Iron Man sentries out a Christmas hat on Avengers Tower in 'What If...?'Image via Disney+
By
Billy Fellows
Published 6 minutes ago
Billy is a Senior Features Author for Collider. Having written over 300 articles in just over a year, Billy regularly covers the biggest TV shows and films releasing while also analysing some of the most underrated properties that may slip your attention.
Having studied for an MA in Screenwriting at UAL in 2023, Billy honed his writing skills and also developed his ability to critique the work of other creative minds.
Before that, Billy studied politics at the University of Nottingham, which helped him to bring nuanced and scholarly analysis to the frameworks within which filmmakers and writers have framed their thematic messages.
Sign in to your Collider account
Summary
Generate a summary of this story
follow
Follow
followed
Followed
Like
Like
Thread
Log in
Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents:
Try something different:
Show me the facts
Explain it like I’m 5
Give me a lighthearted recap
It's that time of year again — which should, for many, include snuggling up under a blanket to watch a comforting Christmas classic. But what if you've binged almost everything that the holiday season has to offer? Surely there are only so many times someone can watch It's a Wonderful Life, Home Alone, Love Actually, or (my favorite Christmas film) Die Hard. If that's the case for you, then the solution is staring you in the face. Drastically underrated when it was first released, the holiday-themed episode of Marvel's What If...?, titled "What If... Happy Hogan Saved Christmas?," won't just fulfill your need for that holiday cheer, but it also features some thrilling Hulk-based action that has been sorely missed in the MCU in recent years.
What is 'What If...?'s Christmas Episode About?
The Watcher wearing a Santa hat in the Season 2 poster for What If...?Image via Disney+
By the time Season 3 of What If...? premiered, the show's original premise had shifted from a focus on the butterfly effect caused by a small change in Marvel lore, such as T'Chala (Chadwick Boseman) being kidnapped by the Scavengers instead of Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), to sillier tales that were merely stories from a parallel universe. What If...?'s Season 2 Christmas-themed episode marks the beginning of that shift, as there's no real change to major MCU events; instead, it's just a fun, non-canon story that could easily fit into Earth-616.
Related
The 60 Best Christmas Movies of All Time, Ranked
The most wonderful time of the year deserves the most wonderful films.
Posts By Jeremy UrquhartThe episode centers around a Christmas party at Stark Tower that Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau) is reluctantly organizing on the orders of Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders). However, Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell) crashes the party in the vein of Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) and holds the tower hostage while he seeks a vial of Hulk blood in the building. Trying to stop the evil businessman, Happy accidentally injects himself with the blood, turning into a purple Hulk, and Stark Industries' sorely unappreciated head of security saves the day, providing a thoroughly satisfying arc for a beloved supporting character.
'What If...?'s Christmas Episode Has the Perfect Cast
Typically, a Christmas-themed narrative needs to be fun and wholesome, yet still communicate the stakes of a potentially ruined holiday without feeling too ominous. Thankfully, What If...? nails the blend of tones by choosing the right characters to drive the plot. As previously mentioned, Happy is the perfect choice for an underdog hero, as John McClane (Bruce Willis) and Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) were in their Christmas adventures, but the supporting characters also flesh out the episode's heartwarming tone.
Darcy (Kat Dennings), who is interning at the Stark Tower to plan the party, is a wonderful comedic relief who infuriates Happy the same way Peter Parker (Tom Holland) does and bounces off Hill's serious tone. As the antagonist, Justin Hammer's silly references to other Christmas films, contrasted by his dark threats of violence to civilians and Happy, outline the fun yet high stakes of the episode. The characters don't feel like parodies of themselves, but rather how they truly would be written in these scenarios, making them feel natural and engaging to watch.
'What If...?'s Christmas Episode Includes Epic Hulk Fight Scenes
Hulk Happy (Jon Favreau) holds Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell) in What If...?Image via Disney+
This What If...? episode doesn't just rest on its laurels of being Christmas-adjacent. It goes a step further in its success with some of the best Hulk action scenes the MCU has ever offered. Since Thor: Ragnarok, Bruce Banner's Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) has lacked the aggression that made him such a fan favorite to begin with, something even Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) compliments in the first Avengers, and fans are excited about the possibility of seeing the character's true potential again when Ruffalo reprises the role for Spider-Man: Brand New Day. As the Hulk's blood infects more of Happy's body, turning him into a purple monster, his action with the Iron Man sentries becomes more fun until he is barreling down a hallway, ripping the sentries in half, with the fact that they're robots allowing for more brutal violence in line with a PG rating.
Overall, there's so much to love about What If...?'s Christmas episode, from the characters to its heartwarming tone. While many of the Marvel animated series' episodes are fun rides, this is one that both MCU fans and Christmas lovers will enjoy — and is definitely worth becoming a holiday staple that viewers look forward to rewatching every year.
What If...?
Like Superhero Animation Action Adventure Release Date 2021 - 2024 Showrunner Ashley Bradley Directors Bryan Andrews Writers Ashley Bradley, Matthew Chauncey Franchise(s) Marvel Cinematic UniverseCast
See All-
Samuel L. Jackson
-
Stanley Tucci
Based on the Marvel Comics series of the same name, this animated anthology looks at alternate timelines in the multiverse that would happen if specific moments in the MCU occurred differently.
Genres Superhero, Animation, Action, Adventure Powered by
Expand
Collapse
-
MCU
-
Jon Favreau
We want to hear from you! Share your opinions in the thread below and remember to keep it respectful.
Be the first to post Images Attachment(s) Please respect our community guidelines. No links, inappropriate language, or spam.Your comment has not been saved
Send confirmation emailThis thread is open for discussion.
Be the first to post your thoughts.
- Terms
- Privacy
- Feedback
Marvel's Most Talked-About Series on Letterboxd Is Both Controversial and Surprising
10 Years Ago, This ‘Doctor Who’ Story Became the Show's Masterpiece Across Its 800+ Episodes
The Year’s Most Unforgettable War Movie Is Now Available To Stream for Free
Tom Hanks' Only Christmas Movie Returns to Streaming Charts
More from our brands
17 Best Christmas Movies to Put On After the Kids Go to Bed
20 Best Christmas Movies the 2000s Had To Offer
Everything You Need to Remember About John Cena's Peacemaker
Marvel Rivals: How to Play Hulk
When and How to Stream 'What If…?' Season 3
I’m Devastated That The MCU’s Most Ridiculously Powerful 2 New Hulks Will Almost Definitely Never Be Seen Again
What If...? Season 3 Review: Multiverse Madness in a Funnier than Expected Series Finale
What To Watch
July 20, 2025
The 72 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now
Trending Now
20 Best Short Christmas Movies and Specials, Ranked
3:11
25 Best Seasons of 'The Simpsons,' Ranked
'Pluribus' Episode 6 Recap: Carol Learns the Disturbing Truth About the Others From the Sci-Fi Show's Most Jaw-Dropping Cameo
