This week’s episode features our favorite Bleecker Street magician, Dr. Stephen Strange, seeing his origin retold and reshaped in this alternate universe. The Watcher’s eyes are set on him, as we ponder the question, What if… Doctor Strange lost his heart instead of his hands? More importantly, is this slight deviation in origin enough to carry its own episode? The answer is yes in a very twisted way.
The Nexus Point of this universe takes place long before the newest What If…? episode with the change being Strange and Christine never parted ways. This means that when Doctor Strange was going to the award ceremony Christine was with him and in the car crash Strange lost the love of his life instead of the use of his hands.
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The episode is bold and it may not be for some, but it is for all the right reasons. The focus remains on Stephen and serves as a great dissertation of what makes his character work. Although very selfish, he sacrifices his personal interests for the greater good always. There are two perspectives in this episode regarding that, but even by the end with Strange Supreme you feel as if the essence is still there. Not only that, but the episode goes crazy with the visuals. Some will enjoy it and some will find it daunting, but for me it worked perfectly given the nature of the characters and story that is being presented.
The core four from 2016’s Doctor Strange all lend their voices to the episode and it was great to hear. It was especially great to hear Tilda Swinton as the Ancient One again, seeing as to how I didn’t expect her nor Rachel McAdams to lend their voices. They all did a great job, with Benedict Cumberbatch being the standout due to the variety he had to work with. It was a nice touch and definitely added a touch of familiarity to characters that exist in an alternate universe.
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I really can’t express how satisfied I was with this episode. It did a phenomenal job using its animated platform to show how amazing the mystical side of the MCU really is while giving fans some more insight into a relatively unknown character. This episode serves as a perfect example of the ability What If…? has in terms of making characters more compelling although they’re not the same version we’ve grown accustomed to seeing.
Strange’s conversation with the Ancient One following these countless heart breaks is another glimpse into the laws of Marvel time travel establishing the opposite of Nexus Points, with Absolute Points. Moments that must happen and cannot be changed. In this case the paradox presented is that if Strange saves Christine he never finds the mystic arts, never defeats Dormamu, and never becomes the Sorcerer Supreme, therefore never gaining the power to save Christine. Strange’s desperation is palpable as he refuses to give up instead deciding to find a way to defeat the laws of the universe.
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When this fails Strange begins summoning and absorbing an endless number of mystical creatures from the multiverse. The animation in this portion is phenomenal as Strange briefly takes on the appearance of those he absorbs. The montage speeds up the longer Strange steals the powers of the beings over the course of centuries.
It is revealed that the Ancient One actually split the timeline when she and Strange confronted each other at the accident site. One absorbed power for centuries while the other lived out the events of the first film once again and chose not to travel back and attempt to save Christine. As the second Strange finds out the truth, he begins figuring out how to defend himself knowing he will have to take on his corrupted counterpart.
