Marvel’s What If…? recently wrapped up its third and final season on Disney+, but not everyone is impressed. While critics have given the season a decent 75% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, general audiences have been less forgiving, with a lackluster 46% score.
Beau DeMayo, the former head writer of X-Men ’97, didn’t hold back when sharing his thoughts on the season, echoing the audience’s discontent.
Taking to X over the weekend, DeMayo dropped a scathing critique: “#whatif season 3 yikes just yikes.”
If that wasn’t clear enough, DeMayo followed up in the comments with a dose of sarcasm, saying: “I’d watch more to give notes on how it could’ve easily been done better, but I have some water to watch boil.”
As fans responded, DeMayo elaborated on his grievances. When one user expressed concerns about X-Men ’97 Season 2, DeMayo revealed there were some behind the scenes frustrations with Marvel and What If…? writer Matthew Chauncey, who joined X-Men ’97 to write the third season and oversee rewrites for Season 2.
DeMayo claimed that his original plan for interwoven, time-hopping episodes was scrapped because it was deemed “too complicated.”
DeMayo went on to call What If…? Season 3 “mediocre” and lambasted it as “fanfic,” accusing it of having “flat and obvious” dialogue and “weird” premises.
He blamed the drop in quality to the departure of showrunner A.C. Bradley, stating, “Season 3 is where A.C. Bradley completely stepped back for Chauncey to take over.”
These criticisms come following his own firing by Marvel in March 2024, just before the premiere of X-Men ’97.
Whether you agree with DeMayo or not, his blunt critique has certainly added to the discussion surrounding What If…? Season 3 definitely has fans talking and debating.
