Directors:
Writers: A.C Bradley
Cast: Chadwick Boseman, Karen Gillan, Michael Rooker, Djimon Hounsou, John Kani, Josh Brolin, Benicio Del Toro, Sean Gunn, Chris Sullivan, Jeffrey Wright
‘What If… T’Challa Became a Star-Lord?’ Air Date: 18/08/2021
What If…? is currently available to stream on Disney+
What if… T’Challa Became a Star-Lord? is a huge step-up from the first episode of What If…? The character changes are more exciting, the implications and details of how different one loved MCU characters are essential, and there’s plenty of laughter and action. Even the animation in this episode looks better, or it could just be the space setting that makes for a more exciting episode.
As far as we’re aware, this is Chadwick Boseman’s final MCU appearance as T’Challa, and he’s such a warm and exciting presence. The episode ends the message “dedicated to our friend, our inspiration, and our hero Chadwick Boseman” and I’ll be surprised if that small note doesn’t make any MCU fan want to well up.
In this alternative universe, T’Challa is captured by the Ravagers accident instead of Peter Quill. But instead of becoming like one of the Ravagers, T’Challa changes those around him for good. He not only turns Yondu but the rest of the Ravagers as well to work for good. They’re a team of galactic superheroes famous for their missions, and Robin Hood styled taking from the rich and giving to the poor. But it’s the reveal that Thanos (Josh Brolin) is working for the Ravagers and that T’Challa somehow managed to talk him out of his genocide plan that’s the most prominent example of a difference T’Challa in this position has made over Peter Quill.
The episode isn’t about proving that without Quill, the world would be in a better place; however, there are still plenty of bad guys in the galaxy. Ronan gets a quick mention at the start of the episode, but this episode focuses on The Collector (Benicio Del Toro), who’s more powerful than we’ve seen him before. Not only does he have that superhero-bod now, but he also has a plethora of weapons from characters MCU fans will all recognise, and he has Thanos cronies Proxima Midnight, Ebony Maw working by his side.
Fans of Marvel and the MCU will be spoiled with a few cameos and inside-jokes this week as well. All of which landed well with me, particularly the appearance of a character who’s only briefly appeared in the MCU so far.
What’s most exciting about the episode is just what it says about T’Challa as a character, and it’s a joy to watch him interact with everyone. A T’Challa without the crown’s weight on his shoulder, the weight of a nation, or the Avengers—this is a T’Challa who’s free and doing what he can to make the galaxy a better place, and you can tell he loves every second.
