Warning: This article contains spoilers for What If…? season 3, episode 5, “What If… the Emergence Destroyed the Earth?”
Even though Marvel Studios is still refusing to makeAgents of SHIELDcanon to theMCU,What If…?season 3 just reimagined one of the popular ABC series' most game-changing storylines that began back in December 2017.What If…?season 3 brought the animated Multiverse Saga to a close by exploring some of the weirdest and most outlandish new universes in the MCU. One of these new worlds was anEarth ravaged by the emergence of the Celestial Tiamut, ruled over by Spider-Man villain Mysterio, which was reminiscent of an oldAgents of SHIELDstoryline.
What If…?season 3 explored variations on the storyline of2021’sdivisiveEternalsmovietwice, first with the introduction of a Celestial Agatha Harkness, and again when showing what might have happened had Tiamut successfully emerged from inside the Earth. The narrative ofWhat If…?season 3, episode 5, “What If… the Emergence Destroyed the Earth?” was original, but Marvel Studios may have been inspired by a past Marvel Television storyline. It seemsAgents of SHIELDmight have done the emergence story first, kicking off its fifth season seven years ago.
What If…? Season 3 Copied Agents Of SHIELD Season 5’s Storyline
Agents Of SHIELD Imagined A Destroyed Earth In 2017
Back in May 2017,Agents of SHIELDseason 4’s finale ended with Clark Gregg’s Phil Coulson being shown in a mysterious space station, and season 5’s premiere that December revealed that this facility was orbiting a destroyed Earth. This formed the location for much ofAgents of SHIELDseason 5’s narrative, with the fragmented Earth being the site of Kree activity, andthe planet’s destruction, initially thought to be Daisy Johnson’s fault, was later revealed to be because of Glenn Talbot’s absorption and abuse of Gravitonium.
BothAgents of SHIELDandWhat If…?utilized the idea that the Earth being destroyed wouldn’t make the planet’s remaining fragments inhospitable. InAgents of SHIELD, the Kree and the True Believers inhabited Earth’s barren wasteland, while,inWhat If…?, many of Earth’s heroes, including Riri Williams and the Alliance, as well as the planet’s new ruler, Mysterio, survived on the surface. While there are many similarities between these two storylines, however,What If…?‘sdepiction of this wild scenario was far more impactful and entertaining.
Why What If…?’s Emergence Storyline Is Better Than Agents Of SHIELD’s Version
What If…? Handled A Destroyed Earth Story Better
WhileAgents of SHIELDseason 5’s storyline was centered around the destroyed Earth, very little of the series’ action was actually set on the fragments of the planet. Instead, the majority of the adventure took place on the space station orbiting the Earth or in the Kree facility, butWhat If…?avoided this major mistake.“What If… the Emergence Destroyed the Earth?” was actually set entirely on the fragments of the destroyed Earth, which gave it a more grounded, intimate and down-to-Earth feel that madeRiri Williams' missioneven more poignant.
Dominique Thorne debuted as Riri Williams inBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever, and is set to reprise her role in 2025’s upcomingIronheartseries, following on from her voice role inWhat If…?season 3.
What If…?also succeeded in introducing a worthy villain.Agents of SHIELDfailed in this regard, as the Kree leader Kasius was underwhelming, butWhat If…?‘sevil Vision and nanite-enhanced Mysterio, voiced by Alejandro Saab, were far more effective. Jake Gyllenhaal previously played a live-actionQuentin Beck inSpider-Man: Far From Home, but Saab’s older and more-weathered Mysterio was a much more significant threat. Mysterio was a real adversary to Riri Williams inWhat If…?season 3, with the setting of a destroyed Earth forming the backdrop for their battle, but seldom being the focus of the story.
What If…?
Cast
What If… ? is an animated anthology series set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe which features fan-favorite characters, including Peggy Carter, T’Challa, Doctor Strange, Killmonger, Thor, and more. The new series, directed by Bryan Andrews with AC Bradley as head writer, features signature MCU action with a curious twist. The show sees Uatu the Watcher, an omnipotent being that observes the events of multiple universes from afar as they unfold, unable to interfere. However, things shift when an entity peers beyond the veil, jeopardizing the multiverse.
