The MCU Just Set Up A Worse Disaster Than Thanos’ Infinity War Snap

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Marvel’s What If…? episode 2.

Marvel’s What If…? sets up a Marvel Cinematic Universe tragedy that’s even more deadly than Thanos’ snap in Avengers: Infinity War. In What If…? episode 2, the MCU explores how things would be different if T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) became Star-Lord instead of Peter Quill (voiced in the episode by Brian T. Delaney). And it seems things would be much better. In the episode, the Ravagers, who take T’Challa from Earth as a child, become the Robin Hoods of the galaxy under Star-Lord’s guidance, carrying out their schemes to help those in need. Thanos (Josh Brolin) also doesn’t go down his genocidal path, choosing to join the Ravagers instead and having a loving relationship with his daughter Nebula (Karen Gillan). Additionally, Quill is never taken from Earth, allowing him to grow up without becoming an intergalactic thief.

Because of the episode, the events of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 never happen. In the film, Quill reunited with his long-lost dad, a Celestial named Ego (Kurt Russell). Ego is a living planet that has traveled the galaxy and found the lifeforms there disappointing. To rectify the situation, Ego planet seedlings on thousands of worlds with the hope of terraforming them into new extensions of himself. However, he needs another Celestial’s power to access the seedlings, and his son Quill is just the person who can do it for him. Ego, who’s also responsible for the death of Quill’s mom, tries to use Quill as a battery to let his seedlings spread across the universe. However, the Guardians of the Galaxy interfere, and Ego is eventually defeated.

The events of What If…? episode 2 set up the worst MCU disaster yet. Though T’Challa helps stop Thanos’ genocidal Infinity War plans, forever altering the MCU, no one is around to protect Quill from his father. The episode ends with Quill sweeping the floor at a Dairy Queen and listening to music. Suddenly, someone approaches Quill, and he informs them the DQ is closed. “What, Peter? Can’t spare a little time for dear old Dad?” Ego says. The show’s narrator, the Watcher (Jeffrey Wright), then notes that the situation might “spell the end of the world.” And The Watcher is right. 

Because of What If…? episode 2, there’s nothing that can stop Ego. In Guardians of the Galaxy 2, the villain successfully uses Quill (Chris Pratt) as a power source to carry out his universe-ending plan until the Guardians of the Galaxy and Yondu (Michael Rooker) temporarily disrupt things by crashing a ship on top of him. Before the disruption, Ego the Living Planet’s seeds were oozing all over other planets, demolishing anything in their path. As Quill says in Guardians of the Galaxy 2, Ego wants to “eradicate the universe as we know it.” While Thanos wished to wipe out half of all life, Ego intends to destroy all of it. And without the Guardians having Quill’s back, Ego is free to do as he pleases.

Though a disaster seems like it’s on the way, What If…? leaves it open. After Ego visits Quill at the end of episode 2, the Watcher says, “That’s a story for another day.” With the Watcher not seeming overly concerned, it seems there could be alternate ways to stop Ego. After all, T’Challa helped convince Thanos to give up his genocidal Avengers: Infinity War plan in this universe. If the Mad Titan’s quest to destroy half of life is no longer “inevitable,” then nothing is.

Marvel’s What If…? releases new episodes Wednesdays on Disney+.