The third season of What If...? , an animated anthology series from Marvel Studios, premiered on Disney+ on December 22, 2024, with episodes releasing daily until December 29, 2024
. This season consists of 8 episodes and is the final season of the series, concluding the multiverse exploration that the show is known for
. The show continues to explore alternate timelines in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), imagining what might happen if key moments in MCU films occurred differently. Jeffrey Wright returns as the narrator, the Watcher, guiding viewers through these alternate realities
. The season features fan-favorite characters such as Captain America/Sam Wilson, The Winter Soldier/Bucky Barnes, Hulk/Bruce Banner, The Red Guardian, Captain Peggy Carter, Agatha Harkness, Shang-Chi, and others
. Production-wise, Matthew Chauncey took over as head writer, replacing A.C. Bradley, with Bryan Andrews and Stephan Franck directing. The animation was provided by Flying Bark Productions and Stellar Creative Lab
. The season includes a previously written Red Guardian episode initially intended for season 2
. Critically, the season received mixed reviews. Some viewers and critics felt that the season diluted the core "what if" concept by including fewer genuine alternate scenarios and more episodes focused on ongoing storylines or character arcs, such as Captain Carter's adventures, rather than standalone alternate histories
. The season was noted for its technical animation quality and creative freedom but was criticized for not fully delivering on the promise of exploring meaningful alternate MCU histories and for some episodes feeling less impactful or "sillier" compared to previous seasons
. In summary, What If...? season 3 is the concluding chapter of the series, offering a mix of alternate MCU stories with a focus on fan-favorite characters and multiverse battles, but it received a somewhat lukewarm reception due to its narrative choices and departure from the original anthology format
