What If…? Season 3 has recently unveiled three immensely powerful characters from the Marvel Universe that are likely off-limits for future appearances in Avengers: Secret Wars. The finale of this season presented a gripping narrative centered around Uatu, also known as The Watcher. This climactic episode not only showcased numerous multiverse cameos but also featured Uatu collaborating with past characters to confront the Eminence, the leader of the Watcher Order, who aims to penalize Uatu for his persistent interventions across the MCU’s multiverse.
This culmination has earned its place as one of What If…? Season 3’s most acclaimed episodes. It not only wraps up Uatu’s storyline in the MCU—at least for the time being—but also delivers thrilling action sequences fueled by the extraordinary abilities of the characters involved. While the sheer prowess displayed by these characters was remarkable within the confines of the show, it raises a notable concern: they should not be included in the forthcoming narrative arcs of the MCU, particularly in titles like Avengers: Doomsday or Avengers: Secret Wars.
The MCU’s Challenge with Overpowered Characters
A Surge of Overpowered Characters in Marvel’s Recent Offerings
The MCU has seen a notable influx of overpowered characters in recent years. During the Infinity Saga, only a handful of characters, such as Thor, Doctor Strange, Scarlet Witch, Vision, and Captain Marvel, were regarded as the franchise’s heavy-hitters. The narrative managed to focus on characters like Iron Man and Captain America as the linchpins of the storyline. However, since the events of Avengers: Endgame, it has become evident that numerous overpowered figures have emerged.
Moreover, existing characters like Loki and Captain Marvel have experienced significant enhancements in their abilities since Phase 4 kicked off. For instance, Loki has assumed the role of the god of the multiverse, holding together the Yggdrasil tree, while Captain Marvel can now harness the power to ignite a dying sun. Scarlet Witch, on the other hand, is foretold to hold the power to unravel the multiverse itself. Additionally, new characters such as Kang the Conqueror, G’iah, and Uatu have been introduced, each wielding abilities that surpass those of many established MCU heroes.
The Exiles: A New Breed of Power in What If…? Season 3
Among the standout heroes in Season 3 of What If…? are the Exiles, introduced as a powerful replacement for the Avengers. In Episode 7, we see Captain Peggy Carter assembling a dynamic team, tasked with preventing multiversal incursions. This ensemble consists of herself, Kahhori—an original Mohawk hero, Byrdie—the daughter of Howard the Duck and Darcy Lewis, and a variant of Storm who wields Mjölnir. The capabilities of this team are staggering; Kahhori possesses powers derived from the Infinity Stones, while Byrdie showcases cosmic strength, Storm brings her omega-level abilities, and Captain Carter exhibits exceptional leadership.
Before acquiring Watcher powers, the Exiles demonstrated their strength by vanquishing a colossal tentacled monster on Xandar, highlighting their formidable prowess even prior to their enhancements. However, in the finale of Season 3, the situation escalated significantly. After joining forces with Uatu to defeat the Eminence and other Watchers, the heroes took the oath of the Watcher Order and gained unparalleled multiversal powers, effectively becoming exceptional guardians of the multiverse.
The Fate of What If…?’s God-Tier Heroes in Upcoming Avengers Films
While the narrative surrounding the Exiles in What If…? Season 3 is captivating, many fans concur that these characters should remain absent from Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. The upcoming films are anticipated to feature an already crowded roster of characters from the core MCU, alongside various rumored multiversal variants. Adding the Exiles would render the conflicts less engaging, given their immense powers.
As of the conclusion of Season 3, the Exiles stand as some of the most formidable figures within the entire MCU multiverse. Should they make an appearance in Avengers 5 or 6, they possess the capacity to swiftly resolve conflicts, such as easily defeating major villains and potentially saving the multiverse with little effort. For this reason, Marvel Studios would be prudent to exclude characters from What If…? from these significant cinematic events.