Notice! This article contains spoilers for What If...? episodes 5 and 6 of season 3.
And if...?
followed the experiences of Uatu the Observer observing the multiverse, but the show is also a hindrance when it comes to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)
biggest wars to date. On the larger scales of comic book superheroes, the MCU is right at the beginning of its storytelling journey, having begun in 2008. Meanwhile, comic books and comic book superheroes have been around for many decades, with companies like DC and Marvel entering a popularity peak. in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s.
Today, audiences are looking for more accessible ways to tell superhero stories, but the emotion and enthusiasm remain the same. However, with the transition from comics to the big and small screen, there were adjustments made to make the stories stand out to contemporary audiences. And in And if...? Season 3, Uatu, an Observer, broke a rule of wonder that has existed since the species was first introduced in 1964.
The Watcher Broke His Rule Twice in What If Season 3 (Again)
Uatu is tired of his oath as an observer
And if...? uses Uatu as a framing device, having this character narrate and describe alternative realities that diverge from the Sacred Timeline. Without its observance, and the consequent sharing with the public, there would be no in-depth exploration of the Multiverse for the MCU, beyond the small explanations provided in the TV shows and films that cover the Multiverse. However, Uatu's role as Observer is to waitobserve and never interfere. This is Uatu's destiny, but how And if...? shows, it's not what he wants.
Instead, Uatu seems to be prone to emotions and sensitivities in a way that makes him vulnerable and upset when seeing bad things happen. And when he feels like he's spent too much time sitting and watching, Uatu decides to take matters into his own hands and start taking action. In And if...? Season 3, Episode 5, Uatu steps in to help Riri Williams, aka Ironheart, avoid certain death at the hands of Mysterio. And in Season 3, Episode 6, Uatu directly interferes in a situation This could have spelled certain destruction for young Kwai Jun-Fan. It clearly seems that the Watcher is tired of seeing things go wrong.
The observer's interventions leave him out of the final game and the wars of the multiverse even darker
Uatu chose a strange time to break the rules
But only recently did the Observer decide to come off the bench and actually play. Before, he had brief encounters with humans and aliens, but most of his time was occupied simply watching things happen. This means that the Observer has witnessed billions of lives being devastated. However, it seems strange that, despite watching half the Sacred Timeline universe be destroyedor the Multiverse falling apart, the Watcher never thought to act. Evidently, it was never a question of power and capacity.
The Vigilante was able to speak directly to Riri and bring her out of a pitiful indifference to death, and help her get over Mysterio. His other rescue was when he threw one of the guards against another just before they pushed Kwai Jun-Fan to almost certain death. So he didn't care about the other catastrophic and apocalyptic wars? It makes no sense for Uatu to be disillusioned by such small moments, when there was much greater opposition with higher stakes and the cost of human life. Despite this, he continues to fight in And if...? and could even appear in a live-action MCU film if his change of heart persists.
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- Release date
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February 14, 2025
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- Release date
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July 25, 2025
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July 24, 2026