What If…? Season 3 Follows Phase 5’s Post-Credits Trend by Learning from Avengers: Endgame

Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for the finale of What If…? Season 3.

It seems that the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) may be re-evaluating its approach to post-credits scenes. For years, Marvel has conditioned audiences to expect teasers for future stories in every project. However, this trend officially shifted with Avengers: Endgame, where the Russo brothers chose to let Tony Stark’s death resonate without the distraction of a post-credits scene. After 16 years of consistent tagging on projects, these extra scenes are now returning to their intended status as optional features.

While some post-credits moments in Phase 5 have been met with mixed reactions—Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania’s scene being a notable example—Marvel’s recent TV series have largely avoided including these extras. Given the uncertainty regarding future seasons, especially with Marvel embracing a new vision for its streaming content, a post-credits scene that doesn’t contribute meaningfully could lead to more frustration than excitement.

What If…? Season 3 Really Didn’t Need A Post-Credits Scene
A Stinger Would Have Undermined the Emotion of the Finale

In the highly charged finale of What If…? Season 3, Captain Carter, portrayed by Hayley Atwell, makes a profound sacrifice to thwart the Watchers, who turn against Uatu for interfering in timelines. After taking the Watcher’s Oath and joining forces with the Guardians of the Multiverse, including Kahorri, Storm, and Byrdie, Carter bravely ends her life to eliminate their threat.
Following her sacrifice, the victory of the Guardians hinges on the unique existence of Strange Supreme’s soul, which allows them to operate outside the Watchers’ influence. In a poignant closure, Uatu (voiced by Jeffrey Wright) is asked by Storm if there is more beyond life that even the Watchers may not see, to which he responds that infinite possibilities exist. This sets a poignant tone and implies hope for a potential return for Carter, but thankfully, the finale avoids a post-credits scene that would diminish the impact of her fate.

What If…? Did Something Cooler Than a Pointless Stinger

Instead of providing a superficial post-credits teaser that would undermine Captain Carter’s formidable sacrifice, What If…? creatively chose to present a visually stunning montage narrated by Uatu. This sequence introduces various intriguing multiverse variants, showcasing fan-favorite characters like Deadpool, a Punisher/Ironheart mash-up, a Sorcerer Supreme version of Hulk’s Maestro character, and the unique creation of a Thanosverine.
This montage serves not only as an engaging display of imaginative concept designs but also as a potential glimpse into future stories, especially leading towards the anticipated Avengers: Secret Wars. If the movie leverages the multiverse for a final showdown, characters glimpsed in this sequence might play pivotal roles. It would be a missed opportunity if a Thanosverine cameo does not find its way into future narratives.