I was watching the Marvel show What If…? Last night and tell me why Arcane Machine (Magic) Herald is literally Infinity Ultron
Both are “robots”/robotic (ik Ultron is an android just stay with me) who got cosmic powers and wanted to achieve “peace” but their visions got skewed and they decided the only way to achieve their goals was by wiping out all of humanity and at the end after everyone was gone they both realized there was nothing else to pursue after everyone was gone LIKE????
What If Season 3 - What If... The Watcher Disappeared? Thoughts
"Time. Space. Reality. To the primitive mind, a linear path. But in truth, they are a prism of infinite realities, where every choice has a consequence, creating alternate worlds beyond what you could possibly imagine. I am The Eminence. I preserve the sanctity of the Multiverse, by observing those who are sworn to watch over it. Watching the Watchers to ensure they do not ponder the most dangerous question of all...'What If?'" The Eminence
The penultimate episode feels a bit weird but it was a noice set-up to the finale and gives us a glimpse of the endgame of this series. I do wish the finale had aired alongside the penultimate episode because it's hard for me to judge the episode since this is really part one of a two-parter. My feelings on this episode will definitely change depending on the finale.
It was incredibly chilling to see the intro this time with no skip button, the colors muted and the visuals flipped (one could say mirrored) as The Eminence narrates with cold, calculating dialogue. The Eminence, The Incarnate, and The Executioner really showcase how Uatu is truly one of a kind as not all of his peers are invested in universes as he is. The music is naturally also a very muted and yet twisted version of the Watchers' theme. And, of course, they, like Uatu, find loopholes to stop Peggy and the Guardians of the Multiverse. Also, the Guardians being referred to as exiles is a nice reference to The Exiles, another Multiverse team.
I would've never expected What If to reference Ant-Man 3 by having the Time Chair be a part of the Guardians of the Multiverse's arsenal. It is interesting but not surprising that the Guardians stole Reset Charges from the TVA. It was nice to revisit Corpsman Nebula's episode, even if it wasn't my favorite episode of S2.
The team's gear and outfits are pretty good, props to the artists and costume department for making this show's outfits so great. I like how Byrdie and Kahhori seem to be the younger and more easygoing heroes of the team with Peggy and Storm being the more serious and experienced of the bunch.
I'm not sure if the episode is saying Carter hasn't been to her universe ever since the S2 finale and if that's the case, I'm not sure how to feel about that. We'll just have to wait until the finale. But I do like how Carter like Steve doesn't want to lose any of her friends and is willing to go at it alone to save them.
Brydie is another good addition to the original characters of What If. I really like Darcy and Howard being good parents. It's just really funny imagining how Brydie must've flexed how she killed most of her universe's villains when she was hatched. Party Thor must've been the best uncle to Brydie, and I just like to think he's very overprotective of his niece when they're on missions together. Also, I can imagine they bond over rock and roll music (she definitely inherited her parents' music tastes) haha.
I'm guessing Storm came from a universe where she was raised by Asgardians. It would be a very interesting What If episode had we had the chance to see that episode play out. She was badass with Mjölnir and her attempt to enter the Fifth Dimension. I love how Laura and Nora used Storm's theme and the X-Men theme in this episode.
It was also great to see T'Challa again, even if he was in a picture. The Guardians of the Multiverse members in the photo really drives home the finality of Season 3. I also wonder if Natasha in the photo is Infinity Ultron's universe Natasha or Peggy's universe Natasha (which is hard to say about the latter since Peggy seems to indicate she hasn't gone back home since S2's finale).
It is really chilling to hear Infinity Ultron's theme again and the recap of his universal genocide. I really like the natural result of Infinity Ultron had Uatu not alerted one to the presence of the Multiverse, they would've been stuck in a logic loop of sorts for eons and all alone to ponder these questions of "Was it really worth it?" Before, he ultimately concluded that there was no peace without life. He knows he'll never get redemption, but if he could save one life, he has to take that chance.
The way Carter's broken shield was framed reminded me of the Age of Ultron vision of the broken Captain America shield.
I really hope the finale lets us revisit some of the cast and universe of all the seasons. Even if we don't get any dialogue, I just like to see some brief footage of how they're doing.
The episode is a noice catch-up of our heroes and the set-up to the show's epic conclusion. However, how I'll see this episode in the future depends on the finale. As I said before, I really hope the finale is 44+ minutes long similar to the Bad Batch S3 finale. Unless they can somehow wrap it up in the normal episode length, I just think given the next episode is the finale that they can surely give it more time to cook and let us process our feelings about this show.
"You are not worried about Ultron. You're worried about us." Ororo Munroe/Storm
"I've been a castaway for what feels like forever. First from my time, then my universe. I've already lost so much. I don't think I could bear losing you as well." Captain Carter
"We are warriors, Captain, we take the road untraveled. Not because it is easy, but because someone must." Ororo Munroe/Storm
THEY BROUGHT BACK INFINITY ULTRON, MADE HIM FEEL REMORSE FOR HIS ACTIONS AND VOICE WHAT WAS WRONG ABOUT THEM, AND THEN IMMEDIATELY NERFED & KILLED HIM OFF NEVER CHANGE MARVEL STUDIOS 🫡
