Warning: This article contains spoilers for What If...? episode 1.

Marvel's What If...? proves the theories that Captain America was the perfect super-soldier, and it has nothing to do with his abilities. In Captain America: The First Avenger, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) is selected by Dr. Abraham Erskine (Stanley Tucci) to be the first United States super-soldier. Through a complicated scientific procedure, and with the help of Erskine's special Super Soldier Serum, Rogers gains superhuman abilities, allowing him to take on the mantle of Captain America. Throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Rogers repeatedly proves he was the right choice, eventually helping the Avengers defeat Thanos (Josh Brolin) in Avengers: Endgame.

Marvel's new Disney+ show, What If...?, flips the story around. In the animated series' premiere, Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) chooses to watch Rogers' (voiced in the show by Josh Keaton) superhuman procedure from the floor rather than in the safety of a booth. The decision changes the entire course of the MCU. When the procedure is attacked and Rogers is injured, Carter takes on the super-soldier responsibility, becoming a superpowered Captain Carter and replacing the MCU's Captain America. Because of the change, Carter is the one who ultimately saves the world from HYDRA and Red Skull (Ross Marquand).

Related: Is Marvel's What If Canon? The Show’s MCU Connections Explained

Though Rogers doesn't become Captain America in the show, What If...? reinforces why he was the right initial choice. Rogers eventually becomes a version of Iron Man in the show, taking on a HYDRA-stomping metal suit. He repeatedly puts himself in harm's way to help others and even stays behind to fight when Bucky (Sebastian Stan) tries to take him away to safety. Even without his super abilities, Rogers shows he's a hero, which is precisely what Erskine was looking for in a super-soldier.

Captain America The First Avenger Steve Rogers Transformation

It all goes back to The First Avenger. In the film, Erskine tells Rogers that the serum amplifies what's already inside. "So good becomes great. Bad becomes worse," he says. The quote shows why Erskine chose Rogers. Keeping this in mind, the doctor had a piece of advice for the future Captain America. He tells him the most important thing to remember is to be a "good man" rather than a perfect soldier. In What If...?, the lines from The First Avenger ring true, and Rogers shows he's a good man over and over again. Even after being captured by HYDRA, he chooses to continue to fight instead of being rescued.

Marvel's new show also shows why Rogers was worthy of Mjolnir in Endgame. Though there were hints of Rogers being worthy to lift Thor's (Chris Hemsworth) hammer as early as Avengers: Age of Ultron, the Endgame moment when Cap takes up Mjolnir is perhaps the most exciting of the entire movie. Even sans abilities, he would've likely been able to lift the hammer. His powers don't have anything to do with it. His worthiness was in him all along. Thus, What If...? continually reinforces that Rogers doesn't need muscles to be Captain America. Though, in terms of physically lifting Mjolnir, a couple of muscles might help.

More: Black Widow Might Have Confirmed Old Cap Lived In The Main MCU Timeline

Marvel's What If...? releases new episodes Wednesdays on Disney+.

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