What/If

What/If is a neo-noir thriller that, according to Deadline Hollywood's Nellie Andreeva, explores "the ripple effects of what happens when acceptable people start doing unacceptable things. Each season will tackle a different morality tale inspired by culturally consequential source material, and the power of a single fateful decision to change the trajectory of an entire life."{{cite web|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|title=Renée Zellweger To Star In 'What/If' Netflix Series From Mike Kelley|url=https://deadline.com/2018/08/renee-zellweger-star-what-if-netflix-series-mike-kelley-robert-zemeckis-1202447346/|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=August 17, 2018|date=August 17, 2018}}

• Jane Levy as Lisa Ruiz-Donovan, the CEO and founder of a biotech startup called Emigen Molecular Sequencing
• Blake Jenner as Sean Donovan, Lisa's husband. A former pitcher for the San Francisco Giants, he now works as an EMT.
• Keith Powers as Todd Archer, Sean's best friend since high school. He works with Sean as a fellow EMT.
• Samantha Marie Ware as Angela Archer, Todd's wife. A surgical resident, she has been having an affair with Ian Evans.
• Juan Castano as Marcos Ruiz, Lisa's brother and an attorney
• Dave Annable as Dr. Ian Evans, the chief of surgery, who has been having an affair with Angela Archer
• Saamer Usmani as Avery Watkins, the new COO of Emigen Molecular Sequencing
• Daniella Pineda as Cassidy Barrett, Lisa's best friend and the CFO of Emigen Molecular Sequencing
• John Clarence Stewart as Lionel, Marcos' boyfriend and a real estate broker
• Louis Herthum as Foster, Anne's right-hand man
• Renée Zellweger as Anne Montgomery, a venture capitalist based in San Francisco{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/tv-reviews/2019/05/21/what-if-netflix-review/|title=What/If is terrible and I can't wait to see more: EW review|last=Baldwin|first=Kristen|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=May 21, 2019|access-date=May 23, 2019}}

• Derek Smith as Kevin, a go-go boy with whom Marcos and Lionel have slept with
• Nana Ghana as Sophie
• Monique Kim as Miles
• Allie MacDonald as Maddie Carter, Sean's ex-girlfriend
• Gabriel Mann as Gage Scott,{{cite web|url=https://www.eonline.com/au/news/1034848/what-if-renee-zellweger-s-first-tv-show-looks-straight-up-sexy-and-a-little-frightening|title=What/If, Renée Zellweger's First TV Show, Looks Straight Up Sexy and a Little Frightening|last=Harnick|first=Chris|work=Enews|date=April 23, 2019|access-date=May 8, 2019}} Anne's business frenemy
• Julian Sands as Liam Strom, Anne's financial backer and mentor

• Marissa Cuevas as Christine, a former high-school cheer captain
• Keegan Allen as Billy, Christine's ex-boyfriend from high school and a commercial director

On August 17, 2018, it was announced that Netflix had given the production a series order for a first season consisting of ten episodes. The series was created by Mike Kelley who was also expected to write for the series. Executive producers were slated to include Kelley, Melissa Loy, Alex Gartner, Charles Roven, Robert Zemeckis, and Jack Rapke. Additionally, Jackie Levine was slated to serve as a co-executive producer and Phillip Noyce was expected to direct and executive produce the first two episodes. Production companies involved with the series were expected to consist of Page Fright, Atlas Entertainment, Compari Entertainment, and Warner Bros. Television.{{cite web|last=Littleton|first=Cynthia|title=Renee Zellweger to Star in Netflix Drama Series 'What/If'|url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/renee-zellweger-netflix-what-if-anthology-series-1202908839/|website=Variety|access-date=August 17, 2018|date=August 17, 2018}}{{cite web|last=Goldberg|first=Lesley|title=Renee Zellweger Heads to TV With Lead in Netflix Morality Anthology 'What/If'|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/renee-zellweger-star-netflix-anthology-what-1135609|website=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=August 17, 2018|date=August 17, 2018}} On April 23, 2019, it was announced that the series would premiere on May 24, 2019.

Alongside the series order announcement, it was confirmed that Renée Zellweger had been cast in the series' lead role. In August 2018, it was announced that Jane Levy and Blake Jenner had joined the cast in starring roles.{{cite web|last=Petski|first=Denise|title=Jane Levy To Co-Star In 'What/If' Netflix Series From Mike Kelley|url=https://deadline.com/2018/08/jane-levy-co-star-what-if-netflix-series-mike-kelley-robert-zemeckis-1202450432/|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=August 22, 2018|date=August 22, 2018}}{{cite web|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|title='What/If': Blake Jenner To Star In Netflix Social Thriller Series|url=https://deadline.com/2018/08/what-if-blake-jenner-star-netflix-social-thriller-series-renee-zellweger-1202455171/|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=August 31, 2018|date=August 31, 2018}} In September 2018, it was reported that Samantha Ware, Juan Castano, Keith Powers, Saamer Usmani, Dave Annable, and Louis Herthum had been cast in the series with Herthum in a recurring role.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/09/what-if-samantha-ware-juan-castano-keith-power-saamer-usmani-cast-netflix-social-thriller-series-1202456958/|title='What/If': Samantha Ware, Juan Castano, Keith Powers & Saamer Usmani Join Netflix Social Thriller Series|last=Petski|first=Denise|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=September 4, 2018|date=September 4, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/09/what-if-dave-annable-louis-herthum-cast-netflix-social-thriller-series-1202467432/|title='What/If': Dave Annable & Louis Herthum Cast In Netflix Social Thriller Series|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=September 21, 2018|date=September 18, 2018}}

In December 2018, it was announced that Daniella Pineda had joined the main cast in a series regular role and that Tyler Ross, Derek Smith, Nana Ghana, Monique Kim, and Marissa Cuevas would appear in a recurring capacity.{{cite web|last=Goldberg|first=Lesley|title=Daniella Pineda Joins Netflix's 'What/If' (Exclusive)|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/daniella-pineda-joins-netflixs-what-1171082|website=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=December 20, 2018|date=December 20, 2018}}{{cite web|last1=Petski|first1=Denise|title='What/If': Tyler Ross, Derek Smith, Nana Ghana, Monique Kim and Marissa Cuevas To Recur In Netflix Social Thriller Series|url=https://deadline.com/2018/12/what-if-tyler-ross-derek-smith-nana-ghana-monique-kim-and-marissa-cuevas-to-recur-in-netflix-social-thriller-series-1202524894/|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=December 22, 2018|date=December 21, 2018}}

{{Episode table | background=#16253E |overall= |title= |director= |writer= |airdate= |prodcode= |episodes=

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 1

| Title = Pilot

| DirectedBy = Phillip Noyce

| WrittenBy = Mike Kelley

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|5|24}}

| ProdCode = T13.21401

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 16253E

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 2

| Title = What Now

| DirectedBy = Phillip Noyce

| WrittenBy = Mike Kelley

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|5|24}}

| ProdCode = T13.21402

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 16253E

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 3

| Title = What Happened

| DirectedBy = Russell Fine

| WrittenBy = David Graziano

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|5|24}}

| ProdCode = T13.21403

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 16253E

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 4

| Title = What Drama

| DirectedBy = Jessika Borsiczky

| WrittenBy = Robin Wasserman

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|5|24}}

| ProdCode = T13.21404

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 16253E

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 5

| Title = What Next

| DirectedBy = Fernando Coimbra & Jill Maxcy

| WrittenBy = Blair Singer

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|5|24}}

| ProdCode = T13.21405

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 16253E

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 6

| Title = What History

| DirectedBy = Joanna Kerns

| WrittenBy = Brenna Kouf

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|5|24}}

| ProdCode = T13.21406

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 16253E

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 7

| Title = What Ghosts

| DirectedBy = David Rodriguez

| WrittenBy = Elizabeth Benjamin

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|5|24}}

| ProdCode = T13.21407

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 16253E

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 8

| Title = What Secrets

| DirectedBy = Maggie Kiley

| WrittenBy = Blair Singer & Mike Kelley

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|5|24}}

| ProdCode = T13.21408

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 16253E

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 9

| Title = WTF

| DirectedBy = J. Miller Tobin

| WrittenBy = David Graziano & Robin Wasserman

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|5|24}}

| ProdCode = T13.21409

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 16253E

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 10

| Title = What Remains

| DirectedBy = Randy Zisk

| WrittenBy = Mike Kelley

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2019|5|24}}

| ProdCode = T13.21410

| ShortSummary =

| LineColor = 16253E

}}

}}

On April 23, 2019, the official teaser for the series was released.{{cite web|url=https://www.vogue.com/article/renee-zellweger-what-if-netflix-series-trailer|title=Renée Zellweger Is Back—We're Just Not Sure in What, Exactly|last=Allaire|first=Christian|website=Vogue|date=April 23, 2019|access-date=April 23, 2019}} On May 13, 2019, Netflix released the official trailer for the first season.{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2019/05/netflix-what-if-trailer-renee-zellweger.html|title=What/If Trailer: Scary Tech Investor Renée Zellweger Has an Indecent Proposal for You|last=McHenry|first=Jackson|work=Vulture|date=May 13, 2019|access-date=May 13, 2019}}

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 42% based on 33 reviews, with an average rating of 5.35/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "A deliriously delicious performance from Renée Zellweger can't save What/If from its own mediocrity, but boy is she fun to watch."{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/what_if/s01|title=What/If: Part 1 (2019)|website=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=January 12, 2021}} On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 58 out of 100, based on 12 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/whatif|title=What/If|website=Metacritic|access-date=January 12, 2021}}

Haider Rifaat of The Express Tribune wrote, "The writing is pretty much the heart of the show. Immaculate dialogues, nuanced characters and relationships, both broken and unscathed, are a few exciting features that make it compelling. Not to forgo the incredible acting prowess of Zellweger, who impeccably embraces the character of Anne. Subtle gestures, symbolic interaction and character development are some commendable aspects that intensify the actors’ performances."{{cite web |url=https://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/83732/whatif-defying-the-norms-of-conventional-television/ |title=What/If: Defying the norms of conventional television – The Express Tribune Blog |website=blogs.tribune.com.pk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607112641/https://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/83732/whatif-defying-the-norms-of-conventional-television/ |archive-date=2019-06-07}} NPR's Linda Holmes concluded: "... it's not a good show, but it's entertaining in a very specific way. Zellweger has sunk her teeth so deeply into this notion of Welcome To Rich Prowling Cougartown that she's practically licking up bowls of milk. Everything in What/If is forever being revealed and unfurled and figuratively glitter-bombed, and if I were trying to distract myself from the problems of the world and had perhaps a tankard of wine and a dear friend at my disposal, I just might put my head on a fuzzy pillow and fire it up."{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/05/25/726159925/what-if-you-were-in-just-the-right-mood-for-some-good-bad-television?ft=nprml&f=|title = 'What/If' You Were in Just the Right Mood for Some Good Bad Television?|newspaper = NPR|date = 25 May 2019|last1 = Holmes|first1 = Linda}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Netflix title}}
• {{IMDb title|8860450}}

{{Netflix original ended series (2019–present)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:What/If}}

Category:2010s American drama television miniseries

Category:2019 American television series debuts

Category:2019 American television series endings

Category:American thriller television series

Category:American English-language television shows

Category:Netflix television dramas

Category:Serial drama television series

Category:Television series by Warner Bros. Television Studios

Category:Television shows filmed in California

Category:Television shows set in San Francisco