This episode did what I thought was impossible and took 2 of my favorite villains in the MCU and turn them into 2 of my favorite heroes. I love that we saw that Hela wasn’t always a murder happy psychopath and instead a woman who was made into a weapon by her war mongering father. And I love that Wenwu was inspired by Hela to go from being a conqueror to a liberator!
Hela was always a fun but 1-dimensional villain but this episode gave us a great look into her characterization so that even if it isn't canon it still gives you a great perspective on her character when you watch ragnarok. I'll admit I haven't bothered to watch Shang-chi and maybe one day i will but this episode does make me curious about the potential that the rings and shang-chi brings to the picture for the greater mcu. That being said though it's a damn shame we wont likely ever get more with the rings in the MCU since Shang-chi didn't really bring in the cash and the MCU doesn't seem sure about what it wants to do with itself anymore.
I really enjoyed this episode, especially the interactions between Hela and Xu Wenwu. Plus, having the former go through a journey similar to Thor's in his first MCU solo movie was pretty interesting.
14:54 It looked like they were doing a Civil War reference. When Tony fought Bucky and Steve in that one camera shot. Here we had Odin taking on Hela and Wenwu. That camera animation looked reminded me of that.
So the biggest complaint against this episode was them making Odin evil but I find it works for two reasons. 1) This isn't Odin from the MCU this is him thousand of years before that, he's almost a completely different person. Yeah he wanted peace but he only recently stopped his war mongering ways if their was something that was threat to him suddenly appeared then of course his first response is to go to war cause that's all he knows at this point. So this wasn't complete character assassination like some fans claim. 2) I just wasn't that big a fan of Odin in the MCU. I didn't hate but I didn't love either. So his heel turn didn't effect me that much. It's the same for Shang-Chi dad turning good without development like Hela. I had neutral feelings about him in the MCU so it didn't bother me
@@przemekkozlowski7835 I wonder if myth and MCU can be related, since the symbolism of the eye loss is still used in Thor Ragnarok to rappresent wisdom. Maybe between Hela's banishment and the war with the frost giants there have been an intermediate period in witch Odin didn't expand Asgard but still ruled like a war lord. Then there is the last battle with the frost giants in witch he loses his eye and decide to finally be really a peaceful ruler. If that was the case, the Odin shown here could still be coherent. At the same time these are "What if" so it's normal for characters to have different personalities
I loved this episode! Always a fan of hero redemption stories. Plus it took two completely opposite movies and used them together and it made perfect sense. Also the humor was well balanced and didn't feel out of place at time like it did with said movies
4:50 I actually love remembering the detail that Asgardians actually know and speak multiple languages. Cate Blanchett's line "Fetch me my crown," actually took me by surprise because it was flawless. I know it was only for one line and there was plenty of time to practice but I loved it when she compromised and decided to speak the language when she was still believing herself to have her powers over Wenwu's troops. I also love how that one line of Chinese for her was the signal to have the entire scene switch to Wenwu and Hela communicating so the audience could also begin to listen in English while it's implied they're still speaking Chinese.
What I really liked is that they gave development made for Thor and Loki to their eldest sister Hela lol. Of course the crown being enchanted and Hela needing to know mercy in this case is a Thor thing, but the training Hela did with the floating cloths and her being questioned so fiercely is like Loki being questioned by the TVA in ep 1. "What do you plan to do after becoming ruler of Asgard?"
That ending shot actually does make me wonder another question, "What if Hela fought Thanos?" They did kill her off in the MCU timeline during Ragnarok but if she had lived, I would want to see her take on Thanos. Probably not going to get that but there's probably a universe out there where it does happen.
yeah, this is the best episode of what if to date.. and I've seen them all from season two.. just love the story the way it was done.. I also like the Doctor Strange episode in the first season and the Ultron stuff.. all in all good stuff 2,6 and 7 are the best episodes
Glad to know I'm not the only one who thought Morris's presence was a bit of a discrepancy. The implication in Shang-Chi was that he'd been found during one of Wenwu's attempts to reach Ta Lo, which he didn't really seem to know about until the 1990s and didn't start seeking again until after Ying Li's murder (and presumably both Shang-Chi and Xialing's defections). I suppose they could retcon that he'd sought it out before off and on over the millennia and Morris had been present for much longer than we'd thought. Or Wenwu's base camp was much closer to the enchanted forest and Morris was drawn to another lost divine being like himself and had never even encountered Wenwu. Just a cosmic fluke entwining their fates that allowed for a narrative shortcut for Hela to study Ta Lo kung fu and get that fast pass to inner peace! 😎 I dug this episode a lot. Felt a bit more rushed than usual even for What If...?, but i think it was worth it for the story they wanted to tell. (Also, if Frigga's Odin's new girlfriend here, then who was Hela's mother? 🤔)
Let’s have Shang chi and Xialing have secret half Asgardians siblings after Wenwu and Hela broke up… Yeah they are still born in that timeline if the writers follow that premise for a new What If episode.
@@snowshock8958 I can see that. I can also see Hela adopting Loki after she made peace with Laufey and the Frost Giants. Only she's honest with Loki about his true heritage and still teaches him magic much like Frigga did in the main timeline
This episode did what I thought was impossible and took 2 of my favorite villains in the MCU and turn them into 2 of my favorite heroes.
I love that we saw that Hela wasn’t always a murder happy psychopath and instead a woman who was made into a weapon by her war mongering father. And I love that Wenwu was inspired by Hela to go from being a conqueror to a liberator!
Hela was always a fun but 1-dimensional villain but this episode gave us a great look into her characterization so that even if it isn't canon it still gives you a great perspective on her character when you watch ragnarok.
I'll admit I haven't bothered to watch Shang-chi and maybe one day i will but this episode does make me curious about the potential that the rings and shang-chi brings to the picture for the greater mcu. That being said though it's a damn shame we wont likely ever get more with the rings in the MCU since Shang-chi didn't really bring in the cash and the MCU doesn't seem sure about what it wants to do with itself anymore.
this is set at least 1500 years before shang-chi as thor was 1500 YO and he wasn't even born yet in this episode.
I think this might be my favorite episode of this show so far.
I really enjoyed this episode, especially the interactions between Hela and Xu Wenwu. Plus, having the former go through a journey similar to Thor's in his first MCU solo movie was pretty interesting.
14:54 It looked like they were doing a Civil War reference. When Tony fought Bucky and Steve in that one camera shot. Here we had Odin taking on Hela and Wenwu. That camera animation looked reminded me of that.
So the biggest complaint against this episode was them making Odin evil but I find it works for two reasons.
1) This isn't Odin from the MCU this is him thousand of years before that, he's almost a completely different person. Yeah he wanted peace but he only recently stopped his war mongering ways if their was something that was threat to him suddenly appeared then of course his first response is to go to war cause that's all he knows at this point. So this wasn't complete character assassination like some fans claim.
2) I just wasn't that big a fan of Odin in the MCU. I didn't hate but I didn't love either. So his heel turn didn't effect me that much. It's the same for Shang-Chi dad turning good without development like Hela. I had neutral feelings about him in the MCU so it didn't bother me
Odin gave up his eye for wisdom. This Odin still has both eyes so is a more barbaric, paranoid version.
@@przemekkozlowski7835No, Laufey destroyed his eye
@@letrangiabao7845 I was going by the myths. I forgot how it happened in the MCU.
@@przemekkozlowski7835 I wonder if myth and MCU can be related, since the symbolism of the eye loss is still used in Thor Ragnarok to rappresent wisdom. Maybe between Hela's banishment and the war with the frost giants there have been an intermediate period in witch Odin didn't expand Asgard but still ruled like a war lord. Then there is the last battle with the frost giants in witch he loses his eye and decide to finally be really a peaceful ruler. If that was the case, the Odin shown here could still be coherent. At the same time these are "What if" so it's normal for characters to have different personalities
I really enjoyed this episode!!! I’m happy Cate Blanchett reprised her role, but bummed Tony Leung didn’t.
It was probably really difficult to have him contracted to do voice-over work either because he's doing other projects or unavailable for this role.
I loved this episode! Always a fan of hero redemption stories. Plus it took two completely opposite movies and used them together and it made perfect sense. Also the humor was well balanced and didn't feel out of place at time like it did with said movies
4:50 I actually love remembering the detail that Asgardians actually know and speak multiple languages.
Cate Blanchett's line "Fetch me my crown," actually took me by surprise because it was flawless. I know it was only for one line and there was plenty of time to practice but I loved it when she compromised and decided to speak the language when she was still believing herself to have her powers over Wenwu's troops.
I also love how that one line of Chinese for her was the signal to have the entire scene switch to Wenwu and Hela communicating so the audience could also begin to listen in English while it's implied they're still speaking Chinese.
Her pronounciation was good!
1:05 I'm still waiting for the Shang-Chi cameos too. But you know what? A universe where Hela meets Wenwu and the village of Talo? I'll take it.
10:45 Hela channeling Azula during her Talo training was awesome.
Yessss
What I really liked is that they gave development made for Thor and Loki to their eldest sister Hela lol. Of course the crown being enchanted and Hela needing to know mercy in this case is a Thor thing, but the training Hela did with the floating cloths and her being questioned so fiercely is like Loki being questioned by the TVA in ep 1. "What do you plan to do after becoming ruler of Asgard?"
That ending shot actually does make me wonder another question, "What if Hela fought Thanos?"
They did kill her off in the MCU timeline during Ragnarok but if she had lived, I would want to see her take on Thanos. Probably not going to get that but there's probably a universe out there where it does happen.
She is looking "Hela" fine❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
The next two are fantastic.
of course she is not yingli, the timeline is different, it's ancient China, 1000 years ago?
yeah, this is the best episode of what if to date.. and I've seen them all from season two.. just love the story the way it was done.. I also like the Doctor Strange episode in the first season and the Ultron stuff.. all in all good stuff 2,6 and 7 are the best episodes
This episode also gave us the Odin from the comics this is how he was in the comics unlike the Odin we got in the MCU
Even the mighty Odin fears the Ten Rings. Once again he underestimates the mortals of Midgard 😏😏😏😏
Glad to know I'm not the only one who thought Morris's presence was a bit of a discrepancy. The implication in Shang-Chi was that he'd been found during one of Wenwu's attempts to reach Ta Lo, which he didn't really seem to know about until the 1990s and didn't start seeking again until after Ying Li's murder (and presumably both Shang-Chi and Xialing's defections). I suppose they could retcon that he'd sought it out before off and on over the millennia and Morris had been present for much longer than we'd thought. Or Wenwu's base camp was much closer to the enchanted forest and Morris was drawn to another lost divine being like himself and had never even encountered Wenwu. Just a cosmic fluke entwining their fates that allowed for a narrative shortcut for Hela to study Ta Lo kung fu and get that fast pass to inner peace! 😎
I dug this episode a lot. Felt a bit more rushed than usual even for What If...?, but i think it was worth it for the story they wanted to tell.
(Also, if Frigga's Odin's new girlfriend here, then who was Hela's mother? 🤔)
3:55 - What If ... thats how The Collector gotten hold of her helmet in Season One ...?
jia yi is Shang chi's ancestor from a thousand years ago
They should do a follow up set in the future with a new character that’s the child of Hela and Wenwu.
💯💯💯
Or their child could still be Shang-Chi and/or Xialing. The question would be is their full name Shang-Chi Wu or Shang-Chi Helason lol
Hela really got that DBZ power-up this episode
Another enjoyable episode. I hope they consider bringing Hela back in live action. Some much potential they didn’t explore in the MCU proper timeline
So... In this universe, Hela is probably gonna be Shang-Chi's mom... *Interesting*
Let’s have Shang chi and Xialing have secret half Asgardians siblings after Wenwu and Hela broke up…
Yeah they are still born in that timeline if the writers follow that premise for a new What If episode.
@@snowshock8958 I can see that. I can also see Hela adopting Loki after she made peace with Laufey and the Frost Giants. Only she's honest with Loki about his true heritage and still teaches him magic much like Frigga did in the main timeline
Happy New Year 🎊🎈🎊🎈🎊 Guys!!
Happy new year!!
WHITE HELA!!!