Caution: Spoilers alee forWhat If...?

The Sorcerer Supreme he may be, but What If...? episode iv proves Doctor Strange is a terrible commuter - here are the Easter eggs from Disney+'s latest episode.What If...?'s latest installment takes 2016'due southDoctor Foreign solo motion picture every bit its foundation and twists the core premise. Instead of taking upward mystic arts considering he lost the employ of his hands, what if Foreign learned magic because he lost Christine Palmer? Predictably, the result is a darker Foreign who's desperate to revive his girlfriend through cabalistic methods, and he'll defy anyone in society to succeed - even himself.

A typically fourth dimension-twisting affair,What If...?'due south Medico Foreign episode poses another curious wrong plough MCU history might've taken, and features a slightly more hands-on function for Jeffrey Wright's Watcher. Strange is the onlyWhat If...? graphic symbol so far to really collaborate with the mysterious cosmic onlooker. Joining Wright are the familiar voices of Bridegroom Cumberbatch (Strange), Rachel McAdams (Palmer), Tilda Swinton (The Ancient One), and Benedict Wong (Wong).

Equally Foreign messes up the timeline,What If...? gives fans plenty of callbacks and Easter eggs from both the MCU and wider Medico Foreign comic lore. There are knowing dialogue winks, familiar tentacles, and recycled rituals that audiences might remember from previous Strange adventures. These are all of the Easter eggs fromWhat If...? episode four.

Strange'south Car Crash Copies His Solo Movie

What If...? episode 4 begins with Stephen Strange, master surgeon, traveling to a briefing in honor of his medical achievements. This scene is lifted from Strange'southward 2016 solo film, merely with a few primal differences. Firstly, Strange is beingness celebrated for a radical hemispherectomy, whereas Bridegroom Cumberbatch's MCU character was attending a general Neurological Society dinner. The bigger deviation, withal, is that Strange has somehow managed to avert pushing away Rachel McAdams' Christine. These alterations aside, the scene plays out more or less the aforementioned, with Strange'southward Lamborghini Huracán dangerously overtaking other vehicles on a mountain route, and landing upright through a fence after doing several rotations through the air. Foreign isn't distracted by X-ray images similar in the motion picture, because Christine has obviously taught him non to exist so consumed with work.

Reused Md Strange Scenes

What If...?has already animated cardinal moments fromCaptain America: The Commencement Avenger,Thor,Guardians of the Milky way,Iron Human two andThe Incredible Blob, and episode 4 offers the same courtesy toDoctor Strange. We become depressed Strange during his "hippy traveler" stage, learning basic mystic arts at Kamar-Taj, testing the Time Stone on an apple, the Aboriginal One's death in hospital and, of course, "Dormammu, I've come to bargain." Naturally, some scenes play out differently, such as Strange being proficient with the sling ring because his hands aren't damaged in this reality.

Cagliostro

Foreign mentions "Cagliostro" every bit the sorcerer who first discovered the Eye of Agamotto. In the master MCU timeline, the Book of Cagliostro is the tome Bridegroom Cumberbatch consults to acquire the basics of time travel, and is also where Kaecilius swipes a few pages from earlier summoning Dormammu. This won't be the only occasionWhat If...?episode 4 expands upon the mysterious Cagliostro.

Strange IS The Sorcerer Supreme

The MCU tin't seem to determine whether Doctor Foreign is or isn't the Sorcerer Supreme. On one mitt, he became the leader of Sanctum Sanctorum following the Ancient One's death; on the other, he doesn't seems to command the same authority every bit Tilda Swinton's character, and hasn't been officially referenced as the MCU'southward Wizard Supreme. While recapping the Dark Dimension fight against Dormammu, however, The Watcher confirms Stephen inherited the Ancient One'southward total title in the final act of Doctor Foreign.

"Something Reckless..."

As Strange sits ominously clutching the Eye of Agamotto, Wong suggests making a cup of tea before the Sorcerer Supreme does "something reckless." This line feels particularly poignant subsequently the contempoSpider-Man: No Fashion Home trailer, where Wong warns his colleague not to bandage Peter Parker'south retentivity spell, only for Strange to wantonly ignore him. Obviously not anintentional Easter egg, Strange and Wong'sWhat If...? dynamic is the best foreshadowing still forSpider-Man: No Way Home's multiverse incident.

Christine's Deaths Replaces Strange'south

In 2016'southDoc Strange, Cumberbatch dies over and over again in a multitude of unlike means during the course of defeating Dormammu. He gets eviscerated, impaled, squashed and strangled, and each fourth dimension undoes his death using the Time Stone. Strange does exactly the same inWhat If...?, but this fourth dimension it's Christine who discovers 100 different ways to die. There's a automobile crash, a heart attack, a shooting and an explosion, with the Eye of Agamotto once more used to run the same scenario back time and time again.

Christine Everhart

In one version of Christine Palmer'southward expiry, Stephen Foreign tries saving her life past not showing up at all, but later watches a news circulate of an explosion at her flat edifice. The ballast confirming Palmer's demise in this short bar scene is Christine Everhart - the announcer who briefly replaced Pepper Potts equally Tony Stark's love interest inAtomic number 26 Human 2. Played by Leslie Bibb, Everhart later became a Television receiver news anchor in the MCU'southward WHiH webseries. Bibb reprises her role inWhat If...?

Foreign'southward Time Travel Proves Blob Correct

If the MCU had doubts over whether Stephen Foreign was the Sorcerer Supreme, the franchise is even more uncertain over its own fourth dimension travel rules, as every Stage 4 release seems to rewrite the existing guidelines. In this latest explanation of time travel, Physician Foreign discovers the universe volition "course correct" should any significant deviations occur - likeLast Destination, merely with capes. This is broadly what Bruce Imprint was arguing duringAvengers: Endgame'south infamous fourth dimension travel conversation. Professor Blob believed traveling back in time couldn't alter the futurity, because the past thenbecomes your hereafter. Though he didn't mention the universe finding a way to right itself, the upshot he predicts is more or less what Strange experiences inWhat If...?

The Ancient One's Return Copies The Comics

When the Ancient One died inDoctor Strange, she siphoned power from the Dark Dimension to savor 1 last chat with her successor earlier disappearing into the ether for good. InWhat If...?, Ms. One returns from the grave via a spiritual projection cast through a splinter in reality... or something. This might explain how Tilda Swinton could one day return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, simply the idea actually comes directly from the comics. The original Ancient One (Yao) fell in battle to Shuma-Gorath (more on him later), but his spirit remained equally a catholic entity, and would later resurface to select Strange'southward Sorcerer Supreme replacement, thus giving Tilda Swinton'due south animated comeback a comic book foundation.

Marvel Does Doctor Who

In another angle of MCU fourth dimension travel rules, the Aboriginal One declares Christine Palmer's death an "absolute point" in fourth dimension. Ane might even call it a "stock-still point in time," which is a conceptDoc Who fans will exist very familiar with. Though other time travel stories take used the idea, fixed points are key events in history that no one tin change for fear of rewriting history. InDr. Who, this means the deaths of key individuals or civilizations coming an terminate can't be stopped - even by The Dr.. InWhat If...?, a different egotistical Doctor is held dorsum past the same pesky law of stock-still points.

Strange Does Loki's Fall

Locating the mysterious Library of Cagliostro, Strange struggles to proceeds entry until a mystic portal appears below him. The sorcerer falls to the flooring below, lands face downwards, then raises his caput looking distressing for himself. Foreign and then has a very similar experience 10 minutes subsequently when summoned past his alternate self. The falls are both akin to Loki's inThor: Ragnarok, when Strange sent the God of Mischief hurtling through different worlds for thirty minutes while he and Thor chatted. Upon returning to Sanctum Sanctorum, Loki was less than pleased. The Loki fall has since become somewhat of a trademark for the character, occurring numerous times throughout Tom Hiddleston's Disney+ solo series. It'southward apt that Strange gets a taste of his own medicine inWhat If...?

O'Bengh

Not your typical librarian, the keeper of Cagliostro'southward book drove is the mysterious O'Bengh, who greets Strange and apparently has no problem with monsters being summoned on library premises. Though What If...? gives picayune indication of this graphic symbol's origins, O'Bengh is actually Cagliostro himself in the Curiosity comics. An adversary to Doctor Foreign, Cagliostro/O'Bengh was indeed a powerful and ancient sorcerer, who non only studied the Darkhold (troublesome book glimpsed inWandaVision) only who too trained Doctor Doom. There's no indication ofWhat If...'south O'Bengh beingness similarly fiendish, but Strange does question whether the keeper is Cagliostro himself after first arriving.

Kaecilius Used Strange's Proper noun Joke Already

With a name similar "Doc Strange," the MCU couldn't help but make gags at the surgeon'due south expense. O'Bengh mistakes Strange'due south name as "Armani" due to his suit of pick, and when the md tries correcting him with "information technology's Foreign," O'Bengh replies, "not whatever stranger than any other proper noun." Strangely, Marvel wheeled this particular gag out already in the 2016Doctor Strange solo movie. During a confrontation with Kaecilius, the villain mistakes his opponent'southward proper name as "Mr. Doctor." Foreign tries correcting him the exact same way, saying "it'southward Strange," but Kaecilius misunderstands, replying, "perchance... who am I to judge?" The beauty ofWhat If...? is that information technology'southward incommunicable to say whether Marvel is referencing itself or has run out of jokes.

Cagliostro's Time Travel Symbol

When Strange is studying fourth dimension manipulation in the Library of Cagliostro, the pages of his chosen book contain large red symbols. One of these is exactly the same as a symbol glimpsed during Foreign'south Eye of Agamotto practise inDoctor Foreign. Since the Library of Cagliostro exists some time in the aboriginal past, we tin can perhaps infer that the book fabricated its way from there into the Ancient One's possession, where it remained until the 2010s.

HYDRA's Monster

Doctor Strange summons and absorbs all style of mystical monsters in his attempt to gain ability, including a dwarf, a dragon and Cerberus. The pièce de résistance, even so, is a giant monster of which viewers only see the tentacles. This multi-limbed beastie is almost certainly the same creature seen inWhat If...?'s premiere episode - the one Red Skull tried summoning and Peggy Carter beat back into its inter-dimensional pigsty. At the time, fans believed this could be Shuma-Gorath, and the same animal appearing in Doctor Strange'due south world supports that assumption.

Beasts Don't Deal

Afterward declining to strike a deal with Shuma-Gorath, a wounded Medico Strange is tended to by O'Bengh, who warns the magician, "mystic beings practise not bargain." This line is clearly a nod to Foreign'south previous boxing against Dormammu, in which Benedict Cumberbatch repeatedly tried to "deal" with the large purple face threatening to destroy reality. As nosotros know, Dormammu eventually conceded, proving O'Bengh'due south sentiments wrong.

Suma-Ket

Doctor Strange summons a litany of monsters in his tragic quest for power. Although most of these don't lucifer upwards exactly to Marvel comic monsters, the glowing green skull matter with horns and wings shares a vague resemblance to Suma-Ket - Lord of the Onetime Ones and an enemy of Namor.

The Necromancer

The more mystic creatures Md Foreign absorbs, the more than ability he exudes and the stranger his concrete advent becomes, taking on traits of each animate being within him before eventually turning into Jafar from Aladdin. At that place's no direct comic book comparison here (though Strange has certainly had darker moments), but hisWhat If...? transformation (officially called "Physician Strange Supreme") bears some similarity to the Necromancer - Dr. Foreign'south Counter-Earth alter ego. The Necromancer'south path diverged when he killed Baron Mordo and physically transformed into a bald blueish being with non a lick of facial hair in sight. Necromancer also controlled demons from another dimension, though he didn't absorb them likeWhat If...?'southward Evil Strange.

Strange's New Cape Origin

Equally Medico Foreign cycles through mystic monster after mystic monster, he encounters a problems that flies using an enchanted cloak - i ever so like to the sorcerer's own Cloak of Levitation (which he left behind before heading to the library). Strange compliments the bug's fashion sense and steals the cape for himself. Non merely does this provide Strange with an origin story for the gilt and purple cape seen in trailer footage, only the scene plays on Strange'southward fondness for flamboyant cloaks - regardless of whether he'south skilful or evil.

Dark Dimension

The Ancient One makes her 2nd What If...? appearance, this time offering communication to the "good" side of Doctor Strange, which she plain separated during their previous encounter. The vocalism of Tilda Swinton explains how this was possible past drawing ability from the Dark Dimension, and her cloak-and-dagger connexion to this evil realm was confirmed previously in 2016'sMedico Strange.

The Vishanti

Earlier Physician Strange does battle against his evil counterpart, Wong casts a "heavy duty protection spell" named after the Guardian Vishanti. In the Marvel comics, the Vishanti are a trio of ancient beings who form a central office of Strange's mystic armory. Comprised of Oshtur, Hoggoth and Agamotto (he of "eye" fame), Foreign calls upon the Vishanti'southward strength in his comic adventures, though this power hasn't been explicitly translated into the MCU.What If...?'s protection spell is the nigh overt reference to the Vishanti'southward beingness yet, and their comic backstory accounts for the magical armor belongings upwardly so well against a far more powerful Strange variant.

Strange's Infinity War Lasso

Md Strange'southwardWhat If...? episode includes several spells MCU fans will recognize immediately, including Foreign'southward own mystic shields and the Aboriginal Ane'southward fans. Maybe the about interesting of the reused spells, however, is the golden lasso which Stephen uses to ensnare his wicked alternating self, restraining the villain with a magical bail. The roles are then reversed, and this is the very aforementioned technique Strange used to pivot downwards Thanos inAvengers: Infinity State of war.

The Cloak Has Moves

Strange vs. Strange isn't the simply similar-for-like battle inWhat If...? episode 4 - each man's cloak faces off to decide once and for all which cape reigns supreme. Earlier that, however, Evil Foreign tosses his cloak into Doctor Strange'south face. The purple garment wraps around its target and drags Strange to the ground. In thePhysician Strange movie, the Cloak of Levitation does exactly the aforementioned against one of Kaecilius' goons during the Sanctum Sanctorum fight.

Strange's Airs

With the universe aging around him and Christine's resurrection not quite the tearful reunion he planned, Doc Foreign realizes just how badly he messed up inWhat If...? Pleading for The Watcher's aid, the fallen sorcerer yells, "the world shouldn't pay for my airs." This focus on airs is a recurring theme for Strange in the MCU, with Benedict Cumberbatch's character defendant of such on no less than 3 dissever occasions in his solo movie. Recent developments inSpider-Human being: No Way Home prove little has inverse.What If...? episode 4 shows that, with enough motivation, Strange'southward egotistical ambition could end the world.

More: What If...? How Many Episodes There Are (And When The Finale Is)

What If...? streams every Wed on Disney+.

  • Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)Release date: Sep 03, 2021
  • Eternals (2021)Release date: Nov 05, 2021
  • Medico Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)Release engagement: May 06, 2022
  • Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)Release appointment: Jul 08, 2022
  • Black Panther: Wakanda Forever/Black Panther 2 (2022)Release date: Nov 11, 2022
  • The Marvels/Captain Marvel two (2023)Release date: February 17, 2023
  • Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)Release date: Jul 28, 2023
  • Guardians of the Milky way Vol. 3 (2023)Release engagement: May 05, 2023

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