Season 1 / Episode 6: What If... Killmonger Rescued Tony Stark?

[HammerDown]

How did Erik power all the drones with the stolen vibranium without the military asking questions?

The military had the vibranium and the drones assembly line. They were probably the ones to give the green light on everything since the only way those things where operating was through the use of the vibranium as a power source.

 

[Frodo]

As a big fan of The Black Panther film, I thought the episode was okay to fine.

I wasn't as impressed by it as everyone else was.
I'd give it B-.

The highlight for me was hearing Boseman and Jordan act together again.
It's too bad the two of them didn't do more films together outside the MCU.

All in all , I prefer the Black Widow frame up episode to this one, and The Doctor Strange Episode is still the best imo.

If I had to rank the current episodes, this one would be in the middle for me.

It's ahead of the last one in terms of substance, but behind it in terms of entertainment value for me.

 

[Dr. Evil]

So the actress who voiced Shuri, Ozioma Akagha had a recurring role in the now cancelled Runaways.

 

[Drizzle]

@Drizzle I actually thought the voice actor did a fairly okay RDJ impression. I have to disagree that he sounded nothing like him.

Yeah, the voice actor for Tony sounded almost exactly like RDJ... I was impressed.

You guys have more forgiving ears than I do. I thought that the inflection and line delivery was very RDJ-esque but the actual sound of his voice was too whiny, high pitched and nasally.

 

[Pennywise]

This week’s episode was a whole lot of fun for me. Michael B. Jordan was pretty awesome as Kilmonger again, but it was weird hearing Tony’s voice being so nasally. I also didn’t really like Stane’s voice that much, but Pepper, Shuri, Danai, Faverau, Kani, and Basset

Seeing Killmonger save Tony from the Ten Rings before revealing he was undercover and outing Stane was a fun twist. As was Stark promoting Erik as head of security and CEO, making this version of Tony an even bigger dick!

Liked the scenes of them drinking and collaborating on the drones, but I was already suspicious of how everything that was happening! Then there was so much death in the middle of the episode, but at least we got to see Black Panther in action, and Andy Serkis did a great job with what he had!

Seeing Kilmonger in Wakanda manipulating the only family he had left was a lot of fun. The action scenes with the drones vs Wakanda was a lot of fun, especially seeing Ramonda in action was pretty awesome!

I was surprised Kilmonger didn’t kill off T’Chaka at the end after gaining the mantle of Black Panther, and the ending has me wanting a lot more.

8.5/10 for me!

 

[KaijuDude1992]

Another great episode IMO, but damn has Tony had some bad luck on this show so far lol. I'm kind of surprised at how many times they've killed him off and each death just gets darker and darker.

I really liked seeing him interact with Killmonger though and its shame we couldn't see MBJ and RDJ actually interact in the MCU because I feel it would have been a really interesting dynamic.

It was awesome seeing him manipulate everybody though and be such a cold and calculating villian which is pretty damn consistant with what we saw in BP.

Speaking of BP I also loved hearing alot of that music again in this episode and man is sad that we won't see Boseman and MBJ together again in this universe because I don't think we got enough of it BP.

 

[Spider-Fan]

Have not seen this one yet. On vacation and have not had the time to watch yet. But this conceptually is one of them I was least excited about, so I am not mad about waiting

 

[Pennywise]

Sad that we only have three episodes left, though!

On the other hand, I am more than satisfied with the MCU content we have been receiving this year!

 

[First Avenger]

Another fine episode, though I can't help but feel the series peaked with the Doctor Strange episode.

 

[HammerDown]

Another fine episode, though I can't help but feel the series peaked with the Doctor Strange episode.

I think the final episodes will probably be the highlight of the season as it is with other series.

 

[The Caped Knight]

This felt like the weakest of the series so far. It was very predictable and not at all unfamiliar like the film Black Panther, the only difference is Killmonger was introduced earlier and Stark hadn’t gained his redemption that lead to him becoming Iron Man.

 

[LoganPool]

I don't understand the love for the Doctor Strange episode. That one is by far my least favorite.

 

[Web-Head]

I don't understand the love for the Doctor Strange episode. That one is by far my least favorite.

I wasn't crazy about it either

 

[Web-Head]

Yeah I liked this episode quite a bit too. Especially early on when they were mixing Iron Man with Black Panther.

It did feel like it ended on a cliffhanger.. I thought the voice actor for Tony did a pretty good job all things considered, Pepper's too.

This is up there with one of my favorites in the series so far. Still think my favorite is the Avengers episode though.

 

[TheWiseGuy487]

Man, Killmonger Palpatine-ing it up in this episode! lol

Definitely a big step up from the uneven, rushed and tonally scattered episode from last week. Predictable, yes, but more focused and better paced.

Erik being into anime like his real life counterpart and building a Gundam.

Voice actors were pretty good. Didn’t take me out, so that’s a plus.

T’Challa and Rhodey, especially the former. That hits different.

“The difference between you and me, is that you can’t see the difference between you and me.” Great line. A lot of his dialogue in this episode was actually great.

The potential team-up between Shuri and Pepper is definitely something I’m looking forward to.

Final Watcher line got me a bit, considering Chadwick’s real life passing and legacy.

8/10. Predictable, yet compelling due to Killmonger still being an interesting character to explore in a different series of events. Would like to see other variants of him in other What-If’s.

 

[Albright]

I don't understand the love for the Doctor Strange episode. That one is by far my least favorite.

that was the only good one imho

 

[Spider-Fan]

This episode annoyed me a bit because everyone is an idiot. Seriously, this could have been called "What If Everyone in Marvel Was a Moron and Easily Duped by the Clearly Evil Guy". So, not my favorite. It was fine.

This to me didn't feel like Killmonger outwitting everyone and earning what he was getting. It felt like they had to write so many characters as complete morons in order for him to win. That is sloppy writing to me. Liked it more than Captain Carter, but 2nd worst episode

 

[Asharad]

I was really disappointed with this episode. It's the worst MCU entry by far, for me.

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

Great idea. Rushed story. Okayish overall.

 

[TheWiseGuy487]

Still can’t believe they got away with the “came for the king” line in this episode, on Disney+ no less. Did a bit of a double take when I heard it.

Going to be a lot of inquisitive youngins asking their parents about that.

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

Still can’t believe they got away with the “came for the king” line in this episode, on Disney+ no less. Did a bit of a double take when I heard it.

Going to be a lot of inquisitive youngins asking their parents about that.

The Wire came out in 2002.

It's had time to percolate through the culture after almost two decades, just saying.

 

[GREEN =w= DAY]

Solid episode

Killmonger was more of a threat in What If than he was in the actual Black Panther movie. Dude was a total puppet master how he orchestrated everything

Will we get an episode in which Tony doesn’t get killed off? 6 episodes in and they’ve killed off Stark 3 times so far lol

 

[TheWiseGuy487]

The Wire came out in 2002.

It's had time to percolate through the culture after almost two decades, just saying.

I meant that in regards to the “Maxim models” part of the quote, because, you know, mature sex joke on Disney+, a platform primarily aimed at kids. Not personally offended by it, just taken aback by it making it past the censors for a family friendly entertainment app.

 

[Spider-Fan]

I dont even feel like Killmonger WAS a puppet master here. I just everyone was so dumb and clueless in thise episode cause they had to be written as morons so Killmonger could keep looking smarter. I think he came off much more clever in the movie than here by far. In the movie, his moves felt organic and not forced

 

[HammerDown]

Personally I do think they did a really good job with Killmonger and how he managed to play the right cards to get exactly what he wanted.

He saved Tony’s life and immediately become in his good graces and outed Obadiah, which solidified that status of a trustworthy and resourceful ally. He then bonded with Tony and since they were similar people the bond grew bigger, they developed the drones together…

Later on they were both on board with getting the vibranium. Killmonger played both sides in the negotation, planed with Klaw and came in late to take Black Panther and Rodey out, while making it seem like they took each other out.

Of course Iron Man then saw through it with the help of Jarvis, since it became personal he wanted revenge and that was basically his downfall because Tony Stark was blindsided by his own pride and Killmonger underestimated capabilities.

The proof of any wrong doing was basically erased by Killmonger. Without proof and the backing of the military because of his war hero status, he still managed to progress his plan. The military came in and took everything single thing from Tony which basically meant that Pepper lost any real means or influence in the bigger picture.

Next step was ambushing Klaw and delivering him as a trophy which worked out as a way of solidifying his approach to Wakanda, coupled with the fact that Killmonger was part of them and basically royal family. He then played a card in form of being an informer for the upcoming attack and last but not least the battle hero card, his actions gave him even more cred with the royal family and the Wakandans. One thing led to another and he naturally became the Black Panther.

Killmonger was cunning, he forced himself to the scene as a savior, gained trust and influence, made use of his abilities, played the cards right and filled a vacuum that he himself created.

Of course from the audience perspective and knowing what we know it’s easier to label him and his actions. On the ground it was Pepper who seem to mistrust him and Shuri who used her genius ability to uncover the truth.