What If…? episode 2 has landed. The premise: What if T’Challa became a Star-Lord?
It’s a concept that Marvel Studios takes and uses it as a launching pad for all sorts of imaginative moments, including several Easter eggs and a cameo no one saw coming. That latter surprise has already set social media aflame – and here are some of the biggest fan reactions so far.
Spoilers for What If…? follow…
"The shock on my face when I saw Thanos," one viewer said. Yes, that Thanos. Josh Brolin’s Mad Titan-turned-Ravager also caused others to express surprise at the show making us "root" for the villain. "I’ll never watch Infinity War or Endgame the same [way]," said another.
But it’s the reason why Thanos joined up with T’Challa’s team that is getting the most attention. In the episode, he reveals that a simple debate with Chadwick Boseman’s Star-Lord helped him see the light.
"Love this and thought it made so much sense," said one user on Twitter. Others also called attention to Boseman’s "wonderful performance" as well as the episode as a whole being a "gorgeous, heartwarming and wholesome tribute to our hero Chadwick Boseman."
The episode, which ended with a tribute to Boseman, also included a fun appearance from Howard the Duck (voiced by Seth Green). "I’m thrilled to see him in the MCU," one Marvel fan said of the quackers cameo. Another called Green’s performance an example of "perfect casting."
Finally, one tweet echoed much of the MCU fanbase post-viewing, "Episode 2 of #WhatIf was amazing, truly amazing. The Easter eggs, the storylines, the whole execution in general felt so much better than the first ep. Bringing back past characters, especially a certain ‘mad’ person... Can't wait for next week."
