In the third installment of Marvel's animated anthology series "What If…?" Season 3, Episode 3 titled "What If…The Red Guardian Stopped the Winter Soldier?", we venture into an alternate reality where the paths of two iconic characters, the Red Guardian and the Winter Soldier, collide in a tale of espionage, loyalty, and the quest for the super-soldier serum. This episode reimagines the Cold War-era dynamics between the Soviet Union and the United States, with a twist that sees Alexei Shostakov, the Red Guardian, preventing Bucky Barnes, the Winter Soldier, from executing his mission to kill the Starks.
The episode opens with General Dreykov dispatching Alexei Shostakov to Ohio under the guise of a senior data manager. Shostakov, desiring a more significant mission, learns of a new intel from a Russian spy, the Rook, and is incensed to find out that the mission to kill the Starks has been assigned to Bucky Barnes. In a bold move to prove his worth, Shostakov steals the dossier and enters the United States as Bob Toledo, intercepting Barnes on Long Island and preventing the assassination.
The encounter between Shostakov and Barnes is a clash of ideologies and objectives. Shostakov, believing his mission is to secure the super-soldier serum and leave without leaving witnesses, finds himself at odds with Barnes, whose directive is to eliminate anyone who could identify him. Their standoff attracts the attention of S.H.I.E.L.D., led by Bill Foster, who partners with Ranger Morales to track down the super-soldier serum and apprehend the culprits.
As Shostakov and Barnes make their way to Las Vegas to meet the Rook, they are pursued by Foster, who reveals his alter ego, Goliath, in a thrilling chase sequence. Shostakov's aversion to unnecessary violence is evident as he attempts to resolve the situation without further bloodshed, while Barnes, driven by his programming, is more inclined towards a lethal resolution.
In Las Vegas, the duo encounters Obadiah Stane, who is revealed to be the Rook. Stane's plan to acquire the super-soldier serum and seize control of Stark Industries is thwarted by Shostakov and Barnes, leading to a deadly confrontation. Despite their differences, Shostakov and Barnes find common ground in their resistance against Stane and the Red Room Task Force.
The episode reaches its climax as Shostakov and Barnes, cornered by their enemies, engage in a final stand reminiscent of "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid." Neither character meets their end, with Barnes recaptured by Hydra and his memories erased, while Shostakov, presumed dead, lives on as Bob Toledo, later joining S.H.I.E.L.D. and fighting alongside the Avengers during the Chitauri Invasion.
This alternate narrative raises intriguing questions about the characters' relationships and the implications of their actions on the original timeline. How does Shostakov's intervention affect the dynamics between the Avengers, particularly Tony Stark's knowledge of his parents' survival? How does the absence of aging in Shostakov, despite the super-soldier serum, impact his role as a father figure to Natasha Romanoff? And how does the death of Stane alter the trajectory of Stark's journey to becoming Iron Man?
"What If…?" Season 3, Episode 3, "What If…The Red Guardian Stopped the Winter Soldier?" is a compelling exploration of what might have been, offering a fresh perspective on the intertwined fates of the Red Guardian and the Winter Soldier. It delves into the complexities of loyalty, the burden of duty, and the unforeseen consequences of a single act that alters the course of history.