Warning: SPOILERS for What If...? episode 1.

One of the subtler, but noticeable, differences in Marvel's What If...? is Sebastian Stan making quite a few jokes as Bucky Barnes. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has been full of tragic characters who've either had painful origins or heartbreaking storylines throughout their adult lives; Bucky Barnes is one of them, who was captured by HYDRA during World War II and later turned into the Winter Soldier. It led him down a dark path, and he only recently managed to overcome his conditioning.

He's spared that fate in What If...? episode 1, which sees Peggy Carter become the first super soldier instead of Steve Rogers. While on the train in Europe that sealed Bucky's future, Captain Carter saves Bucky from falling down into the ravine below, something Steve failed to do in Captain America: The First Avenger. Bucky even jokes about Captain Carter saving him by saying, "Whew, thanks. You almost ripped my arm off." It was one of many jokes Bucky made throughout the episode, which is starkly different from his usual portrayal of a troubled, grim character.

Related: What If…? Episode 1 Cast Guide: Every New & Returning MCU Character

Marvel's What If...? isn't just about certain details changing the course of events in the timeline, but the differences in characters as well. Some may be played differently or say things that are uncharacteristic, like Bucky Barnes' jokes in episode 1. It's merely another universe's version, and his is, what if Bucky Barnes was funny? While some characters may go on to become different people entirely or go from heroes to villains, Bucky Barnes simply cracks a joke every time he talks, beginning with one on Peggy Carter being the Queen of England.

Bucky Barnes Arm in What If Episode 1

Hopefully, his jokes get better as time goes on, and hopefully, Marvel Studios realizes the potential for Sebastian Stan to play a different type of Bucky Barnes now that his time as the Winter Soldier is over - at least according to his character growth and not the name of his TV series. What If...? episode 1 may be the first step in evolving Bucky's personality from a somber character who views most people as enemies to a more jovial character who can keep up with Anthony Mackie's jokes as Sam Wilson.

At least in Captain Carter's universe, Bucky Barnes doesn't become the Winter Soldier. He wasn't captured by HYDRA and Steve Rogers never went into the ice to prevent an attack on the United States. Instead, Captain Carter inadvertently time-traveled into the future using the Tesseract's portal. How Bucky and Steve's stories continue in this corner of the multiverse - if they do at all - remains to be seen. There's plenty more to come from What If...?, which is only just getting underway.

Next: Where What If...? Episode 1 Fits Into The Marvel Timeline

New episodes of Marvel's What If...? release every Wednesday on Disney+.

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