I will say, I'm not keen on where the MCU seems to be taking Wong (TV and Upcoming Film spoilers)
He seemingly exists to tell Dr. Strange something is a bad idea, and then fuck off so Strange can go do the bad idea.
Thankfully, if Shang-Chi seems to be any indication, Wong is going to get to do some of his own bad ideas.
Yeah but…
(Shang-Chi and Wong trailer)
Wong is fighting Abomination in the trailer, meaning he’s still cleaning up other people’s problems. Wong deserves to have the opportunity to make his own world ending trouble!
Maybe Wong enjoys pit fighting on his vacations. You don’t know Wong.
That’s fair.
I oft forget that Wong is both a librarian and a scholar. If he wanted peace and quiet, he’d stay at work.
I’d like to imagine that all librarians go pit fighting horrors in their personal time, else why go on vacation at all?
Battlenet ID: MildC#11186 - If I'm in the game, send me an invite at anytime and I'll play.
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Ninja Snarl PMy helmet is my burden.Ninja Snarl: Gone, but not forgotten.Registered Userregular
He's a librarian and a scholar for magic libraries. Wherein the last one he worked at saw the decapitation of his boss via a cabal of evil sorcerers intent on making a deal with an incomprehensible otherworldly intelligence.
So his career choice is still rather more exciting than mine, where nobody I know has ever been decapitated by anything, much less an evil cabal.
Wa-how. Not only did Strange lose, they REALLY rubbed his nose in the fact that he fucked up.
After the first two episodes, I was wondering if they'd really go as far as the comic did, or if they'd stick to crowd-pleasing. Episode three was a little reassuring, but the horror was leavened by loads and loads of laugh lines. Not here. Just dark dark dark. Yep, this is officially a worthy successor to the comic. Anything can happen, even the unthinkable. I love it.
I was wondering why I liked this episode better than the others. It wasn't loaded with lame jokes and wry smiles. Also the voice acting was pretty decent across the board. The animation is still holding it back though. I'm finding characters don't emote well, for the most part.
I will say, I'm not keen on where the MCU seems to be taking Wong (TV and Upcoming Film spoilers)
He seemingly exists to tell Dr. Strange something is a bad idea, and then fuck off so Strange can go do the bad idea.
Thankfully, if Shang-Chi seems to be any indication, Wong is going to get to do some of his own bad ideas.
Yeah but…
(Shang-Chi and Wong trailer)
Wong is fighting Abomination in the trailer, meaning he’s still cleaning up other people’s problems. Wong deserves to have the opportunity to make his own world ending trouble!
Maybe Wong enjoys pit fighting on his vacations. You don’t know Wong.
That’s fair.
I oft forget that Wong is both a librarian and a scholar. If he wanted peace and quiet, he’d stay at work.
I’d like to imagine that all librarians go pit fighting horrors in their personal time, else why go on vacation at all?
He's like Cindy. Book Club and cage fighting are the only ways left he has to relax!
You know what? Nanowrimo's cancelled on account of the world is stupid.
Were there any episodes or ideas you had to scrap for whatever reasons?
A.C. Bradley: I pitched an entire episode. It took me a couple of days to break it. I was very excited about it. I went to Bryan and was like, here we go, this is what happens, do you think Kevin Feige would approve? He went, oh, yeah, Kevin would love that, that’s half the plot of Guardians Of The Galaxy Volume 3.
I was like, you’re kidding, and he went, nope, good job, you guessed it. I was like getting ready to go home and crack open a beer and go, I’ll go back to the board tomorrow. So, that one I can’t do because the amazing James Gunn is already going to do it.
He's a librarian and a scholar for magic libraries. Wherein the last one he worked at saw the decapitation of his boss via a cabal of evil sorcerers intent on making a deal with an incomprehensible otherworldly intelligence.
So his career choice is still rather more exciting than mine, where nobody I know has ever been decapitated by anything, much less an evil cabal.
You should go work in a Children's Library sometime
The Ancient One should have picked Wong instead of Strange this episode.
Then you'd have two Wongs to make a right.
Kinda racist ngl
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Golden YakBurnished BovineThe sunny beaches of CanadaRegistered Userregular
Should've Chrono Trigger'd it - make a mindless clone, swap the clone for the real thing an instant before the accident. Big bang boom, it was never the girl, the clone's death was the fixed point all along.
Should've Chrono Trigger'd it - make a mindless clone, swap the clone for the real thing an instant before the accident. Big bang boom, it was never the girl, the clone's death was the fixed point all along.
except she dies to a cardiac event later in the evening anyway!
Anyway, as he started to try and fix the situation I was catapulted back into the 90s and was mentally watching Bill Murray in Groundhog Day all over again and was incredibly saddened because not being able to save that old man really got to me back then.
God I wish they had ended the Strange episode of What If? when the darkness consumed them all. That would have been super bold and super effective in the "this universe has just ended" kind of way. Them cutting back to him and Christine and then the conversation with The Watcher was a bit too wrote for me. Still a great episode though.
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MonwynApathy's a tragedy, and boredom is a crime.A little bit of everything, all of the time.Registered Userregular
So have I lost my mind or did Strange not eat Mephisto in that montage
I suspect there were a ton of easter eggs throughout, I just couldn't focus on them because the whole time it was just "damn, this fucking blows; stop, dude..."
Does anyone know if they've got soundtracks for the Disney+ shows, and/or this one? The music in Loki was spectacular, and the music in this episode too was just great.
Is it just me or is the ancient one like way stronger than strange?
Maybe it’s just that Tilde Swindon is way more Powerful than Benedict Cumberbatch and I’m conflating the power differences.
She tapped into the dark dimension, it's what got her killed in the first place. That's why Mads wanted to do her in using the dark dimension as well, she was a hypocrite who told them all not to use it while doing it herself
God I wish they had ended the Strange episode of What If? when the darkness consumed them all. That would have been super bold and super effective in the "this universe has just ended" kind of way. Them cutting back to him and Christine and then the conversation with The Watcher was a bit too wrote for me. Still a great episode though.
I feel like the conversation between The Watcher and Strange brought a lot to the series. It’s an evolution because for the first time the watcher has interacted with a story. Granted he didn’t make any changes but he got involved.
The Ancient One is... well... ancient. I don't think being Sorcerer Supreme is about being the most powerful, it's about being the right person for the job.
Is it just me or is the ancient one like way stronger than strange?
Maybe it’s just that Tilde Swindon is way more Powerful than Benedict Cumberbatch and I’m conflating the power differences.
She did tear him in half without either half noticing. I'm guessing the point goes to Ancient One.
But it could be argued that that's at least as much her finesse and centuries of experience wielding magic as it is raw arcane power.
God I wish they had ended the Strange episode of What If? when the darkness consumed them all. That would have been super bold and super effective in the "this universe has just ended" kind of way. Them cutting back to him and Christine and then the conversation with The Watcher was a bit too wrote for me. Still a great episode though.
I feel like the conversation between The Watcher and Strange brought a lot to the series. It’s an evolution because for the first time the watcher has interacted with a story. Granted he didn’t make any changes but he got involved.
I'm wondering if this is eventually leading up to The Watcher interfering in something, because despite the oath, Uatu can't go a week without meddling in something in the comics.
God I wish they had ended the Strange episode of What If? when the darkness consumed them all. That would have been super bold and super effective in the "this universe has just ended" kind of way. Them cutting back to him and Christine and then the conversation with The Watcher was a bit too wrote for me. Still a great episode though.
I feel like the conversation between The Watcher and Strange brought a lot to the series. It’s an evolution because for the first time the watcher has interacted with a story. Granted he didn’t make any changes but he got involved.
I'm wondering if this is eventually leading up to The Watcher interfering in something, because despite the oath, Uatu can't go a week without meddling in something in the comics.
That’s my thought too. I feel like they’re building to it.
Like I remember seeing Uatu in the background more and more. And now he spoke to a character who was on his way to blinking his reality out of existence.
God I wish they had ended the Strange episode of What If? when the darkness consumed them all. That would have been super bold and super effective in the "this universe has just ended" kind of way. Them cutting back to him and Christine and then the conversation with The Watcher was a bit too wrote for me. Still a great episode though.
I feel like the conversation between The Watcher and Strange brought a lot to the series. It’s an evolution because for the first time the watcher has interacted with a story. Granted he didn’t make any changes but he got involved.
I don't disagree and I do think all of these episodes are leading up to something where The Watcher pulls characters from the various stories as members of a new kind of Avengers.
So, while I think the conversation served the series quite well, I don't think it served the episode well.
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thatassemblyguyJanitor of Technical Debt.Registered Userregular
I’m just.. really impressed with the TV series so far. Like, all of these shows have been worth the wait. Being able to do some dark episodes like they’ve done in What If?… or have a Dr. Who feeling Loki, has just been pretty great. (Not to mention the action adventure of Falcon, and the interesting format of WandaVision).
Should've Chrono Trigger'd it - make a mindless clone, swap the clone for the real thing an instant before the accident. Big bang boom, it was never the girl, the clone's death was the fixed point all along.
except she dies to a cardiac event later in the evening anyway!
That was a weakness of this episode. Because it's not really "what if..." if he death is presented as inevitable. Because that obviously didn't happen in our universe.
Technically, strange should have been able to solve the problem simply by coming up with a different problem he would need to overcome. Like, say... The breaking of his hands.
Schrodinger on
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Munkus BeaverYou don't have to attend every argument you are invited to.Philosophy: Stoicism. Politics: Democratic SocialistRegistered User, ClubPAregular
I just figured it followed the Time Machine movie logic. i.e. you can't fix an event that became the impetus for you traveling back in time in the first place
Humor can be dissected as a frog can, but dies in the process.
Basically the same premise as the Guy Pearce “Time Machine” movie… the impetus to invent time travel hinged on the death of his love interest.
And what is time travel, but your pathetic attempted to try to control the world around you?! Your futile effort to have a question answered?! You think I don't know you, Alexander? I can look inside your memories, your nightmares, your dreams. You're a man haunted by those two most terrible words: What if?
Should've Chrono Trigger'd it - make a mindless clone, swap the clone for the real thing an instant before the accident. Big bang boom, it was never the girl, the clone's death was the fixed point all along.
except she dies to a cardiac event later in the evening anyway!
That was a weakness of this episode. Because it's not really "what if..." if he death is presented as inevitable. Because that obviously didn't happen in our universe.
Technically, strange should have been able to solve the problem simply by coming up with a different problem he would need to overcome. Like, say... The breaking of his hands.
It's because she got put in that one place at that one time that an Assiti shard happened to intersect with her heart. JEEZ.
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zepherinRussian warship, go fuck yourselfRegistered Userregular
Is it just me or is the ancient one like way stronger than strange?
Maybe it’s just that Tilde Swindon is way more Powerful than Benedict Cumberbatch and I’m conflating the power differences.
She did tear him in half without either half noticing. I'm guessing the point goes to Ancient One.
But it could be argued that that's at least as much her finesse and centuries of experience wielding magic as it is raw arcane power.
There of course is the finesse and experience, but even raw power wise she seams to just have him beat. I mean not only did he run from her, but she 1 hit the hulk, pulled a group of mystical practitioners into the mirror realm and then put a fierce beating on them without much effort. Honestly the only reason she dies, is because she is supposed to, and respects fixed points in time, so she allows it.
What If spoilers and speculation based on trailer clips
there's a shot of all the various heroes from each What If story teaming up with Uatu as they fight off some kind of army. Supreme Strange is included.
So in the MCU, TAO already knows Strange's destiny before he shows up, and she already knows he's supposed to be the best of all of them before they meet. Presumably she would know that Christine's death is a motivating factor. But somehow she doesn't know that he's going to turn to the dark side later?
Remember, in the main universe, Strange learns the mystic arts specifically to repair his hands. But in this universe, his hands are fine, and he's only there to bring back Christine. That's literally his entire motivation. He has no other reason to be there. As soon as the other mystics tell him that's not possible, he has no reason to keep going, unless it's because he intends to betray them.
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Dark Raven XLaugh hard, run fast,be kindRegistered Userregular
What If spoilers and speculation based on trailer clips
there's a shot of all the various heroes from each What If story teaming up with Uatu as they fight off some kind of army. Supreme Strange is included.
So in the MCU, TAO already knows Strange's destiny before he shows up, and she already knows he's supposed to be the best of all of them before they meet. Presumably she would know that Christine's death is a motivating factor. But somehow she doesn't know that he's going to turn to the dark side later?
Remember, in the main universe, Strange learns the mystic arts specifically to repair his hands. But in this universe, his hands are fine, and he's only there to bring back Christine. That's literally his entire motivation. He has no other reason to be there. As soon as the other mystics tell him that's not possible, he has no reason to keep going, unless it's because he intends to betray them.
So in the MCU, TAO already knows Strange's destiny before he shows up, and she already knows he's supposed to be the best of all of them before they meet. Presumably she would know that Christine's death is a motivating factor. But somehow she doesn't know that he's going to turn to the dark side later?
Remember, in the main universe, Strange learns the mystic arts specifically to repair his hands. But in this universe, his hands are fine, and he's only there to bring back Christine. That's literally his entire motivation. He has no other reason to be there. As soon as the other mystics tell him that's not possible, he has no reason to keep going, unless it's because he intends to betray them.
They are very vague on his motivations there. I went back and checked and all they said is he sought answers, but then basically they jump right to him finding the Eye of Agomotto (sp). I took it more as in he was searching for meaning than anything else, but hey, take your pick.
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zepherinRussian warship, go fuck yourselfRegistered Userregular
So in the MCU, TAO already knows Strange's destiny before he shows up, and she already knows he's supposed to be the best of all of them before they meet. Presumably she would know that Christine's death is a motivating factor. But somehow she doesn't know that he's going to turn to the dark side later?
Remember, in the main universe, Strange learns the mystic arts specifically to repair his hands. But in this universe, his hands are fine, and he's only there to bring back Christine. That's literally his entire motivation. He has no other reason to be there. As soon as the other mystics tell him that's not possible, he has no reason to keep going, unless it's because he intends to betray them.
Posts
That’s fair.
I oft forget that Wong is both a librarian and a scholar. If he wanted peace and quiet, he’d stay at work.
I’d like to imagine that all librarians go pit fighting horrors in their personal time, else why go on vacation at all?
Battlenet ID: MildC#11186 - If I'm in the game, send me an invite at anytime and I'll play.
So his career choice is still rather more exciting than mine, where nobody I know has ever been decapitated by anything, much less an evil cabal.
Sounds like a lack of effort on your part. 🪓
- John Stuart Mill
I was wondering why I liked this episode better than the others. It wasn't loaded with lame jokes and wry smiles. Also the voice acting was pretty decent across the board. The animation is still holding it back though. I'm finding characters don't emote well, for the most part.
Well done, but damn if they didn't go there.
I'm liking not afraid of risks Marvel.
He's like Cindy. Book Club and cage fighting are the only ways left he has to relax!
https://kakuchopurei.com/2021/08/02/marvels-what-if-crew-explains-why-they-went-3d-over-2d-a-scrapped-episode-that-was-too-close-to-gotg-3/
You should go work in a Children's Library sometime
Kinda racist ngl
except she dies to a cardiac event later in the evening anyway!
Anyway, as he started to try and fix the situation I was catapulted back into the 90s and was mentally watching Bill Murray in Groundhog Day all over again and was incredibly saddened because not being able to save that old man really got to me back then.
https://youtu.be/t95-gSd1VQA
They go over it around 5 min mark
Seems so:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yV_76cm2BWU&ab_channel=NatalieHolt-Topic
Normally Nerdist does a text version of their videos as well, but I can't find the latest one for this episode
https://nerdist.com/tags/what-if/
(Also you can watch YouTube videos on double speed)
Maybe it’s just that Tilde Swindon is way more Powerful than Benedict Cumberbatch and I’m conflating the power differences.
She tapped into the dark dimension, it's what got her killed in the first place. That's why Mads wanted to do her in using the dark dimension as well, she was a hypocrite who told them all not to use it while doing it herself
I feel like the conversation between The Watcher and Strange brought a lot to the series. It’s an evolution because for the first time the watcher has interacted with a story. Granted he didn’t make any changes but he got involved.
She did tear him in half without either half noticing. I'm guessing the point goes to Ancient One.
But it could be argued that that's at least as much her finesse and centuries of experience wielding magic as it is raw arcane power.
I'm wondering if this is eventually leading up to The Watcher interfering in something, because despite the oath, Uatu can't go a week without meddling in something in the comics.
That’s my thought too. I feel like they’re building to it.
Like I remember seeing Uatu in the background more and more. And now he spoke to a character who was on his way to blinking his reality out of existence.
I don't disagree and I do think all of these episodes are leading up to something where The Watcher pulls characters from the various stories as members of a new kind of Avengers.
So, while I think the conversation served the series quite well, I don't think it served the episode well.
Definitely looking forward to more.
If you're so fucked that you can now SEE Uatu and are talking to him? Your universe just ended bud. It's over.
That was a weakness of this episode. Because it's not really "what if..." if he death is presented as inevitable. Because that obviously didn't happen in our universe.
Technically, strange should have been able to solve the problem simply by coming up with a different problem he would need to overcome. Like, say... The breaking of his hands.
And what is time travel, but your pathetic attempted to try to control the world around you?! Your futile effort to have a question answered?! You think I don't know you, Alexander? I can look inside your memories, your nightmares, your dreams. You're a man haunted by those two most terrible words: What if?
It's because she got put in that one place at that one time that an Assiti shard happened to intersect with her heart. JEEZ.
There of course is the finesse and experience, but even raw power wise she seams to just have him beat. I mean not only did he run from her, but she 1 hit the hulk, pulled a group of mystical practitioners into the mirror realm and then put a fierce beating on them without much effort. Honestly the only reason she dies, is because she is supposed to, and respects fixed points in time, so she allows it.
Remember, in the main universe, Strange learns the mystic arts specifically to repair his hands. But in this universe, his hands are fine, and he's only there to bring back Christine. That's literally his entire motivation. He has no other reason to be there. As soon as the other mystics tell him that's not possible, he has no reason to keep going, unless it's because he intends to betray them.
Neat, wonder if we'll get a glowing sky beam too!
She specifically couldn't see past her own death.
They are very vague on his motivations there. I went back and checked and all they said is he sought answers, but then basically they jump right to him finding the Eye of Agomotto (sp). I took it more as in he was searching for meaning than anything else, but hey, take your pick.
She is also a liar.