There have been a lot of theories and conjectures regarding the possible influence of the animated series What If…? on the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), as fans eagerly awaited its second season’s release on Disney+. A specific plot point has intrigued fans: the way it decimates the emotional weight of Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man’s ultimate sacrifice in Avengers: Endgame. How? The second season, which began airing on December 22, 2023, as part of Phase Five, revealed alternate universes where Thanos is defeated through different means.
Four years after Iron Man’s tragic demise in the heartbreaking conclusion of Avengers: Endgame, the end of What If…? season 2 episode 4 casts doubt on his tragedy. Even worse, the same MCU TV release had done the exact same thing in episode 1 just four days earlier. One of the core plot points of Downey Jr.’s last appearance as Tony Stark was questioned in both instances by the creative animated series.
Warning: There are What If…? season 2 spoilers in this article.
Marvel’s What If…? Shows More Than One Way of Killing Thanos
The prime MCU continuity had previously established that in all the possibilities that existed with that universe’s timeline, there was only one way of truly eradicating Thanos. However, the second season of Marvel’s What If…? has completely blown up that assumption by showing multiple ways of taking care of the purple giant.
Though Vision/Ultron easily sliced Thanos in half in the first season of What If…? the second season takes it up a notch. In the first episode of Season 2, Nebula doesn’t grow up to be the daughter of Thanos but joins the fabled Nova Corps instead. Similar to the Guardians of the Galaxy film, Ronan the Accuser tries to invade Xandar, which is under the protection of the corps. However, in this universe, Ronan does so after killing off Thanos off-screen, possibly with the help of the power stone.
The second scenario focuses on Thanos’ second adopted daughter, Gamora. In What If…? Season 2 Episode 4, after helping Robert Downey Jr.‘s Tony Stark defeat The Grandmaster on Sakaar, she enlists his help to defeat the Mad Titan. This was quite unexpected, as up until that point, the galactic assassin had been loyal to her adopted father. Gamora finishes up Thanos with little difficulty, as he never suspected any betrayal from his trusted ally.
What If…? Diminishes Iron Man’s Legacy
Avengers: End Game (2019) was a real heartbreaker for a lot of MCU fanatics, as they had to say goodbye to a number of their favorite heroes. The most drastic of them was the departure of Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man, aka Tony Stark, who died to protect his loved ones from Thanos’ rampage.
His decision was influenced partly by Doctor Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), who hinted to him during the climatic battle that out of all the 14,000,605, there was only one way to actually get rid of the purple giant. Stark tearfully accepts his destiny with Downey Jr.’s famous improvised line, “I am Iron Man”, snapping and erasing Thanos and his army from existence, and eventually passing away in Pepper’s arms.
Also Read: Robert Downey Jr. Makes Valiant Return as Tony Stark in Iron Man 4: Resurrection Art
Giving two easier and, albeit safer, ways of killing off the Mad Titan leaves a lingering question about whether Doctor Strange actually properly scanned through the possible outcome. One can dismiss this as a theory that Strange does not explicitly say that Tony’s death was the only way of killing Thanos, though it is heavily implied when he raises his finger while looking at him. Whatever the actual outcome is, it is nice to know that everyone’s favorite playboy, millionaire, and philanthropist is still alive in other universes and timelines.
Both Avengers: End Game and What If…? are streaming on Disney Plus.
