TV REVIEW: WHAT IF...? - Season 2

4/5

WTF.

9 Episodes. Starring: Jeffrey Wright & the Multiverse. Created By: A.C. Bradley. On: Disney +. 

Time. Hate. Reality. It's not a linear path. Marvel movies seem to face the same disdain online, as say, fellow industry giant, LeBron James of NBA basketball, these days. It gets worse when algorithms post the comments to our social media accounts when we didn't even ask for them. Poisoning our timeliness and making negative our minds. What if we all just enjoyed entertainment, like we're supposed to? Especially when it comes to those who've not only maintained a high quality and longevity, but also vastly contributed to the revenue of their respective industries. Particularly in a time during the pandemic when both networks were at risk of having their property going out of business at the places they are served. Even many actors and directors are shunning superhero shows and movies, despite the money they made being in them like half of Hollywood already is, like they are here, but more on that later. There's irony being smelt, and hands that do the feeding being bitten. Yet, from fans to those who work to put on capes, the bandwagon is hopped back on when it suits them. They love to hate and celebrate the poor performance of 'The Marvels', and say this is what Mickey Mouse gets for going "woke" and broke. But they don't 'Echo' that sentiment when they virtue signal themselves for saying an inclusive show about a disabled, but more than abled superpower passes their pretentious bar. The same can be said when we get animated over shows like this and the little 'I Am Groot' shorts, but want to pass a guilty verdict on the fun 'She Hulk-Attorney At Law' that now has a "no, thanks" from Disney when it comes to a second season, green with legendary 'Loki' envy.

Like Sebastian Stan says, as excited about his Winter Soldier 'Thunderbolts' team-up movie as we are, Marvel have, "a great batting average." But even Shohei and the King hits some and misses some from downtown Los Angeles, but on this Hollywood Walk Of Fame, plenty of big stars are joining Commissioner Gordon himself, Jeffrey Wright on this Captain 'America Fiction' of Marvel Multiverse lore that asks 'What If...?' again like Pepper Potts, Gwyneth Paltrow's 'Sliding Doors'. The nice, nuanced narration of Wright is right on the money, and he's joined by the legendary likes of many assembled Avengers. Now, it's no secret and the names are out there like an epic, extended version of 'Spider-Man: No Way Home', but again, we don't want to spoil the sauce. So we'll just reference the movies that some of these Marvel actors are in, like an accented 'Chef', and leave the rest up to you. Although we will say that 'Man Up' and 'No Escape's' Lake Bell and 'Kung-Fu Panda's' Mick Wingert do a killer Black Widow and Iron Man respectively, now Scarlett Johansson and Robert Downey Jr.'s contracts are up. No tribute band B.S. Elsewhere, highlights in A.C. Bradley's comic creation with Jeffrey's baby come from 'Carol' and an absolute legend who likes to slap stickers on 'Jurassic Park' lunch boxes. But tell me, Disney +, what happened to the world according to him?

Stranger things are happening though when David Harbour's Red Guardian has gone missing like he was lost in Russia, a stranger is in Moscow like Michael. But never fear, you know he'll be back in the third season. And with a 'Marvel Zombies' cartoon on deck to continue the comic culture in time for Halloween like the Marvel Spotlight of a 'Werewolf By Night', the M.C.U. is really getting animated like the Hugh Jackman like return of the animated 'X-Men' ('97) series that is a close-call with the classics when it comes to the brilliant 90s 'Batman' one for DC. 'What If...? could come between them, crossing over in connected strands of Multiverse plot, like when a certain Captain, not named Steve, but who can still do this all day, became live in living action for Doctor Strange's 'Multiverse Of Madness'. This supreme show has it all, though, continuing to build on its own worlds beautifully. Released by Disney Plus, episode-by-episode over the festive period like the BTS documentary, 'Monuments: Beyond The Star', there's even a Christmas episode to put up on the top of your die hard's trees, and plenty of early Easter Eggs too. New characters of legend, echoing representation, like Kahhori make their mark. And this watchable journey with Jeffrey also throws it back to some classic Earth's Mightiest Heroes we've longed to see suit-up in de-aging CG, but now can in these comic cells. But it's when The Avengers venture to 1602 that things get real beautiful and bawdy. Brilliant. If you don't want to watch this, what are you thinking? TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Further Filming: 'Doctor Strange and the Multiverse Of Madness', 'Star Wars-Visions', 'X-Men' 97'.