"What If... Hela Found The Ten Rings?" is the seventh episode of the second season of the Disney+ streaming television series, What If...? and the sixteenth episode of the series overall. It is set to air on December 28, 2023. It was written by Matthew Chauncey and directed by Bryan Andrews.
Premise[]
Hela—stripped of her powers and banished to Earth—comes across a new source of power: the Ten Rings.
Synopsis[]
In the Sacred Timeline, in order to contain his once great-executioner, Odin imprisoned Hela in Hel. However, in this universe, Odin decides to both banish Hela to Earth and strip her of the powers of her crown, placing an enchantment on it that says only those who know mercy shall wield it.
Both Hela and her crown land in Asia, where she encounters Xu Wenwu and the Ten Rings. Hela tries to fight them, but realizes not only does she lack her powers but has become mortal too. Out of genuine curiosity, Wenwu takes Hela to her crown, with Hela finding herself incapable of lifting it.
Wenwu takes Hela back to his fortress and makes a proposal to her, seeing that she is a fighter, he wishes to form an alliance with her, so they and the Ten Rings can protect the world together. Hela tackles Wenwu and escapes the fortress, finding Morris the Dijiang in the stables. Hela attempts to ride to the Norse countries, but Morris takes her to a bamboo forest, which ultimately takes her to Ta Lo, where she is quickly overpowered.
Back on Asgard, Heimdall can no longer see Hela and informs Odin of this, also informing him about the Ten Rings, and how they have the power that could destroy a god. Odin decides to travel to Earth to deal with the Ten Rings.
Meanwhile in Ta Lo, Hela is greeted by Jiayi, speaking on behalf of the Council. Hela proposes the people of Ta Lo can join her army against Odin & Wenwu, but when they refuse, asks if Jiayi can train her in Ta Lo's practice. Jiayi agrees, but points out the Great Guardian, should Hela try to betray them.
During the training, Jaiyi questions what Hela actually hopes to achieve after defeating Odin & Wenwu, this gets Hela to recall her childhood when Odin first gave her the crown and chained a Pup Fenrir. Hela ultimately realizes what she truly wants wasn't conquest, but freedom, freedom to choose her own path. Jiayi approves and begins to properly train Hela, who soon reaches an inner peace with herself and masters the way of Ta Lo.
As Hela is meditating, she notices the Bifrost and realizes Odin has come to Earth. She grabs some dragon scale armor and departs Ta Lo, knowing Odin will terrorize the countryside in her name. At the Ten Ring Fortress, Wenwu is attempting to hold back the Asgardian Army, before Hela joins his side, with the two coming face to face with Odin. Odin explains to Hela he's come to Earth to avenge her name, but Hela notes that she does not need avenging as she's still alive, so realizes Odin's really come for the Ten Rings' power for himself. Hela & Wenwu battle Odin, trying to separate Odin from his staff, Gungnir. Hela is soon able to grab Gungnir and begs her father to seize the violence, but Odin grabs her by the throat. However, Hela's act of mercy awakens her crown, which returns to her head, restoring Hela's power and allowing her to overpower Odin and take Gungnir.
Odin admits that he sent Hela to Earth to learn, and she has eclipsed his wildest expectations, and thus Odin gives the throne to Hela. Hela explains that with the throne, she will unmake his empire until all the Nine Realms and the Cosmos know freedom. Odin asked Hela what has happened to her to inspire her redemption, and she responds that she gave peace a chance.
Hela unites the Asgardian army with the Ten Rings and together with Wenwu, become cosmic liberators, as shown by them coming to save Gamora's home world from Thanos.
Cast[]
- Jeffrey Wright as Uatu/The Watcher
- Cate Blanchett as Hela
- Liv Zamora as Young Hela
- Jeff Bergman as Odin Borson
- Feodor Chin as Xu Wenwu
- Lauren Tom as Jiayi
- Idris Elba as Heimdall
- Michael Hagiwara as Shunyuan
Trivia[]
- Odin destroys Hela's Mjölnir, similar to what she did to Thor's in Thor: Ragnarok.
- Odin's banishing Hela mirrors Thor's banishment in the first Thor movie.
- The footage of Young Gamora is also seen in "What if... Iron Man Crashed Into the Grandmaster?", likely taken from this episode.
