What If returns for Season 2 with “What If… Nebula Joined the Nova Corps?” — an episode that is half space adventure, half exploration of what it means to be alone, to have to find another team. The episode, like all episodes of the show, is also a nice reminder that, in the end, characters are what they are — and they will remain that, no matter what universe they inhabit. But circumstances also matter, just as they do in real life.
Heroes are, after all, not born. They’re made.
Nebula is one of those characters who didn’t truly get a chance to be all that she could be in the Sacred Timeline of the MCU. Without Thanos, in this universe, she does — but she has to figure out life without Gamora. Who she would have been with her sister by her side is for another What If …? episode, and honestly, that’s one we would be interested in watching.
In this one, though, she finds a team — a family, anyway. And what a joy it is to see the team she ends up with, especially because it’s the kind we couldn’t have predicted before the episode. And I don’t just mean because it’s great to hear Taika Waititi’s Korg, or to see Groot. Or even because it’s kinda fun to actually get to experience Howard the Duck. It’s because if What If…? does something well, it is capture that feeling of camaraderie the MCU is known for, even if it’s just for a minute.
What If…? 2×01 “What If… Nebula Joined the Nova Corps?” however, isn’t an episode about the team that ends up forming as much as it is an episode about Nebula, about who she turned out to be in this universe, and about what she could be in others — there is, after all, a multiverse out there. And, on the flip side, it’s an episode about Yon-Rogg, and what he always was.
Funny how he pretended to be a good guy for so long and she was painted as a villain for even longer.
If we learned anything from Loki it’s that choice is important. We must all choose our path, it has not been determined for us. But there are people like Yon-Rogg, like Ronan, who will apparently always make the wrong choice. And then there are people like Nebula who will try to make the right one, even when it’s hard. Even when all the odds are stacked against them.
It’s because of those people that the universe at large has a fighting chance.
Things I think I think:
- But what was more surprising, Taika’s voice as Korg, or Jude Law being back as Yon-Rogg? Taika was, of course, way more recognizable. Sorry, Jude.
- Karen Gillian was, of course, the star of the episode. It almost makes me sad that there wasn’t any actual Yondu. Michael Rooker would have killed it.
- Glenn Close isn’t back as Nova Prime, but the episode works very well even without her. And Ronan doesn’t say a word, so sadly, there was no need to bring back Lee Pace. He can remain half-naked in Foundation.
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of What If…? 2×01 “What If… Nebula Joined the Nova Corps?”? Share with us in the comments below!
New episodes of What If…? will release daily from December 22nd to December 30th on Disney+.
