In the second episode of What If...?, audiences got to see just how different the MCU could be if T'Challa had been abducted by Yondu instead of Peter Quill. But, as this one decision changes everything, audiences are left wondering whether T'Challa really would have been better as Star-Lord or as Black Panther.
While Peter Quill has certainly made his mistakes as Star-Lord -with fans still not forgiving him for punching Thanos and ruing the plan in Avengers: Infinity War - the show reveals the domino effect that his absence would have. Given all the ramifications, there are arguments to be made on both sides about which role suits T'Challa best.
Star-Lord: Found His Way Home
Because Peter Quill's family on earth were limited in their technology and abilities, they were never able to find him, resulting in pain and turmoil for both Peter and his family. Conversely, because T'Challa's family had access to Wakandan technology, they were able to search the cosmos for him, eventually leading him to return home and be reunited with them.
With T'Challa as Star-Lord instead of Peter, he was able to have the best of both worlds, as he formed meaningful relationships with Yondu and the Ravagers and was still able to be reunited with his family, providing a happy ending for everyone involved.
Black Panther: Opened Up Wakanda
As the Black Panther, T'Challa was able to use Wakanda's technology and resources to help others. Thanks to the friendship between Captain America and Black Panther, T'Challa allowed Bucky Barnes to stay in Wakanda and receive the help he needed to overcome his past with Hydra. Additionally, at the end of Black Panther, he made the decision to start opening up Wakanda to the rest of the world.
Wakanda's past has proven that other leaders would not have made the same decision as T'Challa and would have kept Wakanda isolated. The world needed T'Challa to be the Black Panther and make these pivotal choices that would alter the course of Wakanda and the rest of the world.
Star-Lord: Relationship With Yondu
In the Guardians of the Galaxy movies, Yondu was a mostly adversarial presence who only softened up and revealed his true good-hearted nature shortly before his death. While Yondu's transformation from a villain into a father figure for Peter was one of the MCU's best character arcs, he died without fulling getting to enjoy his redemption.
However, with T'Challa as Star-Lord, Yondu and T'Challa were able to reconcile their relationship must quicker, allowing Yondu to live his life as a redeemed and heroic character.
Black Panther: The Collector's Plan
In the MCU, the Collector's pursuit of the Infinity Stones was a storyline that was teased but randomly dropped. What If...? finally saw the Collector become a full villain and use the weapons in his collection for evil. As he was showing off his collection of weapons, he revealed several familiar objects with grim implications.
With the Collector possessing Captain America's shield, Mjolnir, and the severed arm of a "chatty Kronan" (which is likely a reference to Korg), there is a good chance that he defeated and possibly killed these heroes. It is unclear how T'Challa being Star-Lord caused this, but the change is obviously a negative one for the forces of good.
Star-Lord: Nebula
In the MCU, Nebula is a tortured and morally gray character who has had many awful things done to her, mostly by Thanos, and has in turn done some awful things to others. She harbors a rage and hurt from Thanos replacing her organic body parts with cybernetic parts one by one.
However, in this alternate timeline, because T'Challa stopped Thanos, many of those forced modifications never took place. As a result, Nebula is a completely different, happier person. This more stable version of Nebula is one of the many people who benefitted from T'Challa being Star-Lord.
Black Panther: The Guardians Of The Galaxy Never Form
The Guardians of the Galaxy formed as a result of the members each pursuing the Orb and ending up in prison together. But without Peter Quill, this would never happen and the Guardians were never united, with T'Challa forming the Ravagers instead.
This means that Gamora never underwent her character arc, and Rocket and Groot never found the acceptance and sense of identity that came with being part of the group. These characters went from criminals and assassins to a being a lovable family because of their bond, and with T'Challa as Star-Lord instead of Black Panther, that never happened.
Star-Lord: Drax's Family Still Alive
The only member of the Guardians of the Galaxy who was better off with T'Challa as Star-Lord was Drax. In the films, he is driven by the death of his family at the hands of Thanos' army. However, because T'Challa stopped Thanos, Drax was able to live a happy life with his family.
Seeing a character who had been so pained by loss and tragedy get to be happy and unburdened in this alternate timeline was a treat for fans. Saving Drax's family from a violent death is a big point in favor of T'Challa being better off as Star-Lord.
Black Panther: Unintended Consequences
While T'Challa being Star-Lord resulted in a lot of positive changes, it also had one, as of yet, unintended consequence that could prove disastrous. The end of the episode showed Ego finding and recruiting Peter Quill to join him.
In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Peter was nearly convinced to join Ego in his quest to terraform planets into extensions of himself. This likely would have happened if not for the help of the other Guardians. However, in a timeline where the Guardians do not exist, there is nothing to stop Peter from aiding Ego. With T'Challa as Star-Lord, Peter never formed the relationships necessary to stop him from falling to the dark side, potentially dooming the universe.
Star-Lord: Stopped Thanos
The most obvious reason why T'Challa is better suited at being Star-Lord than Black Panther is because of his success at convincing Thanos to give up his plans of genocide and violence, even going as far as to recruit Thanos to become a member of the Ravagers.
Thanos' snap with the Infinity Gauntlet affecting everyone in the entire universe and is the defining moment of the MCU thus far. Characters such as Black Widow, Gamora, Vision, and Iron Man were all killed in either Thanos' pursuit of the Infinity Stones or the Avengers' attempt to reverse the Snap. Because he was able to prevent all of that death and destruction, T'Challa is arguably best as Star-Lord.
Black Panther: Wakanda's King
Despite all of the positive changes that could result from T'Challa being Star-Lord, it is clear that he was born to become the Black Panther and the king of Wakanda. His journey in the MCU prepared him for the throne as he confronted the sins of the past and matured as a leader.
As king, he provided the Avengers with a place to take a stand against Thanos and steered the country in a new direction, benefitting the whole world. With a unique courage and strength of character, T'Challa was meant to take on this mantle.