Episode 5 of What If...? introduces fans to a bleak version of the MCU, in which a family's attempts to reunite ends in the Earth being consumed by a zombie outbreak. This episodes leans on many of the tropes that are popular in other media that features zombies.
This makes many of the things that Peter Parker explains in his homemade tutorial on how to survive a zombie apocalypse familiar, and may also be the reason why Peter survived for as long as he did. The episode does introduce new elements to separate it from other depictions of zombies, making it a disheartening yet interesting watch.
10 Popular Trope: The Plot Decides The Time Of Infection
The amount of time it takes for a person to get infected is rarely consistent. While Agent Sharon Carter took little to no time to transform after being attacked and bitten by a zombie Captain America, Hope van Dyne took much longer to transform after obtaining a scratch from Carter.
While it may seem like the size of the wound might make a difference when it comes to transformation time, the human heart circulates blood to the brain at the same rate.
9 Unique: The Zombies Have Super Powers
Normal zombies are already terrifying. The infection spreads quickly, and they mindlessly attack people with a great deal of viciousness. On top of that, some of the zombie's faces are tragically familiar, making them even more difficult to deal with.
In What If...?, many of the zombies have superpowers, giving them abilities that make it much easier for them to attack people. Most normal people wouldn't be able to fight back.
8 Popular Trope: Someone Is Immune To The Virus
There are actually a few people in the episode who were not infected. Black Panther has some of the best vibranium armor, allowing him to outlast most of the other Avengers who fought at his side since most zombies could not bite through it.
Both Vision and Doctor Strange's cloak do not have the same physical properties of other living creatures, making zombies completely uninterested. Lastly, the Hulk's skin is so tough that no one was able to bite through his skin during the entirety of the episode.
7 Unique: The Zombies Are Intelligent
Despite their brains being controlled by a virus, every zombie holds onto some of their past memories and experiences. Happy Hogan retained his ability to speak even after being infected, and all of the infected Avengers fought the same way they did back before they were infected.
Judging by Wanda Maximoff's reaction to Vision's death, zombies are also able to feel attached to others.
6 Popular Trope: The Planet Is Overwhelmed By The Zombies
Earth typically struggles to contain a zombie outbreak, and some attempts to do so only leads to more tragedy. It doesn't take long for the planet to be covered with zombies, giving the characters a sense of hopelessness.
The Avengers, being the heroes that they are, did not hesitate to address the infection themselves, but their efforts only doomed more people, as they were not adequately prepared to fight the infected.
5 Unique: The Mind Stone Is The Cure
The Mind Stone is the key to curing the Quantum Virus. The zombies were unwilling to approach Vision while the Mind Stone was active, since it emitted a frequency that they disliked.
Vision quickly realized that exposure to the stone was capable of curing people of the virus, and he tested his hypothesis on Scott Lang. Although Scott Lang was left with only his head, Vision succeeded in curing him.
4 Popular Trope: A Small Group Bands Together
In zombie films, there is usually safety in numbers. This is especially true when there is a certain amount of trust between the group's members. As Peter warns the others, splitting up is never a good idea, and as the pop culture expert of the group, it turns out that he is right.
None of the remaining Avengers would have been able to accomplish much on their own, and many had to sacrifice themselves in order to give the others a chance.
3 Unique: The Infection Didn't Start In A Lab
The zombie virus is usually a man-made creation, and is released by people in a lab who contract the very infection that they are studying. In the MCU, the virus is a Quantum Virus that originated in the Quantum Realm.
Hope and her father were experimenting with unknown forces in order to get Janet van Dyne, but the episode does not fully explain exactly how Janet was infected in the first place.
2 Popular Trope: Infection Spreads Through A Bite
Zombie infections always spread through a bite, or even scratches. It is rare for humans to be fully consumed, as the zombie's main goal is to spread the virus rather than to just eat. Thankfully, the characters in the MCU are wise enough to let their friends know when they have been infected, as it gives the others a chance to plan ahead.
Without the prior warning, however, the chances of a former ally accidentally biting another are significantly higher.
1 Unique: The Infinity Stones Make The Situation Worse
When Thanos first appears at the end of the episode, it is revealed that he has five of the six infinity stones, including the one that was originally in Doctor Strange's care. Even with a group of Avengers fighting Thanos, they were not able to take him down when he had fewer stones.
With all the stones in his grasp, it is impossible to say what he will do with them, as he can accomplish anything with a snap of his fingers, such as infecting the entire universe.
0 Comments