Let’s Talk about What If…? Episode 3-3

Do you know what everyone loves? A buddy comedy.

Okay, this kind of story isn’t quite as popular today as it was before the bromance era ran the concept into the ground.

Marvel isn’t letting Vince Vaughn, Ben Stiller, and Will Ferrell’s mistakes stand in the way of a good story, though.

In the latest episode of Marvel’s What If…?, two unlikely allies meet for the first time and instantly butt heads.

If you’ve ever watched literally any buddy comedy, you know that they’re going to wind up best friends. And it’s a joy to behold.

Let’s talk about What If…? episode 3-3, the one that proves David Harbour is a comedy genius.

Red Fish Out of Water

The Red Guardian isn’t happy. He’s meeting with the legendary General Dreykov, and it’s not going well.

A new assignment calls for the Red Guardian to travel to Ohio, which likely sounds familiar to folks who watched Black Widow.

To Russia’s first super soldier, this sounds like a demotion, which it totally and completely is.

The situation grows awkward when Dreykov takes a phone call and demands the defrosting of the Winter Soldier.

Apparently, Bucky can do what the Red Guardian can’t, which is hurtful since the former “isn’t even real Russian.”

We quickly learn that the Red Guardian is quite the zealot and completely devoted to Mother Russia and the communist ways.

So, the idea of being sent to a capitalist society greatly upsets him, as does working with the Winter Soldier.

That wasn’t even the plan. Bucky could have done this job on his own, but the Red Guardian talked his way into the assignment.

We quickly learn that the two are mismatched, with Bucky trying to kill everything. The Russian is against needless murder.

Quickly, the two start to fight, and it’s mostly a draw, although Red Guardian comes across as a buffoon the entire time.

Really, he plays the buffoon the entire episode, which is partially why it’s so enjoyable.

Because the two of them get distracted, they fail their mission by only retrieving one of two briefcases. This is Bucky’s first failure.

Cops and Robbers

The great Laurence Fishburne is on the scene as Dr. Bill Foster, the head of the S.H.I.E.L.D. division investigating this crime.

From their perspective, one briefcase was taken, and gunfire occurred at the scene of the crime.

A ranger named Morales (Ugly Betty’s America Ferrera) informs him of the victims: Howard and Maria Stark.

Yes, remember that pivotal scene in Captain America: Civil War where Bucky kills Iron Man’s mom?

The Red Guardian’s anti-murder policy just saved Mama Stark’s life. Tony Stark might even be well-adjusted in this reality.

As Foster aka Goliath investigates the scene, we cut to a fast food restaurant where Red Guardian is raging against capitalism.

The employee isn’t receptive to his worker-friendly policies, but she does like Bucky’s flirty nature.

Outside the restaurant, the duo bicker and quip until Archer’s Ray Gillette appears in a red Corvette. They’re stealing his car.

Marvel will never admit the Archer reference, but my wife noticed it immediately.

Anyway, the duo drives to their next destination. Along the way, they’re stopped for questioning by…Bill Foster. Uh-oh.

After about four questions, Foster destroys their cover story and winds up in a fight with them.

Toward the end of this chase sequence, Foster turns into his Goliath self as Ranger Morales watches. She’s impressed.

For his part, the Red Guardian is starting to dig Bucky, whom he nicknames the Winter Fox.

Bucky isn’t quite so sure about Red Guardian, whose communist rhetoric leads to a masterful quip:

“You’re more brainwashed than me.” *chef’s kiss* That’s a perfect joke.

Still, Bucky is impressed when Red Guardian uses his shield to knock down Goliath and end the chase.

Bucky’s New Mission

Depending on your perspective, this episode either honors Thelma & Louise or Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

At one point, they drive their car off a cliff, which definitely echoes the conclusion of Thelma & Louise.

Somehow, they survive the crash and realize they need to find The Rook. Dreykov mentioned him at the start of the episode.

So, they head to Las Vegas, as people tend to do in buddy comedies for some reason.

Right behind them are Foster and Ranger Morales, who are tracking them effectively.

Bucky takes a call from Dreykov and learns his new mission. He is to kill Red Guardian, who has become a liability.

This conversation occurs right after The Red Guardian pulls a bullet from Bucky’s arm and calms him down. They’re friends now.

Bucky’s choices are to fail his second mission ever, mere days after failing his first one, or kill his new and probably only friend.

Hey, Steve Rogers has no idea Bucky is still alive! Anyway, the two encounter The Rook, who is working with the Russians.

Hey, look, it’s Obadiah Stane being treacherous again! He’s traded some information about a serum in exchange for Howard Stark’s murder.

The Red Guardian is devastated to learn that the legendary Rook is just a capitalist pig…and a murderous one at that.

Bucky uses this moment to plan to kill the other two. At this moment, Stane accidentally saves Red Guardian’s life.

The mogul asks whether Bucky believes Mother Russia cares about him. Bucky realizes the answer is no.

At this moment, Stane opens fire, which Bucky blocks with his arm, accidentally launching Iron Monger out the window. He is very dead.

Friendship Wins!

On the Vegas Strip, Foster and Ranger Morales debate where to find Bucky and Red Guardian.

At this moment, the two start sliding down the side of the building, Die Hard style. Foster can’t help but be impressed.

Bucky starts shooting again, which irritates Red Guardian. But the duo manages to escape the casino they’re in.

Foster turns into Goliath and pursues, but it goes poorly for him.

Bucky and Red Guardian team up for a variant on the X-Men’s Fastball Special and manage to disable the very large man.

Still, the duo winds up pinned in and as the gunfire bears down on both of them, they decide to fight together to the end.

Here’s the Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid part. Bucky tells Red Guardian about the kill order.

Then, he admits that Dreykov can force him to kill Red Guardian. But his new friend calls him the “Great Coney Island Hero.”

Bucky resists the kill order. The two still run toward the danger rather than away from it, though.

A shot shows them frozen in time as they presumably head toward certain death…but it’s not!

The Winter Soldier returns to Russia, where he claims the Red Guardian died a hero to his country.

Then, we cut to a school gym, where “Coach Bob Toledo” is teaching a class. Yes, the ultimate Russian is now American.

Foster shows up and informs him that America could use the help of a hero.

Red Guardian poses with his shield and an American flag. Then, the scene cuts to the Battle of New York.

This time, Red Guardian pushes his way into the circle, much to his faux daughter Natasha’s chagrin. He’s an Avenger, too.

Final Thoughts

The first three episodes of What If…? this season make me question what Marvel is doing in canceling the show.

This show has really leveled up from last year, which had its ups and downs.

Every episode this year rivals the Christmas and Elizabethan stories from season two. This show’s on fire.

I’ll go ahead and spoil you on the fact that I’ll gush just as much about the next episode, too.

So, that’s four excellent episodes from a season of eight. I haven’t watched beyond that, but there’s a WOW! factor here.

What If is going out on a high note. I loooved this episode, and David Harbour seemed to be having the time of his life.

 

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