Warning! Spoilers ahead for Marvel's What If...? episode 5.

Marvel’s What If…? finally gave justice to the Hulk after Avengers: Infinity War’s disservice to his character. Thanos’ hunt for the Infinity Stones paved the way for a number of great scenes for heroes like Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor, but unfortunately the same can’t be said for the Green Goliath, who had a less-than-impressive showing in the movie. In Infinity War, the Hulk suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of Thanos and never returned to the forefront.

To the surprise of audiences, Hulk took a backseat to Bruce Banner and refused to get involved in the action when Thanos’ forces attacked Wakanda. Marvel’s What If…? episode 5 offered a different take on this story by following up Hulk’s loss to Thanos with a zombie invasion. So instead of helping Earth’s heroes contend with the Mad Titan and the Black Order over the Infinity Stones, he got to be a key player in the struggle against a horde of zombified superheroes.

Related: Where Was Thor During Marvel’s Zombie Invasion?

Banner experienced the same struggles his live-action counterpart had in Avengers: Infinity War when it came to getting his Hulk personality to emerge, albeit with a much more satisfying outcome. Unlike the scenario that played out in Wakanda, the Hulk came through for the heroes by taking over when he was needed most to hold off Scarlet Witch and all the zombies in the vicinity. Seeing the Hulk fearlessly plow through an army of zombies and gain an edge over the most powerful hero in the MCU was a stand-out moment - and the sort of ending he deserved to have in Infinity War.

Hulk’s role in Infinity War has always been taken as one of the sequel’s biggest disappointments. Marvel has defended this decision by explaining it was meant to give Bruce an opportunity to be a hero, but this direction reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of what fans expect and want from these characters. Banner being given something meaningful to do shouldn’t come at the cost of sidelining a beloved superhero. Not only that, but Hulk refusing to fight came off to many as a sign of fear, which is an unbecoming look for a character who refers to himself as “the strongest one there is” in the comics.

Hulk losing to Thanos so badly may have been a tough pill for his fans to swallow, but it could have been made a lot better if Avengers: Infinity War (or even Avengers: Endgame) had at least attempted to offer him some form of redemption. A fitting way to do that would have been to unleash his wrath right in the middle of the Wakanda battle. Hulk going on a rampage against the unsuspecting alien invaders and squaring off against Thanos in an epic rematch would have been true to the spirit of his character, but viewers, unfortunately, had to wait until Marvel’s What If…? episode 5 to see the MCU do right by the Hulk.

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

Marvel's What If...? airs Wednesdays on Disney+.

Key Release Dates