Marvel Revives The Avengers’ First Perfect Moment in MCU History but Overlooks a Major Plot Hole

Warning: This article contains spoilers for What If…? Season 3, Episode 3, titled “What If… the Red Guardian Stopped the Winter Soldier?”

In a thrilling twist in What If…? Season 3, the story revisits the beginnings of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), particularly surrounding Alexei Shostakov, also known as the Red Guardian. The third season, consisting of eight episodes, premiered during the holiday season of 2024, marking the conclusion of the animated Multiverse Saga. While this season delivered unpredictable narratives, it also provided a unique, intimate perspective on the relationship between Bucky Barnes’ Winter Soldier and the Red Guardian.

Episode 3 of Season 3 transports viewers to an alternate universe where the Red Guardian intervenes and prevents the Winter Soldier from assassinating Howard and Maria Stark in December 1991. The episode, titled “What If… the Red Guardian Stopped the Winter Soldier?”sees Barnes and Shostakov combat General Dreykov and the forces of the Red Room. Notably, although Barnes is eventually captured by HYDRA, Shostakov finds a new calling in this reality, establishing himself as a superhero. This narrative echo of the MCU’s iconic moments, however, presents significant plot inconsistencies.

Red Guardian’s Role in the Original Avengers in What If…? Season 3

A Nod to 2012’s The Avengers

During an intense encounter in Las Vegas, the Red Guardian and the Winter Soldier face off against Obadiah Stane’s forces and Dreykov’s minions. This climactic battle ends with Shostakov destroying the final remnant of the super-soldier serum taken from the Starks. Following the confrontation, the Winter Soldier is transported back to Siberia for reprogramming, misleading HYDRA about the Red Guardian’s fate. Ultimately, Shostakov resumes a quieter life in the U.S. as an educator, presenting him with an opportunity to be recruited by Bill Foster for potential heroics, potentially leading to the formation of a new Avenger.

This narrative grants Marvel Animation the chance to replicate the iconic Avengers circle shot originally seen in 2012’s The Avengers. This memorable moment features the original Avengers teaming up against Loki and his Chitauri army, which has been revisited multiple times across the MCU. However, What If…? Season 3, Episode 3, featuring the Red Guardian in this ensemble, raises questions about continuity. If the Red Guardian had successfully stopped the Winter Soldier, the lineup of the Avengers would have been significantly altered.

A Drastically Altered Avengers Line-Up

Implications of Howard Stark’s Survival

In the altered timeline of Season 3, Episode 3, with the Red Guardian preventing the Winter Soldier from killing Howard Stark, the implications are far-reaching. The survival of Howard Stark, a pivotal figure in the MCU, would have dramatically transformed the landscape of the franchise. His death in 1991 was crucial in propelling his son, Tony Stark, to ascend as the CEO of Stark Industries, ultimately leading him to become Iron Man. Had Howard Stark lived, there’s a possibility that Tony might not have embraced his Iron Man destiny, thereby excluding him from the original Avengers line-up.

Additionally, Howard Stark’s continued presence could have dramatically influenced SHIELD, of which he was a founding member. This might have prevented key figures like Clint Barton and Natasha Romanoff from ever joining the organization, thereby reshaping the origins of heroes such as Bruce Banner, Steve Rogers, and Thor. It would have been valuable for What If…? to explore how these developments might have unfolded if Howard Stark had continued to play a role in the MCU, but this narrative gap signifies a missed opportunity for the series.

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