman, but the Goddess of Death. Before they can battle it out, Surtur (Clancy Brown) arrives. He announces himself to be Asgard’s doom. Distracted, Hela turns the zombies on Surtur.
But portals signify Strange is still in pursuit. Carter and Kahhori super-speed their way deeper into the Sanctum Infinitum. A variant of Thanos appears and wrestles with Carter. However, a snap of someone else’s fingers cause Thanos to disintegrate. This is revealed to be caused by a Killmonger variant with armor powered by the stones. Kahhori transports him out of his armor and to another portion of the battle.
What If… The Heroes Fought for the Forge?
Carter touches the evacuated armor. The Infinity Stones attach themselves to her armor, instead. Carter says this should even the odds. But Strange has started the process. Kahhori and Carter reach the forge. Carter asks how they destroy it. Strange says he’d rather they didn’t. He says Carter may recall that he defeated the Infinity Armor once before. However, Carter says last time, she wasn’t in it. She and Kahhori attack Strange. He summons some skeletal serpents to distract them.
RELATED: Marvel’s Secret Invasion: 5 Highlights From ‘Resurrection’
After they’ve dispatched the serpents, Strange acknowledges that she’s figured the armor out. When the forge is attacked, Strange cautions that it’s being made unstable. Carter figures out how to use the Space Stone to wang Strange in the head with her shield. Kahhori continues to fire beams at him as well. Strange manages to score a few hits. However, Carter and Kahhori soon have him cornered.
Kahhori tells Strange he’s lived in solitude for too long. She says he’s forgotten that there’s more of them then there are of him. But Strange breaks free and says that’s not true. He summons dozens of Stranges to join him. However, Carter uses the Soul Stone to summon dozens of Carters to match them. The duplicates battle it out.
RELATED: Podcast Review – Marvel’s Squirrel Girl: The Unbeatable Radio Show
However, the real Strange addresses the real Carter, telling her it doesn’t have to end this way. He transforms the Carter duplicates into butterflies. Peggy awakens and finds herself alongside Rogers in the opening moments of her origin story. The Super Solider serum created by Dr. Erskine (Stanley Tucci) is about to be tested. Rogers urges her to stay, so they can finally be together. But Carter spots a butterfly in the background.
The Heroes Get Power-Ups
Rogers is revealed to be Strange. Carter punches him back into the forge. Strange opens portals. His captured heroes and villains begin falling toward the forge. But Kahhori says the protection around the forge is weakened. She attempts to portal everyone home. Strange attacks her, breaking her concentration. Everyone begins falling again. Carter uses the Time Stone to reverse their falls. However, Strange says he mastered that one a long time ago, using his Time Stone to counteract hers.
The variants are once again falling towards the forge. Strange says Carter and Kahhori are finished. But a falling Hela says, “Not entirely.” Before she falls into the forge, tosses her helm towards Carter and Kahhori and instructs them to give Strange hell. Soon, a Thor variant has followed, tossing them Mojinir. A Wenwu variant tosses them the Ten Rings.
RELATED: How WandaVision Perfectly Encapsulates Grief and Trauma
Bolstered by the powerful artifact, Kahhori and Carter begin returning Strange’s attack. Kahhori uses her abilities to send the remaining falling variants back to their respective universes. Using their combined powered-up powers, Kahhori and Carter turn on an unrepentant Strange. Strange does an admirable job of holding his own. However, he eventually transforms into a giant demonic entity.
Demon Strange begins a final onslaught against Carter and Kahhori. Many of the powerful artifacts are destroyed. Strange vows to bring Christine back. The Infinity Stones are knocked off Carter’s armor. Carter leaps through the air towards Demon Strange anyway. Kahhori uses her abilities to give Carter an Infinity Gauntlet. Carter uses this to punch Strange, stripping him of his demonic power and form.
What If… Captain Carter and the Watcher Hung Out?
In the wake of the battle, the forge is on the verge of explosion. Carter approaches Strange and demands he stop it. Strange says his grief has grown beyond his control. Carter says Christine wouldn’t want this. But an embodiment of Strange’s demonic grief states, “But we do.” Transforming back into demonic form, Strange tackles Carter and the pair fall towards the forge.
RELATED: Geek Girl Authority Crush of the Week: The Marvels
Carter manages to escape the demon’s grasp and leaps away from the forge. Demon Strange prepares to seize upon her. However, Strange emerges from its form and stays its hand. Demon Strange falls into the forge. Everyone is engulfed in white light.
When the light has cleared, Carter finds herself behind the Watcher. Carter says she takes it she isn’t dead. The Watcher confirms this. Neither is Kahhori, who he returned to her home universe. The Watcher reveals to Carter the location from whence he does his watching.
RELATED: Catch up with all of our What If…? recaps here.
Further, The Watcher reveals Strange did manage to rebirth his home universe. This includes Christine. However, Strange himself was not reborn into it. The Watcher reveals that the multiverse didn’t need the Watcher to intervene to stop Strange’s plan. It just needed Carter. A butterfly lands on the Watcher’s extended finger. He asks if Carter is ready to return to her home universe. Carter says she is, but asks if they can take the scenic route. She suggests there may be something worth seeing on the way home. “Oh, Captain,” The Watcher says. “Just you watch.” Before them lies Yggdrasil.
All nine episodes of What If…? season 2 are currently available for streaming on Disney+.
https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/top-10-badass-marvel-female-characters/
