Caution: spoilers ahead for What If...?

The What If...? zombie episode recycles a confusing War Machine moment from Avengers: Endgame - perhaps even having a little fun at Rhodey's expense. What If...? episode 5 asks the (admittedly very specific) question, "what if Janet van Dyne caught a zombie virus in the Quantum Realm, bought it back to Earth and infected most of the Avengers in a way that still let them use their powers?" Earth's few remaining superhero survivors include Wasp, Spider-Man, Bruce Banner, Ant-Man (sort of), and Black Panther, and they rally together to cure the world of its undead affliction.

In main MCU continuity, the Avengers were spared zombification and faced off against Thanos instead, losing spectacularly in the Battle of Wakanda. It was during the resulting "time heist" that James "Rhodey" Rhodes dropped Black Widow and Hawkeye off at Vormir to collect the Soul Stone, and as the pair departed, Rhodey advised "you guys watch each other's six." This line would've been lost on anyone not familiar with military vernacular, where "watch your six" is a clock-themed way of saying "watch your back." Rhodey also used the phrase in an Avengers: Age of Ultron deleted scene, where the military connotation was signposted much more clearly for the audience's benefit.

Related: Who Replaced Tom Holland As Spider-Man In What If...? Episode 5?

As the non-infected Avengers escape from Camp Lehigh in What If...? episode 5, Ant-Man points (well, nods) toward a zombie horde directly ahead and says "impending doom on our six." Spider-Man duly corrects him with, "that's our 12, but yes."

Scott Lang Head in a Jar in What If

This amusing little exchange pokes fun at Rhodey's Avengers: Endgame line, proving how non-military folk don't necessarily have a grasp on the colloquialisms troops utter on the front lines. Many watching Marvel's 2019 Infinity Saga closer would've already known (or quickly deduced after glancing at their watch) the meaning behind "watch your six," but the Scott Langs among us were left entirely befuddled by Rhodey's advice. Also funny is how Ant-Man confuses 6 o'clock with 12 o'clock in What If...?, similar to Rhodey telling Clint and Natasha to watch each other's six... which would be their twelve. Honestly, just saying "watch your back" would've avoided a whole heap of MCU confusion.

As well as gently ribbing MCU history, What If...?'s "watch your six" scene also fits perfectly with Ant-Man's personality, particularly his eagerness to impress the other heroes. Since debuting in 2015, Ant-Man has been in constant awe of the "proper" Avengers - even while beating some of them up in Captain America: Civil War. It's entirely on-brand that Lang would hear Rhodey (or maybe even Rogers and Barnes) say "watch your six," note how cool it sounded, then use the phrase himself in a totally wrong context. Ant-Man's live-action appearances have featured similar examples of Lang trying (with mixed success) to ingratiate himself into the Avengers' fold, and misusing military terminology continues that trope.

Since premiering in August 2021, What If...? has dropped several gags of this ilk, taking a self-referential glimpse at past MCU releases. The first episode tacitly admitted Hayley Atwell had been underused as Agent Carter, while T'Challa as Star-Lord leaned into the popular notion that Peter Quill is the scourge of the entire universe. Ant-Man totally misunderstanding "watch your six" is just the latest meta gag that makes What If...? a markedly different MCU experience.

More: What If…? Episode 5 Cast Guide: Every New & Returning MCU Character

What If...? streams Wednesdays on Disney+.

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