Marvel’s ‘What If…?’ released its eighth episode, titled – “What If… Ultron Won?”. This episode of the animated anthology series is the best episode so far, with the web series giving us a “first-look” at the Multiverse. This entire episode is filled with a lot of Easter Eggs, call-backs and references, probably making it one of the few episodes in this series to have all three in abundance. The episode has changed up the entire “anthology part” of this web series and surprisingly – included some continuity. For now, we have managed to put together 7 big Easter Eggs, references and call backs from the eighth episode of What If…? – so check it out:
Ultron/Vision Wins… Everything
Ultron/Vision is a being that Ultron was trying to create in the film, ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’. Unlike the canon MCU events, in this universe – Ultron ends up creating his new Vibranium body and with the help of the Mind Stone takes over the Universe. He eventually collects all 6 Infinity Stones and uses them to take over his entire Universe.
Three Matchups – One Winner
Ultron/Vision goes up against three major characters in this brilliant episode – Thanos, Captain Marvel and The Watcher.
The Thanos “fight” was a joke, with Ultron/Vision instantly killing the Titan with the Mind Stone, even when Thanos had the remaining 5 stones in his hands.
The Captain Marvel Fight can at least be classified as a fight, but she too lost to the android, when he used the stones to destroy all lives around them (including Danver’s).
The last fight is the most interesting, where Ultron/Vision started off at a disadvantage against The Watcher – The latter can stand up to the might of the Infinity Stones. But the android kept evolving throughout their multi-universal fight – which has a brilliant Galactus reference, by the way – eventually even beating The Watcher.
Ultron/Vision – 3, Rest of The Multiverse – Nil.
Ultron/Vision Becomes Aware
As Ultron/Vision conquered more and more planets, he continued to evolve. Once he took over the Universe, he attained a new level of omnipresence – the kind that makes him aware that someone is watching him. He starts off by hearing The Watcher’s voice, but eventually senses his presence and manages to enter The Watcher’s domain. Damn, scary. Scarier than canon Thanos.
The Multiverse (Of Madness)
We finally get a proper glimpse at the various multiverses out there, within the MCU. We also see what the multiverse looks like to The Watcher and how he is able to access these universes. After a ridiculous fight across various dimensions and the introduction of a very familiar character – we are looking at either the introduction of the Multiverse of Madness or a possible reference about the same in this episode (and possibly the next as well).
An Oath Broken
For the first time, we get to see the Watcher grappling with his oath and his sense of right & wrong. Still, when Ultron/Vision broke into his dimension – the fight they had inadvertently made him break his vow to not interfere. Even when he was sensed by Ultron/Vision, his narration attracts the android – which can be said as an earlier time when he broke the oath.
Supreme Strange Returns
More like, the Watcher runs into Supreme Strange’s Universe. Dr. Strange from the fourth episode of this series is the first person we see who talks to the Watcher. His entire universe gets destroyed while he lives inside a magical bubble – which is where the Watcher runs to after losing his fight against Ultron/Vision. Supreme Strange is ready to help – but he needs to hear The Magical Words from The Watcher. And it ain’t “abracadabra”.
Finally, Continuity
‘What If…?’ is an anthology series – but this is the first time we are looking at some continuity within this MCU web series. Ultron/Vision makes his first appearance in the previous episode of the web series, “What If… Thor Were an Only Child?”. While it looked like a short cameo for just that episode – it looks like Ultron/Vision comes from this Universe, the one where “What If… Ultron Won?”. Plus Supreme Strange from episode 4 makes an appearance. Season Finale should be something epic.
Extra: ‘Avengers: Endgame’s’ What If…? Moment
There were a lot of amazing callbacks in this episode – The Armin Zola AI, The Super Soldier Program, Iron Man Vs. Captain America Fight Sequence From ‘Avengers: Civil War’, and much more. But there is a brilliant callback from ‘Avengers: Endgame’, where Clint decides to sacrifice his life to let Natasha live on. The exact opposite happens in the aforementioned Avengers movie – making this small scene a “What If…? Moment” within a ‘What If…?’ episode.
Check out all eight episodes of Marvel’s ‘What If…?’ on Disney+ Hotstar. The season finale drops next week.
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