"What If... Nebula Joined the Nova Corps?" is the season two premiere of the of the Disney+ streaming television series, What If...? and the tenth episode of the series overall. It premiered on December 22, 2023 and was written by Matthew Chauncey and directed by Stephan Franck.
Synopsis[]
In a world where Ronan deposes Thanos long before the events of “Infinity War,” Nebula is recruited to join the Nova Corps. Desperate to escape her father’s shadow, she sets out to prove her detective chops.
Plot[]
Opening narration[]
- “All quests for redemption begin in darkness. And Nebula's was no different. In this universe, Ronan the Accuser betrayed Thanos. The Mad Titan's thirst for power had met his match. And in his fall, he took Nebula's sister along with him.”
- ―The Watcher and Nebula
Following Ronan taking power, Nebula was left floating in space until she was found by Nova Prime who accepted her with compassion and brought her into the Nova Corp. Still believing that Xandar needs to be conquered, Ronan's forces attacked the planet, forcing the Nova Corp. to put an impenetrable barrier around the planet which was supposed to last for five years. Since then, Xandar has become a cesspool of crime with the Nova Corp. becoming corrupt and Nebula, ironically, being one of the few members still committed to the cause.
Yondu is killed with Nebula looking into it. She finds his arrow which contains information that she cannot read. After conversing with Nova Prime, she is ordered to find out what Yondu was wrapped up in. She heads to a bar that is owned by Howard the Duck who, with the help of Korg is able to determine that the information that Yondu was hanging onto has to do with Xandar's entire economy. Realizing that this information can be used to open Xandar to Ronan's attack, Nebula makes it her goal to destroy the code which is at the center of the Xandar databanks.
Nebula goes to see Yon-Rogg, who is in prison and breaks him out. The two of them make it to the Xandarian mainframe core, which is a giant black orb, and Nebula hooks herself in to take in the information. However, Yon-Rogg betrays Nebula and briefly disables her to take all the information. He nearly drowns her, but she escapes only to run into Nova Prime who is revealed to be in league with Yon-Rogg. Due to Xandar having fallen to its vices, Nova Prime has given up hope and wants Ronan to come and exact order. Nebula escapes the other Nova Corp. members who attempt to capture her.
Nebula finds her way back to the bar and recruits Howard, Korg, Groot, and Meik to help her break into the Nova Corp. base and get the information back (Howard agrees after he realizes that his alcohol license will get revoked if Ronan comes into power). Nebula fits herself with Ronan's fin and together, they storm the base and fight their way through. Nova Prime and Yon-Rogg attempt to use the code to open the barrier, only for it to close on Ronan and his forces, killing them. Nebula revealed that she knew that Yon-Rogg would betray her and made preparations in the case he did.
Nebula chases down Nova Prime while the rest of the team battle the Nova Corp. Nebula knocks down Nova Prime's shuttle and battle on the roof of the base. Nebula sticks to her oath as Nova Prime falls to her death. The code is reinstated as the barrier opens for good this time. Howard congratulates Nebula for being the "Super Nova" as she assures him that his liquor license is safe.
Closing narration[]
- “Most quests for redemption begin in darkness. But with a little grit, a little faith in yourself, if you keep the path, you can find your way to the light.”
- ―The Watcher
Cast[]
- Jeffrey Wright as Uatu/The Watcher
- Karen Gillan as Nebula
- Jude Law as Yon-Rogg
- Michael Rooker as Yondu Udonta
- Seth Green as Howard the Duck
- Taika Waititi as Korg
- Peter Serafinowicz as Garthan Saal
- Julianne Grossman as Irani Rael/Nova Prime
- Fred Tatasciore as Groot, Drax the Destroyer (uncredited)
Trivia[]
- This episode is the season 2 premiere.
- This is the first episode and MCU project to focus on Nebula.
- This episode takes place in a universe where Ronan the Accuser killed Thanos years before the events of the Infinity War.
- While the episode's story was created without the intention to parody, the visual style of the episode was inspired by the movie Blade Runner.[1]
- This episode mentions that this universe's Gamora was killed by Ronan the Accuser, along with her father Thanos. This makes it the second time within the MCU that Gamora has died, after Avengers: Infinity War, although it happened off-screen unlike in the movie.
References[]
