What If...? Season 2 Made One Guardian Look Weak

Introduction

Marvel Studios' What If...? season 2 has brought forth an intriguing revelation that inadvertently affects the perception of a key member of the Guardians of the Galaxy. The focus on Nebula's exceptional abilities with the Yaka Arrow in What If...? season 2 may have inadvertently diminished the significance and strength of another key Guardian of the Galaxy, Kraglin. This revelation comes only six years after the introduction of this powerful upgrade, making it a significant development in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Nova Corps Nebula with Yondu's fin in What If...? season 2

What If...? season 2 introduced several new variant characters to the MCU, and the season's premiere episode, 'What If... Nebula Joined the Nova Corps?,' focused on reinvented members of the Guardians of the Galaxy. The MCU's premiere cosmic team burst onto screens in the MCU's Phase 2, introducing Peter Quill, Gamora, Rocket, Drax, and Groot into live-action. However, the team has since recruited new members with innovative abilities, including the former Ravager Kraglin and Gamora's adoptive sister Nebula.

Nova Corps Nebula on Xandar in What If...? season 2

Nebula Mastered The Yaka Arrow In What If...?

During the opening moments of What If...? season 2, episode 1, Nebula and the Ravager leader Yondu were revealed to be associates on Xandar. Following Yondu's death, Nebula claimed his Yaka arrow for her own purposes and used this as a powerful new piece of her arsenal during her battle against Nova Prime and the Nova Corps.

Nebula with Yondu's Yaka Arrow in What If...? season 2

With no training whatsoever, Nebula was able to master the use of the Yaka arrow in moments, perhaps proving her supreme skill and cybernetic attributes. This exceptional display, however, inadvertently diminished the significance and strength of another key Guardian of the Galaxy, Kraglin, who struggled with the same weapon in live-action MCU's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Vol. 3.

Nebula with gun and Yaka Arrow in What If...? season 2

Nebula's effortless mastery of the Yaka arrow in What If...? season 2 may have inadvertently made Kraglin seem completely incompetent and significantly weaker, despite his official role as a member of the Guardians of the Galaxy. This unintentional effect of Nebula's exceptional abilities raises questions about the portrayal of the Guardians' team dynamics in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Nebula looking at data in What If...? season 2

Kraglin's Yaka Arrow Failure Looks Worse After 2023

In the live-action MCU's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 back in 2017, Yondu's emotional demise meant that the Yaka arrow was passed onto his fellow Ravager Kraglin. One of Vol. 2's post-credits scenes showed Kraglin attempting to use the Yaka arrow, with him now kitted-out with the iconic control fin. However, he failed miserably to master the skill quickly and proved that he still didn't have a grasp of it during Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, though he did eventually figure out the right technique.

Kraglin with Yondu's Yaka Arrow in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Kraglin's struggle to use the Yaka arrow accurately in live-action MCU's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Vol. 3 was played off as a humorous element. However, Nebula's seemingly effortless mastery of the weapon in What If...? season 2 inadvertently highlighted Kraglin's ineptitude, making him appear significantly weaker in comparison. This unintended consequence of the portrayal of Nebula's exceptional abilities raises intriguing questions about the dynamics of the Guardians of the Galaxy team.

While Kraglin's mastery of the Yaka arrow took several years of struggle, Nebula's instant proficiency with the weapon inadvertently made Kraglin seem completely incompetent and significantly weaker, even though he is an official member of the Guardians of the Galaxy. This unintentional implication may have unforeseen effects on the perception of Kraglin's role within the team and the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a whole.