Agatha Harkness, Kingo, Darcy Lewis, Howard the Duck, Hulk, Winter Soldier, and Red Guardian are just a few of the key characters who have made appearances in What If…? Season 3, delivering an exciting journey filled with unexpected twists. The bar has been set high, and now Riri Williams, aka Ironheart, is poised to shake things up.
Riri Williams’ arrival promises to amplify the action and excitement in the Marvel universe, particularly in her pivotal role in What If…? Season 3 Episode 5. With the season now halfway through, anticipation is building for the second half. Dive into our review to uncover the highlights and surprises that await!
Iron Federation Versus The Alliance
What If…? Season 3 Episode 5 ominously begins as “the final act of a tragic story,” setting a somber tone that permeates the entire episode. Markedly different from its predecessor, this installment adopts a more serious and action-packed approach.
Gone are the lighthearted moments, like Howard the Duck’s unexpected family dynamics with Darcy Lewis. Instead, prepare for an intense and dramatic ride.

In this universe, Riri Williams is the only hope but as The Watcher explains, no matter how hard she fights or how much she struggles – she always fails. Riri is strong, especially with her Ironheart suit which helps her escape some holograms and some very real bad guys however it isn’t long before she is held by her neck, up in the air, by Vision.
As Riri struggles, we are introduced to some of the other supporting characters in this episode including – Ying Nan with the Alliance, Valkyrie, Wong, and Okoye. The Watcher then explains more about the Emergence and the man who took advantage of the chaos, Quentin Beck.
Now it’s Iron Federation versus the Alliance of Resistance Fighters as Vision follows Beck’s orders, attempting to eliminate what’s left of the Alliance.

What If…? Season 3 Episode 5 has a promising start with some brilliant characters coming together to help save what’s left of the world before Vision, Beck, and the Iron Federation take over completely.
This episode also stays true to some of the classic Marvel action and narrative that is bound to appeal to some of the older fans of the franchise, making it a success.
Riri Williams is an underrated character, in our opinion, and we’re glad her story got the time it deserved in What If…? Season 3. Along with action and narrative, the episode also boasts some incredible dialogue and animation. This installment was refreshing after watching Howard the Duck and Darcy Lewis protect their offspring!

Also Read: What If…? Season 3 Episode 4 Review
Conclusion
What If…? Season 3 keeps getting better with a few not-so-great moments, but overall, it has impressed us. Do let us know in the comments what you thought about this episode!