SPOILER DISCUSSION

1.The film does a great job establishing the corrupting effects of the Darkhold via the decision-making of the Strange variants. One variant gets corrupted, causes an incursion, and then presents himself for execution at the hands of the Illuminati. Another variant gets corrupted, causes an incursion, and then sits around sullen and miserable.

Both variants represent Strange taking his desires to their respective extremes. The former is obsessed with being the ultimate protector, ensuring his universe’s safety from Thanos. The latter is obsessed with Christine and finding a way to be with her once again. Their obsessions reveal the toll the book takes; it makes ones desires an obsessive point of return.

Wanda’s quick deterioration from where she was at the end of Wandavision to where she is by the film’s start takes on a proper context. Her obsession with her children would only become exacerbated upon realizing they exist in another dimension.

2. Wong’s arc is meant to serve as a kind of parallel to Strange’s own journey. While the latter learns the value of allowing others to help and make decisions of their own volition, the former is brought to the pits of despair and wishes to make the ultimate decision; in other words, Wong’s arc is very similar to the one Strange had just gone on.

However, the set-up for Wong as counter-point is lacking. He starts off completely committed to his duty to stop Wanda but then relents to not sacrifice his students. This is a decision that seems to be based on sentiment and belief in cooperation. But the students never make another appearance, so his decision never bears fruit that would coincide with Strange’s decision to trust in America.

This makes Wong’s decision to then sacrifice America feel rushed. He was fine foregoing the sacrifice of his students but then changes his mind after having been knocked out. Having Wanda torture Wong or break his moral fiber to make his character despair would make the switch at the end resonant, but as it is, the moment feels underdeveloped.

3. The cross cut scene of Wanda’s dreamwalking being stopped and her flickering between holding her sons and holding nothing might be the most emotionally evocative sequence in the M.C.U. It demonstrates the stakes of Wanda’s choices and the desperation she feels at getting what she wants. Wish this there was more cross-cutting between the multiverses to show these developments.

4. The musical magic battle with the evil variant of Strange is a great callback to Strange’s pride in his music tastes and knowledge from the first movie. It’s fitting that in the battle between the selves and what represents Stragen’s core, that they have a magical battle revolving around their artistic medium of choice.

5.The watch becomes a nice symbol of Strange’s development. He starts off reflected in it with a broken self-image. He doesn’t know what do with himself and feels fractured. We learn from his memory vision that the watch is a present from Christine and represents his bond with her.

This attachment to the watch and its relation to and symbolization of Strange’s love becomes all the more apparent when the watch is revealed to have been turned into a key by the other variant to get to the Book of Vishanti.

It’s only after he finally comes to term with his feelings and changes to become a more trusting person by the end of the film, that he is then able to repair the watch with a fixed frame, affirming himself and giving himself the possibility of moving forward.

6. The way the Scarlet Witch is stylized as a different iconic horror monsters makes the film a joy to watch as a horror fan. When Wanda is chasing the group down through the tunnels, the scene evokes the trappings of the slasher sub-genre. She eerily walks behind the group but is somehow able to keep pace with them in spite of any obstacles.

When she breaks free from the mirror dimension, the way she cracks and crawls out of the same evokes the feelings of watching Sadako crawling from Ring. She’s a supernatural menace breaking free from a glass frame.

When she gives chase to the group in the Illuminati’s headquarters, she steps on glass and hobbles around with the Ultron bot oil dripping off her like blood. Her walk is reminiscent of Carrie’s post-prom walk and the image immediately makes it clear that she’s in charge of the situation; she cannot be constrained and is now out for blood to get what she needs.