What If… ? Season 3 gives the series and The Watcher a satisfying ending, but one can’t help but wonder “what if” when it comes to the show’s greater potential.

Related: End The Year Right With These New Movies And Shows Of December 2024

What If… ? has occupied a unique space within the wider Marvel universe. With the MCU going deeper and deeper into the multiverse saga, the animated series took that concept by the neck and went full throttle, presenting different Marvel characters in a new light in each episode. What If… ? served as a creative playground of sorts for Marvel to put their characters in a bevy of scenarios all while The Watcher, well, watches, and occasionally intervenes. 

After three years, the show concluded with the release of season 3, its latest and final that makes due on its promise of being the “one final watch”. Is it the best season of the series? No, that title is still held by season 1. But it at least ends the show on a definitive period that, while not perfect, gets the job done. 

INFINITE POSSIBILITIES 

What makes What If… ? season 3 unique is how intertwined The Watcher is to the overall plot of the season. Unlike before, where he would occasionally make his presence known to a few characters, season 3 gives The Watcher a more active role, especially in the latter half of the season. Season 3 is as much The Watcher’s conclusion as is the show at large. 

On that note, The Watcher does get the ending he deserves as his actions set the stage for a pretty epic showdown in one of the most action-packed battle royales featured on the show during the finale. It looks like the MCU’s take on Dragon Ball fight scenes as it takes the action cosmically over the top and to appropriately galactic heights. 

Speaking of conclusions, Peggy Carter, aka Captain Carter, also gets her ending here, too. Introduced during the very first episode of the series, Captain Carter has become somewhat of the show’s main character with the pivotal role she plays in all three seasons. Just like with The Watcher, Peggy (or at least this version) also closes her story here in a memorable act befitting the character. 

However, it is in season 3’s focus on plotline resolutions where the overall season’s quality suffers in terms of scenario creativity. On one hand, we get memorable moments like the episode centering on Riri Williams (a highlight of the season), the Mecha Avengers, and the epic introduction of Storm, or Storm Thor (which is kinda redundant if you think about it), to the MCU. 

But on the other hand, the season has a few clunkers like the episodes centering on Agatha and Darcy and Howard the Duck. They aren’t bad per se, but they aren’t as memorable as would have liked. There’s a sense that season 3 is a tad bit lacking when it comes to really going there in terms of possibilities like giving us more X-Men or putting more focus on characters outside the MCU.

WHAT IF… A MCU SHOW HAD A DEFINITIVE FINALE?

What If… ? thrives best as an anthology with each episode really going in on the infinite possibilities of the universe. Some of the show’s best episodes (like Doctor Strange in season 1 and Hela in season 2) are those that take a known concept and run with it. 

So, while The Watcher and Captain Carter’s storylines coming full circle in season 3 aren’t a bad thing as they’re pulled off competently by the end without having to set up other shows and sequels (something other MCU shows can’t brag about), there’s a point to be made about how a greater focus as an anthology and less on continuing plotlines and sequel episodes would have benefited What If… ? in the end. 

Still, season 3 is a fun watch and has some good moments with solid action and interesting set pieces, all told through the series’ signature art and animation style. And it’s in those moments where we find what makes the show so special: envisioning Marvel characters as you’ve never seen them before and letting them go all out as they are unburdened by the rules of the MCU. 

Overall, What If… ? season 3 satisfyingly concludes one of the MCU’s most intriguing shows. While season 3 could have done more with its potential, it at least ends fine without leaving too many loose threads and makes for an entertaining binge-watch. Regardless of how the show could have gone, the series will always have a special place for fans who appreciate the bold ideas and stories you wouldn’t find anywhere else in the MCU.

What If… ? season 3 is streaming on Disney+

Continue Reading: 6 Important Life Lessons We Learned From Marvel Movies 

Get your life in order by copping one or more of these 2025 planners and journals!

Related: Pouf PH Is The Local Minimalist Brand For Your Everyday Essentials

There’s nothing like looking back at a filled planner and seeing how your year played out on paper and pen. You may be someone who always has to have a planner every year, or you might be someone who’s living out your “new year, new me” resolution and are ready to take a dive into planners. Either way, here’s where you can have start to the new year with a fresh start and a blank page—literally!

Planners can be for taking down daily to-do lists, noting birthdays, events, and trips, journaling, managing your time, boosting your productivity, tracking your habits, and so much more. There are plenty of planners for all kinds of people out there, and who knows—you might just find the perfect one for you right here. Whether you want clean lines and simple, to-the-point pages with plenty of space for you to write and make it your own, or creative, maximalist pages with challenges and prompts for self-reflection and growth, these 2025 planners and journals are here to help you live a fulfilled, organized year.

MUJI

Can’t go wrong with a classic. Stack up your MUJI collection (or start one this year) with your own MUJI planner! They come in a bunch of sizes, colors, and even formats, so you can plan at your own pace, whether it be weekly or monthly.

THE PAPER BUNNY

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That’s right, they don’t just sell bags! Lifestyle brand The Paper Bunny has a few 2025 planners available with their signature style—which is clean, simple, and functional. Choose from several colors of vegan leather hard-bound cover and enjoy a planner with motivational quotes, activity pages, weekly challenges, and more.

CADA DIA

Cada Dia 2025 planners focus on simplicity, functionality, and productivity. With activity pages, worksheets, vision boards, reflection pages, and more, a Cada Dia planner “provides a multi-functional yet simple way to help you stay productive, aligned and intentional throughout the year.” You can either get yourself the Quadrant planner, “for those with a mix of to-do lists, mantras, and daily reflection,” or the Vertical planner, for those “who have longer to do lists or like time blocking and hourly scheduling.”

BELLE DE JOUR

Belle de Jour is a stationery haven—an OG in the game, even. This year, their 2025 planner is centered on the theme of “Empowered Women Empower Women.” Belle de Jour, in partnership with platform She Talks Asia, designed the planning and journaling process with their Power Planner to be an inspiring, enlightening journey of growth, strength, and community. They say, “Each month focuses on one of the platform’s key areas, helping you reflect on personal growth and take action that not only uplifts yourself but also empowers those around you.”

C&S DESIGNS

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Be the architect of your life with C&S Design’s classic 2025 planners! Their weekly, 12-month planner is crafted to be visually appealing, encouraging you to be your most productive, most creative self with colorful yet functional pages, including budget trackers, goal-setting, event schedulers, and more. You can also pair a planner with a different cover, and you can choose from a whole bunch of lovely, artsy covers, too. C&S also has digital planners for those who prefer their planning to be done on a screen.

THE COMMON ROOM PH

Artisan and craft shop Common Room PH also has a few fun planners for you to check out! From digital planner pages to undated weekly planners, you can shop simple ways for you to get more systematic with your days and schedules.

MOLESKINE

Moleskine notebooks are a staple in a papyrophiliac (that’s what some people call those who love stationery)’s shelves, bags, and drawers. This year, they’ve got quite the selection of 2025 planners to choose from. With soft and hardcovers, spiral and bound-type notebooks, different types of cover materials, as well as a special Year of the Snake 12-Month 2025 Planner, you can 100% find the perfect Moleskine planner for you. Besides on their website, you can also grab one at Fully Booked.

IFEX

The IFEX Flora & Fauna of the Philippines 2025 Planner is perfect for the nature-lovers. It comes as a vibrantly-covered, vibrantly-designed planner that celebrates the rich biodiversity of the Philippines. Plan out your days among illustrated covers (Araw, Isla, or Dagat) and simpler designs (Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao) and pages and learn about endemic Philippine species as you go!

LIMELIGHT

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Interested in MBTI types? Each Limelight planner is designed around each personality type, so you can grab one that corresponds to yours and spend your year learning more about yourself as you plan out your life with their 365 Days 2025 Planners.

POUF PH

The Pouf PH 2025 planners come as 12-month and 6-month undated planners in pink, brown, cream, and black—the Everyday Classic and the Everyday Slim, respectively. “From monthly dividers to minimalist stickers,” they say. “It’s all about the little details.” Simple and to the point, these planners will help you “make every goal achievable and every task doable.”

Continue Reading: 5 Ways You Can Use Notion To Organize Your Life (And No, It’s Not Just A Calendar)

From BINI, Maki, and more, these breakout stars had a killer 2024, and we can’t wait to see what they have in store for 2025.

Related: These Filipino Content Creators Took Over Our Feeds In 2024—And We Loved It

Every year brings the excitement of the personalities who break through the noise as names to watch out for. We aren’t just talking about main character moments, but stars who had a main character year with a level of success deserving of their talent. That was the case for the following artists. 

Some made their debuts in the past year, and others have been on the scene for years, but they all can flex in the fact that 2024 was their time, which definitely put them on the map. And all can we say is that if this is how they ate this hard in 2024, who knows what the new year can bring? Check out these breakthrough Filipino artists below. 

ARMAN SALON

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The beauty of TikTok, if you forget the misinformation, disinformation, and harassment that can come from it, is how it can be used as a tool for anyone to achieve online fame that can translate to real-world success. Case in point: Arman Macasusi, more popularly known as Arman Salon. The Rizal-based hairdresser quickly found himself the talk of social media with his hysterical acting skits on TikTok to the point where he even went internationally viral. 

The fact that he’s already got to work with big-name stars and was a frequent presence in MMFF 2024 promotions proved Arman’s impact. In a time of microtrends and fleeting online fame, Arman Salon deserves his title of being one of the biggest breakout TikTok stars of 2024, and we hope he’ll get to secure the acting bag even more in 2025. 

BINI

INSTAGRAM/BINI_PH

Where do we even begin? 2024 was BINI’s year as they slayed their way to the top unlike any before. While BINI is no stranger to going viral (OG Blooms will remember Da Coconut Nut and Na Na Na having a moment on social media) this year was different as the virality of Pantropiko and Salamin Salamin led the group to being one of the most talked-about artists of the year. The BINI hype was real as they broke records left and right, and they were everywhere in 2024 with engagements both locally and abroad. From a P-pop fave to everyone’s fave, BINI did that. 

CARLOS YULO

INSTAGRAM/C_EDRIELZXS

Now if we’re talking 2024 main characters, we can’t forget Carlos Yulo. From being one of the Philippines’ best gymnasts to being the country’s golden boy, Carlos flipped and tumbled his way to the top of the podium. You probably remember where you were when Carlos bagged his two gold medals at the Paris Olympics. The most searched athlete on Google Philippines in 2024 not only brought pride to the country but also reminded the nation of the importance of supporting Filipino athletes regardless of sport. Not even gossip and drama could dent Carlos’ feats in 2024.  

CHELSEA MANALO

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Our current reigning Miss Universe Philippines and first-ever Miss Universe Asia deserves her flowers because of how she smashed expectations in the local pageant scene. Chelsea Manalo came through as a beauty queen, advocate, and icon. Her achievements this year not only broke old stereotypes, but Chelsea also helped inspire the new generation to appreciate themselves regardless of how they look in a society that can still cling to rigid beauty standards.

EJ OBIENA

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You know you’re that boy when you become associated with a viral song on TikTok. While he almost landed a podium placement at the 2024 Olympics, EJ Obiena’s 4th place finish was still admirable. But what’s even more admirable is what EJ did after the Olympics. Not only did he become the nation’s boyfriend and certified it-boy of the month as he unapologetically stood on business, but he also used his fame and platform to give the spotlight to the state of pole vaulting in the country and campaigned for more support for Filipino pole vaulters. 

HEV ABI

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Chances are you couldn’t go anywhere this 2024 without listening to at least one Hev Abi song. From the radio to the charts, Hev Abi had the hits that had everyone vibing and helped Pinoy rap and hip-hop dominate playlists. If you want to know how just much he owned the year, Hev was the second most streamed artist on Spotify Philippines in 2024, second only to Taylor Swift, and was the most streamed OPM artist of the year. One of Pinoy hip-hop’s biggest acts fr.   

HYACINTH CALLADO

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The Univeristy Series had its fair share of moments in 2024, and getting to know Hyacinth Callado was a real treat. As Elyse Ledezma on Chasing in the Wild, Hyacinth made a name for herself both on and off-screen. From her solo work, advocacies, and popular love team with Gab Lagman called HyGab, Hyacinth firmly secured the it-girl bag in the past year.

MAKI

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One-hit-wonder who? In a year of successful solo male OPM acts like TJ Monterde and Dionela, Maki redefined what it means to be a solo male artist as he took on the scene with his stable of colorful chart-topping bops and personal style that we’ve come to know as the Maki ‘fit. Saan lowkey predicted Maki’s 2024 as he’d find himself all over with W after W, including having international artists as fans. Michael V even parodied the artist on Bubble Gang, a sign of your pop culture relevance.  

MARINA SUMMERS

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World, it’s summer time. Marina is no stranger to having breakout moments, such as when she proved to be a fan-favorite on the inaugural season of Drag Race Philippines back in 2022. But 2024 was Marina’s year, and that’s thanks to her knockout run on UK vs. the World season 2. We knew Marina was going to eat on the season, but boy did she deliver and then some. 

It was a near-flawless run that she quickly followed up with achievement after achievement for the rest of the year. This Filipina winnah had the world at her fingertips, and she’s already booked with exciting projects for 2025, most notably playing Glinda on a UK production of The Wizard of Oz. 

MAXIE ANDREISON

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Fans of Filipino drag may best know Maxie from her time on Queen of the Universe which was sadly cut short. But 2024 was the year she broke through by winning Drag Race Philippines season 3, no small feat given the caliber of icons the season had like Angel and Khianna. 

Maxie solidified her status as an undeniable star who can tear up the stage, whether in a lipsync or a live performance. But what we love most about Maxie is how we got to see her personality shine this year as she strived not just to lift herself up, but also her fellow queens. Maxie is a star, and we can’t wait to see what she’s cooking for 2025, such as with her concert in February. 

YAELOKRE

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If there’s one thing we learned in 2024, it’s that listeners love authenticity in artists, especially those who know how to build and tell their own worlds. That’s something Filipino songwriter-artist Keath Osk, more commonly known as Yaelokre, has in the bag. Yaelokre, who is known for their Renaissance era ‘fits, made their debut in 2024 and quickly made a name for themselves with their fantasy storytelling and worldbuilding when it comes to the artist’s lore. 

There’s wonder and magic in his work with his ability to bring to life stories visually and musically. Rarely do we see this level of creativity in OPM, and people took notice both in the Philippines and abroad as they racked up followers and streams in the millions. To date, their song, Harpy Hare, has over 87 million streams on Spotify and topped Spotify’s Global Viral Songs for multiple days. 

Continue Reading: NYLON Manila Picks: The Artists That Made Our 2024 So Much Better 

One of the best movies of MMFF 2024 and one of the best Filipino movies of 2024 deserves its flowers.

Related: A Guide To The 10 Movies Competing At The 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival 

Seemingly every MMFF, we get a movie that punches above its weight despite the odds, making a space for itself in the conversation to keep up with the bigger movies. In MMFF 2024, that movie is arguably Isang Himala. Its presence in the festival lineup was already noticeable even before the screenings began with how it was a movie musical adaptation of a musical based on the legendary 1982 Filipino film Himala. And when people finally got to see it, the acclaim was real. But despite the praise the film has been getting, you wouldn’t have guessed it with the way it’s being treated commercially, and that’s a real shame if we’re being honest.

A TRUE MIRACLE

Isang Himala follows the relatively same beats as the original 1982 classic. But in case you aren’t familiar with the source material, the movie tells the story of Elsa, a young woman from Baryo Cupang, who claims to have been visited by the Blessed Virgin and granted the power to heal the sick. As people flock to be healed, the once-quiet town gets consumed by faith, prosperity, greed, and deceit. 

This reimagined take hits the marks as an excellent movie musical. The acting ensemble gives their roles justice with riveting precision, and it’s a nice touch that most of the cast are returning to the roles they played in the 2018 musical, proving once again that Filipino theater actors can keep up if not surpass their movie and TV counterparts. The songs hit with an emotional gravitas befitting of the movie’s storied legacy and narrative. 

The set and production design, while noticeable for being filmed on sets, gives the movie a unique POV with how it feels like you’re in the middle of the action of a musical on stage. The film’s ever-poignant themes still resonate to this day, with the fact that whenever something good happens in this country, greed and corruption are usually not far. The way Elsa gets taken advantage of, and even she participates in her own image-making, points to the many trappings of humanity. 

Isang Himala also has the awards to back up the hype. It was the second most nominated film at the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival’s Gabi ng Parangal, where it ultimately took home five awards including Fourth Best Picture and Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Kakki Teodoro. 

SUPPORT ALL FILIPINO CINEMA

So, with all that, you’d think the movie would have its fair share of theaters, right? Sadly, no. Despite the acclaim and accolades, Isang Himala is just barely registering in the number of cinemas at just less than 20 nationwide. How is a movie as good as this getting paid dust? And what makes it even worse is that it’s happening during MMFF, a time when every cinema in the Philippines (except 4DX and IMAX) is playing Filipino movies. 

Obviously, you can’t force people to watch something they don’t want to, and many factors go into this business. There are movie theater owners who decide the movies to book in their cinemas that align more with commercial interests, the continuously high ticket prices, and the hard truth some people who may be interested in movies like Isang Himala won’t watch it because of their bias against Filipino movies. 

But it also needs to be said that there needs to be a point where we don’t always have to rely on word of mouth and asking cinemas for specific movies because this isn’t the first time acclaimed Filipino movies had to fight just to stay in cinemas. And no, that doesn’t mean we blame other Filipino movies for taking up all the space. Supporting Filipino movies doesn’t mean tearing down other movies and local creatives. 

While there’s no one answer to solve this problem, there can be steps done to make it fairer for all genres to take up space. Make Filipino movies more accessible to audiences, and that includes lowering ticket prices. There should also be more government support for the local industry, especially during government-run festivals like MMFF. And let’s stop, especially the powers that be, judging local movies without giving them a fair shake. 

Movies as good as Isang Himala should not be under constant threat of being removed from cinemas on a daily basis. So, go watch Isang Himala if you’re interested in seeing the special modern production, and support other Filipino movies in MMFF while you’re at it. As we enter a new year, hopefully, all aspects of Philippine cinema will get the respect they deserve.

Continue Reading: The Movies Of 2024 That Were Worth Our Time And Money