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Part 1 – What/If

Play trailer 2:15 Poster for Part 1 – What/If 2019 Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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44% Tomatometer 32 Reviews 54% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
In this neo-noir social thriller, Oscar winner Renée Zelwegger stars as Anne Montgomery, a woman of extreme wealth who makes young scientist Lisa a steamy proposal. Lisa is on the verge of a breakthrough that would save the lives of millions of kids, but she needs funding to go through with the trials and eventually bring her technique to the market. Other venture capitalists have turned Lisa down, but Anne makes her an unexpected offer -- one that comes with a twist. In order to give Lisa the money, Anne wants to spend a night alone with Lisa's husband, Sean, a former professional athlete. If the couple agree to the terms, Lisa will get the funding but can never ask her husband what happened during his time with Anne, who believes that human attachment is a weakness and Lisa will only succeed if she focuses all of her attention on her work.
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What/If — Part 1

What/If — Part 1

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Critics Consensus

A deliriously delicious performance from Renée Zellweger can't save What/If from its own mediocrity, but boy is she fun to watch.

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Critics Reviews

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Scott Bryan BBC.com Sometimes it felt a bit jarring. There were a lot of 'state of the world' speeches by characters, a lot of lectures, which I just don't think you get in real life. Jul 15, 2020 Full Review John Doyle Globe and Mail A masterful hybrid of old-school soaper and neo-tawdry mystery, it's cheesy but please-y in its rabid insistence on outrageous melodrama. Apr 10, 2020 Full Review Karl Quinn The Age (Australia) With its air of glamour, thirtysomething friends, sub-plots involving lawyers and doctors, the whole thing feels like a flashback to the '90s, or at any rate a particular televisual version thereof. Seriously, what's not to love? Oct 25, 2019 Full Review Dustin Rowles Pajiba It's like really cheap store-bought nacho cheese: Once you start, you can't finish, but there's never a moment of joy in the experience of eating it, and afterward all you're left with is a bigger gut and a deep sense of shame and revulsion. Jun 17, 2019 Full Review Alberto Carlos Espinof An intense performance from Zellweger in a soap opera that doesn't go big. [Full Review in Spanish] Rated: 2/5 Jun 12, 2019 Full Review Joyce Slaton Common Sense Media Mild sex and violence in fun, dark, soapy Zellweger drama. Rated: 3/5 Jun 4, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Mauritz Z Starts out with a reasonably interesting premise, but the entire series is so incredibly weird. From the completely different, not really interwoven or mutually relevant sub-storylines that never converge and don't add much value to the overall plot, to the very inconsistent quality of acting, to the many outright awkward dialogues... Who wrote this? Who greenlit this? The title of episode 9 sums it up pretty well: WTF Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/08/25 Full Review Namy E It started interesting… But then quickly turned into a cheap 90’s soap opera for an audience of retirees… Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 12/21/24 Full Review Judith D Starting episode five and will finish the series. Wow! What an incredible vamp renee zelwicker makes! Who would have guessed?? Is watching her is worth the entire series! Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 12/11/24 Full Review Maguy L Great acting wasted on an idiotic plot, real shame :( Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 02/11/23 Full Review Shari W I'm on episode 5, and I'm about to call it quits watching this. As critics have pointed out, Renee Z. Is amazing in this. Such a far cry from Bridget Jones, lol. And really a departure from Pam (The Thing About Pam)! Her small, shapely body, the smooth actions of a femme fatale…she pulls it off with perfection. No small feat considering what she is surrounded by in this effort. Such cheese! It's all been done before and in a more believable way. There is no way I can believe her Black pregnant friend is a surgeon, she just doesn't have the vibe. And hubby Sean, don't even get me started! Little Mr. "Aw, gee whiz!" Such a fresh faced all American Fireman to be…groan. Everyone is cast just a bit too well? They are stereotypes. Upwardly mobile young professionals. Soap opera stuff. I've already determined that Anne must be Lisa's biological mother. I'm not sure how the other sub stories figure in. Anne is destroying Sean because he's not good enough for her bio daughter? And head of surgery Ian (Dr. Kildare's looks will never really die on TV!) is one evil man. The token gay couple…well, who cares? Renee sure has an awesome wardrobe. I don't often agree with critics. Gotta say I completely agree with them on this show: Renee Z is captivating, but even she cannot save this series! Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/06/23 Full Review Andrew t I watched the first 6 episodes and could not take anymore of the disjointed story that was mixed with some very average acting. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 06/04/22 Full Review Read all reviews
What/If — Part 1

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Cast & Crew

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Renée Zellweger

Anne

Jane Levy

Lisa

Blake Jenner

Sean

Samantha Marie Ware

Angela

Keith Powers

Todd

Daniella Pineda

Cassidy

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired May 24, 2019 Pilot Putting trust on the line, a couple contemplates a proposal from a notorious investor: a night with Sean in exchange for funding Lisa's startup. Details Episode 2 Aired May 24, 2019 What Now Life speeds up and threatens to spin out of control as Emigen's big news leaks, Sean faces the past and Lisa confronts Anne, who dares her to waver. Details Episode 3 Aired May 24, 2019 What Happened Secrets and lies threaten the ties that bind a shattered Lisa and anguished Sean; Angela and Marcos are torn by desire; Anne revisits old haunts. Details Episode 4 Aired May 24, 2019 What Drama Trying to pick up the pieces, Sean steps up and Angela looks for answers; Anne sets the stage for ruin as couples assemble for real estate drama. Details Episode 5 Aired May 24, 2019 What Next A month later, Lisa makes key discoveries and Sean gets big news; the past catches up to confident Anne, cornered Angels and guilt-ridden Marcos. Details Episode 6 Aired May 24, 2019 What History Lisa leverages the limelight and helps Cassidy delve into Anne's history; secrets come to light for Sean and Marcos as Ian goes to new extremes. Details Episode 7 Aired May 24, 2019 What Ghosts A dark and stormy flight brings Lisa and Anne together; the walls close in on Sean at his reunion; Todd reconnects with a past nemesis. Details Episode 8 Aired May 24, 2019 What Secrets The shadows threaten to swallow up all certainty as Sean shuts out Lisa; Marcos tells the truth; Angela and Todd dig into Ian's murky origins. Details Episode 9 Aired May 24, 2019 WTF In a gambit for control, Lisa tries to turn the tables on her tormentors; cracks appear in Anne's cynical facade; Ian plays a sick game of house. Details Episode 10 Aired May 24, 2019 What Remains The truth will come out; Lisa makes big moves against major players; Sean heads to court; Angela deals with a life-and-death decision. Details

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What/If — Part 1

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What/If — Part 1

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Season Info

Executive Producer
Mike Kelley, Melissa Loy, Alex Gartner, Charles Roven, Robert Zemeckis, Jack Rapke
Network
Netflix
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date
May 24, 2019
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