Thor: Ragnarok revealed Asgard’s secret history and the role Hela played in Odin’s conquests, but “What If… Hela Found The Ten Rings?”
That title barely scratches the surface, but in this reality, Odin doesn’t banish Hela to Hel because he believes her disregard for life makes her unworthy of ruling the dead. Instead, he strips his daughter of her crown and, like Thor on Earth-616, banishes her, powerless, to Earth (she throws Mjolnir at him during their exchange, only for the King of Asgard to destroy it).
If Hela can prove herself worthy, she will once again be able to wear her crown, but for now, she and it are stuck in Midgard. The leader of the Ten Rings, Wenwu, finds them both and a fight ensues which ends with the Asgardian being captured after she fails to lift her old headpiece.
While in captivity, Hela listens as Wenwu suggests an alliance and explains the role of the Ten Rings. Instead, she knocks him out and escapes, taking Morris – yes, that Morris – with her for the ride. Travelling through the bamboo forest, she encounters Jiayi, a woman we’re assuming is one of Ying Li’s ancestors.
Brought to Ta Lo, Hela vanishes from Heimdall’s sight, leaving Odin to conclude that the Ten Rings – and, more importantly to him, humans – must have killed his daughter.
Hela listens to Ying Li and forms a tentative alliance; she wants to take Wenwu’s Ten Rings so she can destroy Odin. However, the Goddess most desires her freedom, something her father has never allowed (proving there’s more to this character than being a baddie).
After training at Ta Lo, Hela intervenes when Odin attacks Wenwu. They team up and Hela ultimately wields the Ten Rings to defeat her father; he attacks when offered peace, and with a new appreciation for life, Hela is deemed worthy and her crown returns. Now decked out in a white costume, she takes Odin’s throne and forms an alliance with Wenwu that offers freedom to all and spans the cosmos.
In fact, aeons later, we see Hela and Wenwu lead an army to stop Thanos on the day he destroyed half of Gamora’s planet as The Watcher explains even the darkest of hearts can find peace.
Cate Blanchett reprises her role as Hela and Idris Elba returns as Heimdall. Beyond that, the major recasts are Jeff Bergman as Odin and Feodor Chin as Wenwu.
What did you think about What If…?‘s new take on Hela?
