--- title: "What If...?: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/what-if/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/tv/what-if" critics_score: 69 critics_reviews: 8 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # What If...? (2021): what the critics said Critics' score 69 from 8 reviews: 5 positive, 2 mixed, 1 negative. Most critics like What If…?, with the qualification that it plays best for people who already know the Marvel films well. The praise gathers in a few places. The T’Challa-as-Star-Lord episode is singled out again and again, as much for Chadwick Boseman’s performance as for its brisk alternate take on Guardians of the Galaxy. The returning cast, Jeffrey Wright and Lake Bell in particular, gets consistent credit, and the reviews of the later seasons are warmer still, finding the finale a satisfying send-off and the Mohawk-language Kahhori episode a highlight. The reservations are about depth and stamina. Several critics say the novelty of the premise wears off, that stories feel rushed, and that some episodes are hard to stay with. The animation splits them: Den of Geek finds it spectacular, while /Film calls it clunky. The spread is wide. The Hollywood Reporter is the firm dissenter, arguing the show takes a limitless idea and shrinks it to small, shallow stories. ## IndieWire — Tyler Hersko Rating B+. 10 August 2021. Hersko finds the series an enjoyable, refreshing entry in the MCU, especially for longtime fans. He praises the cel-shaded animation and Chadwick Boseman’s performance in the standout T’Challa episode. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/shows/what-if-review-marvel-mcu-disney-plus-show-1234656372/) ## The AV Club — Sam Barsanti Rating B+. 27 December 2023. Barsanti finds the season fun and clever, though its increasingly predictable overarching storyline makes it feel somewhat rote. He praises the season premiere’s Blade Runner-inspired Nebula adventure as a highlight. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/what-if-season-2-review-fun-if-familiar-1851120628) ## Empire — Amon Warmann Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 22 December 2024. Warmann calls the final season a strong, satisfying send-off for the series. He particularly praises its inventive climactic battles and the conclusion to The Watcher’s personal arc. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/tv/reviews/marvels-what-if-season-3/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Angie Han Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 10 August 2021. Han finds the series underwhelming, with its big possibilities narrowed to shallow, small-scale storytelling. She praises the T’Challa-as-Star-Lord episode as zippy and delightful, while criticizing the animation and some voice performances. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/marvel-what-if-review-1234994938/) ## Den of Geek — Kirsten Howard Rating 4/5. 29 September 2021. The critic gives the episode a strong review, praising its spectacular animation and multiverse-spanning visuals. She singles out Ultron’s near-Galactus form as a particularly striking sight. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/what-if-episode-8-review/) ## Paste — Trent Moore Rating 8.0/10. 22 December 2023. Moore finds the second season delightful and nostalgic, especially for viewers who enjoyed the first. He praises the varied stories and highlights the new Kahhori episode, told entirely in Mohawk. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/disney-plus/what-if-season-2-review) ## Collider — Liz Shannon Miller Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 10 August 2021. Miller finds the series fun for MCU superfans, though its novelty can wear off and some episodes are hard to stay invested in. She praises the returning actors, especially Lake Bell and Jeffrey Wright, and highlights the action sequences’ comic-book flair. [Read the review](https://collider.com/what-if-marvel-review-disney-plus/) ## /Film — Ethan Anderton Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 10 August 2021. Anderton finds the series a satisfying but uneven remix, with rushed storytelling and clunky animation holding it back. He especially praises the second episode as the most complete story and a compelling alternate take on Guardians of the Galaxy. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/583286/marvels-what-if-review-the-multiverse-offers-mixed-results-with-stylish-animation-and-rushed-storytelling/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/what-if.md