‘What If…?’ Season 2: Where Did Captain Carter End Up After Being Sucked In by a Red Portal?
‘What If…?’ Season 2 typically presents standalone stories exploring various scenarios within the alternate universe. Throughout this season, we’ve encountered diverse standalone tales, such as the one featuring Nebula joining Nova Corps or Happy Hogan transforming into a Purple Hulk to save Christmas from Justin Hammer. Episode 5 took a different turn, reintroducing a character from Season 1, Captain Carter, and revisiting her storyline. As Episode 5 concluded, it offered a sneak peek into another connected episode, building anticipation for what’s to come. Let’s delve into the journey Captain Carter takes through the red portal.
Episode 5 provided a sneak peek into future developments
‘What If….?’ Season 2 Episode 5 concluded with a mix of heartbreak and hope. Steve Rogers, seemingly sacrificing himself within the Hydra Stomper suit to eradicate the Red Room, left Peggy hopeful that he might still exist somewhere. She expressed her determination to find a “cure” for his condition and restore the man she cherished.
However, just as Captain Carter is about to join Black Widow for a break, she is unexpectedly drawn into a red portal, finding herself in an unfamiliar location with figures resembling Nick Fury and the Scarlet Witch. The question remains: Where is Captain Carter now?
Captain Carter found herself transported to the year 1602
In this Elizabethan-era setting, she is tasked with confronting an unknown threat that has stranded multiple contemporary heroes in 1602. Their mission is to save “the queen.” While specific details about how the story will unfold remain unknown, the episode promises the appearance of the much-anticipated Scarlet Witch Merlin variant. Expectations for the episode are shaped, to some extent, by the source material of this narrative.
Episode 5 of ‘What If…?’ Season 2 draws its inspiration from Neil Gaiman’s ‘Marvel 1602’
While all ‘What If…?’ stories delve into various comics and alternate universes, episode 5, titled ‘What If… The Avengers Assembled in 1602?’ takes a particularly specific source of inspiration from Neil Gaiman’s ‘Marvel 1602.’
In this narrative, superheroes find themselves appearing 400 years ahead of schedule, creating a puzzling scenario. Set in the 17th century, these heroes navigate high society and court intrigue during the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I. The story unfolds with peculiar weather causing a stir across Europe, prompting Dr. Strange to suspect unnatural forces at play. Dr. Strange is also tasked with safeguarding the Knights Templar’s secret weapon on behalf of Queen Elizabeth. Simultaneously, Sir Nicholas Fury embarks on a mission to safely transport this weapon to England, enlisting the services of a blind minstrel named Matthew Murdoch.
The plot further unfolds with the arrival of the Virginia Maid in the New World, carrying Virginia Dare, the first child from Roanoke, and her Native American bodyguard Rojhaz. Trouble arises as a winged assassin attempts to abduct Virginia, unveiling her gryphon powers. Dr. Strange suspects Virginia’s abilities might be linked to the peculiar weather.
Amidst these events, Fury interrogates an assassin, uncovering the puppet master behind the scenes—Count Otto von Doom. Despite heroic efforts to thwart Doom, his contraption releases poison gas, tragically claiming the life of Queen Elizabeth I. The narrative deepens as our heroes grapple with these time-twisting mysteries in the laid-back Marvel setting of 1602.
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