‘What If…? – Season 3’ Episode Four Recap: “What If…Howard the Duck Got Hitched?”

Warning: The following article contains spoilers for episode four of What If…? – Season 3. 

As far as ‘story arcs’ are concerned, the weakest ‘infinite possibility’ that What If…? has introduced throughout its run is the burgeoning romance between Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings) and Howard the Duck (Seth Green). Admittedly, it’s a funny gag, but can it sustain an entire episode? That’s what the fourth episode of its final season, “What If…Howard the Duck Got Hitched?” attempts to answer. For the most part, director Stephan Franck and writers Bryan Andrews, Matthew Chauncey, and Ryan Little mostly succeed in giving us a fun space adventure where the couple’s progeny is at the center of attention of the entire universe. 

You see, their baby (in this case, an egg) was born during the Convergence, making it the most powerful child in the universe. He could be destined for success or molded into the reincarnation of something evil. At first, Darcy and Howard are invited to the Grandmaster’s (Matt Friend) intergalactic cruise until they discover that they want to steal their baby to eat it. Comedically, the show has improved itself in giving funnier visual gags than the first two seasons, with the reveal of what will exactly be on the menu as their first meal timed impeccably well, with Miek preparing large knives and a stove to make an omelet out of the kid. It never dawned on me that the Grandmaster is a cannibal, but now it makes perfect sense. 

However, the Grandmaster’s plan is foiled once Yondu Udonta (Michael Rooker) steals the baby for his own profit, taking it to Knowhere. First believing he would meet the Collector, Yondu goes face-to-face with Kaeceillius (Jared Butler), who kills the ravager and prepares the egg for a ceremony to summon Dormammu so his soul can be transferred to the baby. It’s Marvel Studios’ The Omen, and it’s honestly fairly harrowing to see Dormammu appear in an otherwise light episode that gives a comedic touch to some of its more menacing antagonists, including Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and Thanos (Josh Brolin). 

That plan is also foiled when S.H.I.E.L.D. director Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg) show up to take the egg for safekeeping. Fury does not believe that Darcy and Howard will be able to protect such a powerful being (although they do not think their child is powerful or special). The couple are able to evade S.H.I.E.L.D.’s arms with their baby and instead flee to Jotunheim, where Frost Giant Loki (the same variant as the Party Thor episode from Season 1, where this ‘branch’ began) is opening a new Ski Resort. 

While Loki agrees to help them if they allow him to be the child’s godfather, his father, Laufey (Andrew Morgado), is also after the egg, which leads to a massive battle between the Forst Giants, Zeus (Darin De Paul), Kaecellius, Malekith (Steven French), the Grandmaster, S.H.I.E.L.D., and even Thanos and his Black Order. Ebony Maw (Tom Vaughan-Lawlor) initially arrives in Jotunheim on vacation in Loki’s resort. Still, upon finding out that the prophetical child of the Convergence is here, he joins in on the battle with his order and calls upon Thanos to do the same. 

This climactic battle is the most “What If…?” What If…? has ever been, if that makes sense. The show has always restrained itself when giving off-kilter crossovers, preferring to stay within the conventionality of Avengers team-ups but with an animated twist. That’s fine and all, but animation is a truly limitless medium where you can bring to life visuals – and massive setpieces – that aren’t possible in live-action. It seems as though the animation team has finally understood this when visualizing this incredible battle, which is not only significant in scale and of great importance for the story but decidedly playful. 

Malekith and Kaecillius butt heads, while Thanos can’t believe the Black Order called him for an egg (he is on the lookout for the Infinity Stones, as we know). These small changes to the characters we know in the ‘sacred timeline’ make the animated action feel alive but surprisingly emotional when Darcy and Howard resign themselves to dying at the hands of the endless armies vying for the egg. They sing Kiss’ “I Was Made for Lovin’ You” (which equally gives a sense of intimacy when the action dials down, as urgency when the final stretch of the battle occurs) as each antagonist slowly makes their way to the child. But just as the villains are about to get the upper hand, the egg magically glows and kills every single main enemy, except for Zeus, who escapes in the nick of time. 

The baby emerges from the egg and is a Human/Duck hybrid. Howard and Darcy ultimately give her the name ‘Byrdie,’ with Fury realizing they are the perfect parents for such a child. He leaves them to return home safely with their newborn. If you paid close attention to Season 3’s cast announcement via the production brief, you should know that an adult version of Byrdie will play a significant role in upcoming episodes, with Natasha Lyonne voicing her.

In this case, this episode should be treated as her ‘origin story,’ of sorts, since we will see her closely in action alongside many other well-established characters of What If…? who are now about to make their return. We have now reached the halfway point of the third season, and things will likely intensify for a (hopefully) memorable (final) crossover event in just a few days from now. 

The fourth episode of What If…? – Season 3 is now available to stream on Disney+.