The following article contains spoilers for What If…? episode 2.
When the first trailer for Marvel's What If…?was released, fans caught a glimpse of beloved heroes and villains from Loki to Doctor Strange. But none packed as much of a punch as seeing T'Challa, better known as the Black Panther, back on screen. Chadwick Boseman, the voice and actor behind T'Challa, passed away in August of 2020 after a lengthy battle with cancer. Only 43 years old, Boseman delivered some of the best performances of the last decade, including roles in Da Five Bloods and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, the latter of which earned him an Oscar nomination.
But it's the role of T'Challa in 2018's Black Panther that has left the biggest impact on viewers, a fact cemented by this newest and sadly last performance by the actor. Besides going through the endlessly entertaining hypothetical of a Wakandian warrior becoming Star-Lord, the second episode of What If…? acts as a perfect farewell for Chadwick Boseman’s time as T’Challa. The vocal performance is top-notch, Boseman bringing his all to a new version of the beloved hero. It’s clear that he wanted T’Challa to shine in the series, confirmed by an interview with What If…? creators A.C Bradley and Bryan Andrews.
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Despite its short runtime, the episode is packed with action and an entirely new arena for the Black Panther to explore: the vastness of space. In this universe, T’Challa is picked up from Wakanda by Yondu instead of Peter Quill. After a quick time jump, T’Challa is soon to be the leader of the Guardians of the Galaxy and from his first scene on Morag, he seems like he will be following the same path as Quill. The similarities are quickly squashed by the world’s reception of T’Challa’s Star-Lord, though. Instead of hatred, Djimon Hounsou’s Korath meets T’Challa and is a huge fan of his work, describing him as an outlaw before asking to join his fight. Yondu in this universe is more tender and compares T’Challa to Robin Hood, taking from the rich and unworthy and helping those less fortunate.
The changes don't stop there — because with a person like T’Challa leading the Ravagers, all its members are changed for the better. The criminals and mercenaries that fans met in the 2014 film are now focused on helping others, their schemes used only to benefit the world around them, such as stealing the Infinity Stone to save a dying planet. T’Challa’s compassionate and understanding nature is on display. So much so, that the episode’s version of the Black Panther has been able to convince Josh Brolin’s Thanos to go straight, giving up his mission of genocide and instead taking up gardening. The once Mad Titan teams up with T’Challa and the Ravagers to steal a life-saving organism from the infamous Collector.
The episode reminds viewers why Boseman’s portrayal has been so revered and beloved. Yes, this version of the character is a little more scrappy than the royal son fans first encountered in Black Panther, but he is still led by his belief in others and his innate optimism. If anything, What If…?'s iteration of T’Challa is an interesting and fitting way for fans to hear Chadwick Boseman one final time. It’s heartwarming that his last performance as the character is filled with the usual heart Boseman brought to the role while letting the character have some fun on a space heist with fan favorites like Nebula (voiced by Karen Gillan) and even a small, hilarious cameo with Howard the Duck.
A bittersweet episode, ‘What If… T’Challa Became a Star-Lord?’ also pushes the show in an interesting direction not done by its premiering episode. T’Challa was able to make a massive change in his universe by becoming Star-Lord instead of Peter Quill, triggering multiple other scenarios with his one action. Hopefully, What If…? will continue this path and inch towards more ambitious storytelling over the season, pushing the quintessential question of ‘what if’ to its fullest advantage, while giving fans amazing and touching moments along the way.
Fortunately, this isn’t the last time viewers will get to hear Chadwick Boseman voice T’Challa. What If..?’s version of the Black Panther turned Ravager is scheduled to appear in four more episodes, albeit in probably smaller roles than in this second episode. Regardless, any performance — cameo or scene-stealer — from Boseman will be worth the wait, especially when it’s known that it will be the very last time. While it’s sad that the time with Boseman’s T’Challa is numbered, it’s heartwarming to know that the character — and Chadwick by association — will be going out perfectly.
What If…? is now streaming on Disney Plus.
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