What If…?  is the latest Marvel Studios project to arrive on our small screens on Disney +.

The animated anthology series, created by Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia writer A.C. Bradley and Marvel vet Bryan Andrews flips the script on the MCU as following the creation of the multiverse in Loki’s first season finale, What If…? reimagines famous events from the films in unexpected ways.

The first episode which debuted last Wednesday introduced a new character to the MCU, Captain Carter and offered an altered take on Captain America: The First Avenger. Now in Episode 2 The Watcher shows us a unique look at T’Challa who’s mistakingly put into the world of the Ravager’s and Guardians of the Galaxy which certainly offers an outlandish and awesome take on an iconic character as he’s put into a completely new environment and ultimately becomes The Star-Lord.

What you call destiny is just an equation, a product of variables. Right place, right time, or in some instances, the wrong place at the wrong time. As fate would have it, at that very moment, a Ravager spacecraft was arriving on Earth to abduct the spawn of the Celestial, Ego. But in this universe, Yondu outsourced the assignment to his subordinates.

The Watcher

What if…? T’CHALLA BECAME A STAR-LORD? 

Synopsis

The Rough-and-tumble space pirates known as the Ravagers abduct T’Challa instead of Peter Quill 

Review

What If’s …? second episode titled What If…? T’Challa Became a Star-Lord? was a really fun yet an emotional ride, I found myself smiling throughout as hearing the late Chadwick Boseman play T’Challa was incredible and heartbreaking to know that this is his final performance as the Iconic Wakandan King. Overlooking this Galactic adventure is The Watcher( Jeffrey Wright) who again addresses the “What If..?” moment that created an alternate timeline in the multiverse. 

The exact moment in Episode two happens when Yondu outsources the assignment from Ego to retrieve Peter Quill from earth which is seen in Guardians of the Galaxy. He gives this assignment to the Ravagers and they mistakenly end up abducting T’Challa and ultimately erases the events seen in Black Panther and Guardians. 

What I loved is that instead of giving the viewers a remake of the first volume of the Guardians movie like they did with Captain Carter for The First Avenger, we’re given an entirely new story. Episode 2 really shows What If’s…? true potential is too create these Multiverse stories that are engaging and ultimately full of heart. 

The overall story is very much entertaining with plenty of Sci-fi elements fused with comedy and action. It is Guardians of the Galaxy however it switches the point of view from Quill to T’Challa, which impacts and changes the galaxy more than you’d think. Chadwick Boseman is at the centre of the episode playing T’Challa’s version of Star-Lord, his presence is heartbreaking but is truly cherished by the audience. He voices T’Challa who’s not confined to a Throne, so Boseman is able to explore this new swashbuckling Ravager hero who has helped make the galaxy a better place as they believe that T’Challa is basically a galactic Robin Hood.

His charismatic presence also inspires everyone around him to do more and be better. Its astonishing to see how far his influence goes especially since he’s managed to change this versions Thanos. This goes to show as I previously said that rather replacing characters, episode two highlights certain changes that send ripples across the galaxy and ultimately show a side to characters that we never expected to see. 

Along for this galactic adventure are T’Challa’s team of Ravagers which are filled with familiar faces from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Michael Rooker( Yondu), Djimon Hounsou( Korath), Chris Sullivan( Taserface), Karen Gillen(Nebula), Josh Brolin(Thanos), Benicio Del Toro(The Collector), Ophelia Lovibond (Carina), Kurt Russell (Ego), John Kani( King T’Chaka), Danai Gurira( Okoye) and Carrie Coon, Tom Vaughan-Lawlor as Proxima Midnight and Ebony Maw from The Black Order.

Hey, Cha-Cha

Nebula

Speaking of Karen Gillan, this version of Nebula is no artificial machine but rather organic as in this timeline her relationship with her father is significantly changed to more of an embarrassing dad then what once was a genocidal monster. she’s in no pain so Gillan’s vocal performance is able to flirt and rendezvous with T’Challa. I Absolutely loved the heist style as Nebula’s design is absolutely gorgeous dressed to the nines and she’s now got some golden locks.

T’challa’s relationship with Yondu also makes this episode a highlight as Rooker and Boseman work well together as they too share plenty of emotional senes together. 

The animation has continued to be high quality and this episode features neo-futuristic colours. Its visually high quality that captures comic book moments. 

Overall, this second episode is a major improvment. In Chadwick Boseman’s final performance as T’Challa, we get everything we loved about his performance of the character. This episode even serves as a reminder that no matter what reality, Boseman’s character is sure to leave a legacy of kindness, bravery, and loyalty. The episode wraps up nicely and provides a heartwarming conclusion for this what if scenario.

Marvel’s What If…? is now streaming weekly on Disney+ every Wednesday.