• Finally, Anne (Renée Zellweger) gets a somewhat happy ending thanks to her loyal enforcer (and murky moral compass) Foster (Louis Herthum). If you liked Revenge, you’ll love What/If. What/If follows Lisa and Sean Donovan (portrayed by Jane Levy and Blake Jenner, respectively) as their lives are turned upside down after they do a business deal with Anne Montgomery (Zellweger). His team effectively spread out the reveals, episode by episode, to keep viewers hooked and steadily built toward a definitive climax. What/If (stylized as WHAT/ IF) is an American thriller streaming television miniseries, created by Mike Kelley, that premiered on May 24, 2019, on Netflix. Synopsis. Netflix's anthology series "What If" is an addictive, tongue-in-cheek homage to '90s neo-noir, packed with juicy twists. So they get back together and, I dunno, he plays baseball again and she starts another once-in-a-lifetime medical company? Lisa and Sean never even find out it happened! ), Juan Castano and John Clarence Stewart in “What / If”. Called What Remains, the finale of What/If brought the stories of Anne Montgomery (played by Renée Zellweger) and Lisa Donovan (Jane Levy) … Corporate headquarters are in Los Gatos, California. The older authority figure took advantage of her fragile state, and she got pregnant. Sex isn’t anywhere near Anne’s mind, though. Even if you guessed the ending, look at all those other plots! What if the ending to “What / If” was bad? Mike Kelley gives viewers so much to chew on over 10 hours, even if they guess the prime twist, there’s 50 others to keep them hooked. Starring: Monther Rayahnah, Khaled Ameen, Aseel Omran Watch all you want. Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Netflix is one of the world's leading entertainment services with 204 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries and feature films across a wide variety of genres and languages. “What/If” even had a coma/amnesia plotline! Netflix describes the series as a “neo-noir social thriller that explores the ripple effects of what happens when acceptable people start … Todd tricks the doc into stepping on a bear trap, and then Angela shoots him in the head after Ian convinces her he’ll never stop coming after them. And that’s a secondary plot! Doubt hung over the middle of the season like the stubborn cloud casting permanent blackness over Imogen’s offices. Ginny & Georgia has more than a few major commonalities with Gilmore Girls — the series Netflix… “An Affair of Honor” Prince Friedrich and Daphne are the talk of the town. However, the suspense is intense and very efficient. This makes him all the more attractive to his dream boyfriend Lionel (John Clarence Stewart), who proposes that very day. This contract, signed by all parties, isn’t like any other you’ve heard of. • Cassidy (Daniella Pineda), after being run over by Anne’s nemesis, comes out of her coma and lives happily ever after with Avery (Saamer Usmani) — that’s right! Recent updates, renewals and cancellations of Netflix series and shows. The 7 Best Movies New to Netflix in March 2021 What/If is as baffling as the forward slash in the middle of its title. But when she went to the abortion clinic, her doctor gave her the number of a family who would pay her to carry the baby to term and adopt it when she gave birth. That’s certainly a tricky task, but after Season 1, fans should have far fewer doubts. New Movies: Release Calendar for March 5, Plus Where to Watch the Latest Films Related Erik Voake/Netflix. This is a modal window. Powered by Minute Media © 2021 All Rights Reserved. We have provided extensive coverage on Mike Kelley’s neo-noir social thriller, and you can read the review for season 1 by clicking … Kelley, who cut his teeth writing episodes of “The O.C.” and broke out with the ABC nighttime soap “Revenge,” makes the most of his anthology format. Image: Netflix. Together, they puzzle out what it means if your best friend is also the love of your life. Video Player is loading. Obviously, since we will be going over all major secrets here from four main characters that What/If has in store, there are significant spoilers to come. Copyright © 2021 Penske Business Media, LLC. Your privacy is safe with us. What/If season 1, episode 5, “What Next”, reveals a higher power that gives Anne’s plans more context, with the other characters believing they have turned the corner. Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. [Editor’s Note: The following article contains spoilers for the ending of “What / If” Season 1, streaming now on Netflix.]. At Anne’s former home, Foster kills Liam but takes a … It’s exactly the kind of extravagance “What / If” thrives on, which makes it a fitting grand reveal even if it’s also the most expected one. Even the biggest twist was probably plenty of viewers’ first guess: In Episode 9, “WTF,” Anne Montgomery (real name: Rebecca Tanner) is marched into her childhood apartment and tells Lisa her origin story. An evil doctor kidnaps both members of a couple separately, and then gets shot in the head while he bleeds out in a bear trap! Get The Latest IndieWire Alerts And Newsletters Delivered Directly To Your Inbox. Netflix’s new, campy (maybe) daytime soap, the clumsy and predictable What/If, fails to accomplish any of the goals that show creator Mike Kelley (Revenge, Swingtown) set … This recap for Netflix’s What/If Season 1, Episode 5, “What Next”, contains significant spoilers. In fact, much of what happens in the end feels inevitable — Marcos getting married, Lisa and Sean getting back together, rich people staying rich. Benefitting from an anthology structure that allowed for a fixed ending, “What / If” came to a dramatic, ridiculous, and altogether gratifying conclusion. “What/If,” Netflix ’s new anthology series, tells you what it is from its first moments, as Renée Zellweger delivers an Ayn Rand-ian screed about rejecting social mores. Her ambition and that everything is a tool including her sexuality, which she leads with unapologetically…” We don’t argue with her here! Season 1 review of the Netflix series below! That’s not entirely fair. What/If: Renée Zellweger stars in dramatic Netflix series trailer Sean Donovan (played by Black Jenner) and Lisa Ruiz-Donovan’s (Jane Levy) storyline in What/If was full of ups and down… Netflix Timeline-Going public in 2002, Netflix grew slowly; hitting 4.2 million members by 2005. Summary. That allowed him to pack everything he wanted into one season. What/If is being called trash TV gold for a reason. and she’s learned that love is the only thing separating her from her psychotic, badass mother. Spoiler alert! And Kelley pulled it off even though the season’s biggest twist was also its most predictable — actually, he pulled off a great ending in spite of any anticipation, which isn’t so easy to do when you’re trying to land a gonzo cat-and-mouse mystery. Final spoiler warning for those who have yet to watch all 10 episodes of What/If. Oscars: Best Makeup and Hairstyling Predictions 2021 Anne sweeps in to save the day, but she has a peculiar condition. The only reason she inserted herself into Lisa’s life now, with Imogen on the brink of bankruptcy, was to teach her daughter the lesson Anne lives by: Men are the f’n worst, including Sean, her lying hunk of a husband. [Review — Spoilers] Not in the “so bad it’s good” way that drives the first season to juicy, melodramatic glory, but the normal kind of bad, where expectations aren’t met, disappointment ensues, and enraged fans take to the internet demanding a remake. —Anonymous. Plot Summary (3) Wallace, who is burned out from a string of failed relationships, forms an instant bond with Chantry, who lives with her longtime boyfriend. I wouldn’t say that, but I wouldn’t skip it, either. We'll never pass along your email address to spammers, scammers, or the like. List of the best movies on Netflix based on genre and IMDB score. While most reveals happen throughout the series, Anne’s isn’t known until the penultimate episode. Without any loved ones to hold them back, without any stupid men, the mother and daughter could forge a future with “limitless potential” — rich, powerful, and diabolically smart, there’s no stopping them. The series stars Jane Levy, Blake Jenner, Daniella Pineda, Keith Powers, Samantha Ware, Dave Annable, Saamer Usmani, John Clarence Stewart, Louis Herthum, and Renée Zellweger. It is also involved in the creation of original programming. ), • Dr. Ian (Dave Annable) kidnaps Todd (Keith Powers), and when his prisoner escapes, the overtly misogynistic surgeon takes Angela (Samantha Marie Ware) up to his cabin and makes her play housewife until the vengeful hubby shows up for a macho, mano a mano showdown. Anne Montgomery’s story is over, and perhaps the best answer it provided was to, “What if a broadcast soap got to wrap up in 10 hours instead of 100?” Sure, the experience doesn’t last as long, but that’s what Season 2 is for — Kelley gets to start from scratch with a fresh cast and a story aiming to top Anne’s. The first season of the Netflix original series focuses on a mysterious woman’s lucrative, but dubious offer to a cash-strapped pair of San Francisco newlyweds. On the brink of bankruptcy, Lisa needs to find an investor for her company, Emigen, a medical research company. “What / If” isn’t reliant on one twist because it’s got a million, but it also benefits from a more wide-ranging structural approach. Only proceed once you’ve watched all 10 episodes of the series. Desperate to secure funding for her med tech startup, an idealistic scientist and her husband strike an outrageous deal with a mysterious investor. The drama series is deliberately over the top and is simply a fancy soap opera that frankly doesn’t deserve Zellweger or Levy’s talents. An anthology series which tackles a different morality tale, and the ripple effect of a single decision that changes the trajectory of an entire life. The best endings provide closure, and that’s easier to provide before your character arcs balloon out of control over multiple seasons and you strain the audience’s patience by delaying your biggest twists until the last possible second. In exchange for an $80 million investment, Anne asks to have a night alone with Lisa’s husband, Sean. Latest Oldest Most Discussed. Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. That’s right! What/If Episode Summaries Guide & TV Show Schedule: In this neo-noir thriller series, a pair of cash-strapped newlyweds accept a lucrative but morally dubious offer from a mysterious female benefactor. Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Yes, by targeting her own daughter, she’s being hypocritical — technically, she could’ve bankrolled and stolen anyone’s company in order to make enough money to escape her “Uncle” — but it’s easy to understand how she justified that choice: She wanted to become even more powerful, with a partner she could trust, even if what she really wanted deep down was to connect with her daughter. Say what you want about the series, though, What/If is addicting and highly entertaining. 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At face value, What/If is easily one of the worst things that Netflix has ever produced. You can stream all 10 episodes on Netflix on Friday, May 24. Build your custom FanSided TV email newsletter with news and analysis on Netflix and all your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and more. Netflix, media-streaming and video-rental company founded in 1997 by American entrepreneurs Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph. (Seriously, I know they were about to go broke, but were light bulbs too expensive?) • Sean (Blake Jenner), after coming clean about murdering his ex-girlfriend’s would-be rapist nearly a decade prior, goes to prison for 20 months, and gets out in time to meet Lisa (Jane Levy) by their bench. A medical-school dropout (Daniel Radcliffe) tries to hide his attraction to his new friend (Zoe Kazan), a bubbly artist who already has a boyfriend. Should you prioritize watching it if you haven’t already? Summary. He’s so into her that he … Anne took the money and kept tabs on her child… who later lost her parents in a fire… and was adopted by her nanny! • Marcos (Juan Castano) confesses to lighting the fire that killed his parents (and Lisa’s adopted parents). What/If is a new Netflix thriller series. This Article is related to: Television and tagged Mike Kelley, Netflix, What If. Also, Renée Zellweger is reason enough to watch. (Note: Spreading the payoffs over multiple episodes instead of cramming them into one hour helped give each twist its due and balance the emotional throughlines so nothing felt rushed. WHAT / IF. Of course, the last shot of the series shows a now-brunette Anne sunbathing in Spain, but that’s expected. They’re just trying to keep up with all the ostentatious absurdity being thrown in their faces. After being ambushed at her childhood apartment by her “Uncle Liam” (Julian Sands), Anne is saved by Foster’s quick thinking — he throws a knife into Liam when he’s not looking, and gets shot before Liam succumbs to his injuries. (Dumb move, Ian, you dirty old man. Four individuals at a crossroads in life are given the chance to take both paths, and decide which road is best for them. Instead, or so it appears, she burns down the apartment with everyone inside — including herself…. All rights reserved. What/If Season 1, Episode 1, “Pilot”, is an excellent start to the neo-noir story, introducing us to Anne’s twisted world played wonderfully by Renée Zellweger. Stream It Or Skip It: ‘What/If’ On Netflix, Where Renée Zellweger Offers An Indecent Proposal To A Struggling Entrepreneur. This kind of mindset is nothing short of operatic. Instead of being forced to delay his big reveal until a finale years down the road, he knew Anne’s story was over after 10 episodes. What even is ‘What/If’? Content warning: The following recap contains mild descriptions of self-harm. It’s very camp and kitsch which won’t be for everyone. When is What/If season 2 coming to Netflix? Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, the actress shared what drew her to love the character of Anne Montgomery, “her sense of entitlement is extraordinary. As soon as Lisa said her parents died in a fire, any experienced soap viewer would start waiting for one, if not both, of her folks to show up. This recap for Netflix’s What/If season 1, episode 1, “Pilot” contains significant spoilers. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on any internet-connected screen. Nice touch, Kelley. Interviews with leading film and TV creators about their process and craft. Now on the verge of marriage to an equally materialistic fiance, he is visited by an angelic mechanic (Ratzenberger) who tells him that he needs to see what his life would have been like had he followed Gods calling. Skirting over the fact she was adopted is a nice way to throw folks off the trail, but Anne needed a good reason to target Lisa, and being her mother is a safe first guess, even if you can’t fully explain how it could be true. 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Her life philosophy boils down to Robert De Niro’s in “Heat”: “Don’t let yourself get attached to anything you are not willing to walk out on in 30 seconds, flat, if you feel the heat around the corner.” But the point is, this reveal gives Anne the missing motivation her villainous turn needed while humanizing her at the same time. Fifteen years ago, Ben Walker (Sorbo) made a decision to leave his college sweetheart Wendy (Swanson), and ultimately his faith, in order to pursue a lucrative business opportunity. The drama series is deliberately over the top and is simply a fancy soap opera that frankly doesn’t … Marvel’s Jessica Jones season 3 release date and teaser trailer, Riverdale season 4: Release date, what happens next and more. What/If is being called trash TV gold for a reason. You see, Gabriel Mann, the guy who played Nolan Ross in Revenge , makes an extended cameo as an independently wealthy tech investor who helps Renee's character do her plotting and scheming. The most captivating character in the series is the devious Montgomery. In the What/If season 1 finale, Foster is confronted by Liam Strom (Julian Sands), the Big Bad who is responsible for taking advantage of Anne’s “suppressed humanity," and thus unleashing her wrath onto the world. Hey, Oscars! If you’re familiar with TV writer Mike Kelly’s previous series, soap opera Revenge, you’ll have a pretty good idea of what you’re in for in his new Netflix series, What/If. The two wed during the second-to-last scene (with their stripper friend/threesome partner Kevin officiating), thus completing a C-story that was always extremely… normal? … The shocking twists are as insane (not in a good way) as you can imagine. You do have to wonder why Zellweger would take on such a role, but the answer is pretty simple. Learn more about Netflix, including its history. • Marcos (Juan Castano) confesses to lighting the fire that killed his parents (and Lisa’s adopted parents). What/If on Netflix photo via Media Center. Sure, Marcos felt guilty about his old pyro habits, but other than that, the couple’s biggest problem was redecorating the living room (and I’m with Kevin — Marcos’ Day of the Dead painting looked good). After getting so caught up in Mike Kelley’s throwback thriller, what if all that time watching was for naught? Cradling Foster in her arms, Anne is told to take her new passport and flee. Related What she has planned is something more vile. (How is anyone supposed to believe she’s dead when Jay Jackson, aka Perd Hapley, reads the news report about the fire? Her goal is to separate Lisa and Sean, but why? Those who’ve made it through the 10 episodes know this not to be the case. I see you.) Netflix. Anne’s dictum isn’t exclusive to men, but all attachments. May 23, 2019 by Amanda Prahl Psychological thrillers are nothing new, but Netflix aims to put a new spin on the genre with What/If. This is the point when I knew these guys were literally trying to remake Revenge but with Renee Zellweger. Turns out when Anne was a teenager, her prom date cheated on her and she fled to the only man in her life, a handyman played by Josh Kelly. Moreover, all that drama serves as a distraction so viewers don’t spend too much time trying to solve the puzzle. That’s the biggest mystery and the most baffling secret. But who cares? The 10-episode Netflix original series is over the top dramatic and should be a Netflix’s soap. What if the payoff couldn’t match the buildup?