It wouldn't be an overstatement to say that What If...? has consistently enthralled Marvel fans since its premiere in 2021. The clever show enabled fans to explore alternate timelines and envision what it would be like if some of the biggest moments in the MCU timeline had gone differently. The fact that many actors from the movies lent their voices to the animated characters also added to the hype.
The interesting plotlines of What If...? resonated with the audience because, like the live-action movies, they have a nice balance of drama, action, and more. And staying true to the Marvel vibe, the episodes of What If...? never failed fans in terms of hilarious and memorable witty one-liners.
Now that the final season of What If...? has been released, fans will have to look elsewhere for binge-worthy content. Below is a list of similar shows.
Disclaimer: This list contains information from various sources.
Legion, Love Death + Robots, and four other shows like What If...? that boast imaginative stories
1) Doctor Who (1963)
In What If...?, each new episode transports the audience into a new scenario with unexpected revelations. The same is the case with this British classic - 26 seasons as part of the original run, 14 seasons of the revival, and 844 episodes to date.
The show centers around a mysterious 2,000-year-old time traveler, The Doctor, who uses a ship known as TARDIS. He has to stop evil forces from harming innocent people or changing history. Different actors have played the protagonist across the different seasons with Ncuti Gatwa playing the current Doctor.
Doctor Who's format allows creators to introduce fresh storylines and new characters, which prevents the show from getting monotonous and dull. Also, like What If...?, the audience never quite knows what to expect which helps raise audience anticipation.
Where to watch: Episodes of Doctor Who can be streamed on Disney+, Max, and Prime Video.
2) Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013)
Viewers found What If...? interesting because it presented a different side of the Marvel Universe. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., with seven seasons and 136 episodes, also approaches a familiar topic from the MCU such as S.H.I.E.L.D., and presents it in a whole new manner, through the eyes of its trained agents. It stars Clark Gregg, Ming-Na Wen, Brett Dalton, Chloe Bennet, and more.
The best thing about Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is that the episodes improve with time. Not only are the plotlines more refined and well-developed, but the twists also keep getting bolder and more unpredictable. Show creators also put in a lot of effort to ensure that the characters behave realistically so the audience can easily connect to them.
Where to watch: Episodes of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. are available for streaming on Disney+ and Prime Video.
3) Legion (2017)
The beauty of What If...? is that it prompts the viewer to think outside the box. Legion, starring Dan Stevens in the lead, also does the same in many ways. With three seasons and 27 episodes, the show centers around a mutant named David Haller who was diagnosed with schizophrenia at a young age.
While David tries to understand and manage his mutant powers, he also has to fend off sinister forces trying to gain control of them. In addition to Stevens, the show also stars Rachel Keller, Aubrey Plaza, Bill Irwin, Jean Smart, and more.
What's most interesting about Legion is the imaginative visual storytelling can feel weird and crazy at times, but viewers are still able to follow the plot progressions as intended. The intelligent character-driven narrative will particularly appeal to fans of psychological thrillers.
Where to watch: Legion can be viewed on Hulu, Prime Video, and Disney+.
4) Love Death + Robots (2019)
Like What If...?, Love Death + Robots is an animated anthology TV show. With three seasons and 35 episodes, the show explores different topics but they are connected to the titular themes in some way or another. The episodes are produced by different animation studios from different parts of the globe, which means the animation styles are distinctively different.
Even though this show doesn't rely on beloved heroes like What If...?, it still manages to introduce the audience to quirky and relatable characters, endearing in their own ways.
One of the best things about Love Death + Robots is the way it incorporates different messages into its narratives. Even the episodes with dark undertones share insightful lessons, provided viewers are willing to look for them.
Where to watch: Love Death + Robots is available for streaming on Netflix.
5) The Boys Presents: Diabolical (2022)
The Boys Presents: Diabolical, like What If...?, invites viewers to become part of an exciting world wherein different individuals have superpowers. It is a spin-off of the popular series The Boys and therefore is set in the same universe. Like What If...?, each episode of The Boys Presents: Diabolical features a standalone story.
Shows formatted like What If...? and The Boys Presents: Diabolical appeal to people with varied tastes because they are able to switch up the flavor with each new episode. This show, like The Boys, is specifically geared toward adults as it contains a healthy dose of crass language and dark humor.
The way the animation style changes depending on the tone of each plotline helps keep the show fresh and entertaining.
Where to watch: The Boys Presents: Diabolical, containing eight episodes, can be viewed on Prime Video.
6) Secret Invasion (2023)
In What If...?, fans are able to see a different side of their favorite MCU characters. In the same way, the six-episode Secret Invasion allows the audience to see one of the most beloved characters from the Marvel Universe, Nick Fury, in a different light. In the show, Samuel L. Jackson's Fury learns of a secret invasion of Earth and works together with his allies to stop it.
Instead of a superhero narrative, Secret Invasion has the feel of an espionage thriller. The kind that will appeal to fans of James Bond. It is not very fast-paced but still has plenty of twists and surprises to keep viewers hooked on the plot. In addition to Jackson's compelling performance, Olivia Colman also did a great job of playing Sonya Falsworth, an old ally of Fury.
Where to watch: Secret Invasion is available to stream on Apple TV+ and Disney+.
These riveting TV shows are perfect for fans of What If...? because they feature the best captivating stories and one-of-a-kind characters.