Marvel's What If..? has been many things but it's never boring. With the possibilities of anything happening in the different alternate realities, it opens doors to things we can never imagine or we could only guess in the wildest queries. In Episode 8, Black Widow wields the shield of Red Guardian and how did she get it is one story full of hope for the whole multiverse.
How Did Black Widow Get the Shield of Red Guardian in Marvel's What If..? Episode 8
Marvel's What If..? Episode 8, What If.. Ultron Won?, the tables have turned as Ultron won the battle against the Avengers and lorded over the world making it a waste barren and lifeless as his ultimate purpose is to bring peace through killing every living thing in the universe. It would definitely be peaceful without anyone at all.
Thankfully, two survivors hold the last hope for the whole universe as Natasha and Clint are still alive since they were on a quinjet when Ultron nuked the whole world. Guess being a little late comes with perks after all, right, because had they been on time, who would've survived and pursued stopping Ultron? In this episode, they fight their way through Russia into the KGB archives to look for something to counter Ultron.
Hawkeye and Black Widow face various robots with Nat on a motorbike playing bait while Clint shoots from a higher ground making it rain arrows. Various sentinels of Ultron try to eliminate them but they managed to escape. Clint here is now rugged and like Bucky, only having one arm but still an ace of a shooter, he even has a cloaking cape.
Related: Is Steve Rogers President in Marvel's What If..? Episode 8
While looking for what could destroy Ultron in the KGB archives, Nat found the shield of Red Guardian and took it for herself. The shield has a single star in the middle, colored silver and highlighted red, just like Nat's hair. She even asked Clint if it suits her but he was already tired of everything. Nat remained positive and continued to give hope despite losing everything and everyone.
As she dons the shield, she proves capable of wielding it as if it was Captain America holding it. Given that she is the only remaining survivor in that timeline, not counting Zola, as he is ones and zeroes, following the sacrifice of Clint, it is expected that she would lead the Guardians of the Multiverse in Episode 9 fighting Ultron in their efforts to save all realities in existence.
All episodes of Marvel's What If...? Season