WHAT IS THE CRUCIAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WANDA AND STEPHEN?

WHAT MAKES A HERO VS. VILLAIN?

Marvel takes a drastic turn with the Doctor Strange sequel. The franchise riddled with humor, sadness, and blood-pumping action surprises its die-hard fans with graphic horror that will leave you on the edge of your seat. Two Avengers with little prior connection come head-to-head in a battle that not only tests the strength of their power, but also their resolve. The power of the Darkhold dangles in front of several multiverse versions of Doctor Strange, but will the MCU's Strange succumb to the temptation as they do?

Strange begins his new journey post-Endgame by facing the consequences of his sacrifice. He is surrounded by people who judge him for giving up the Time Stone and causing the Blip. He is isolated and friendless in his Thanos-free universe. The constant judgement leaves him in a state of self-doubt, loneliness, and depression. It's never easy to take the role of making the tough decisions. Doctor Strange made the toughest one of all, and no one understands it. Despite what Wanda believes, he becomes a public enemy. Just like her.

They have much in common. Both have "the power of gods". Their gifts give them the ability to alter time and reality. They understand the universe with a clarity of which most people can only dream. It's not enough. What good is such power without connection. Without love. They crave it. However, only the villain allows that desire to consume her. The hero knows he must carry on in spite of his suffering.

What makes a hero or an enemy? This film does a fantastic job blurring the line between Doctor Strange as a hero and Scarlett Witch as a villain. On the surface, the two Avengers appear the same, but that is simply not the case. In a nutshell, Doctor Strange values life. Let's remember is first a doctor, the profession of saving lives. In his debut, Doctor Strange, we see him rushing to save a patient with a bullet in his brain. The rest of his character development is learning selflessness. He becomes a humbled hero, willing to sacrifice himself then just as he sacrifices himself in Avengers: Infinity War. Everything he does is for the good of others.

Wanda, on the other hand, does everything to serve herself. Her debut has her on a campaign for revenge, and she only switches sides when she loses her brother. Her fight with Thanos in Avengers: Endgame is also bridled on revenge after he murders Vision in front of her. She then goes on to enslave Westview as an escape from the reality of her loss. Sheer denial that hurts the inhabitants of an entire town. Eventually, that ruse must end. So, what does she do when leaves Westview? She hides herself away into another fantasy in a desperate attempt to regain the loss of two children she never really had. She would rather steal them from another version of herself than embrace her gifts and become the best version of herself: a hero. Instead, he continues down a path of self-service willing to torture and kill anyone who gets in her way. 

The witch and the doctor are very different, indeed. Strange wholly embraces his gains and losses. Though his losses cause him great pain to accept: his hands, profession, his love. He does it. It's what sets him apart from his enemies, but also from himself. America Chaves takes him on a journey through the multiverse where he meets other versions of himself. In both cases, his other selves succumb to the temptation of Darkhold and become self-serving. Therefore, he is able to see what sets him apart. That the choices he makes are indeed heroic. Even when half the universe is blipped. The difference is that he knew the dead would come back. His sacrifice is not permanent because of his faith in Iron Man.

The murders committed in Wanda's campaign, however, are permanent. Not to mention needless, selfish, and not for the betterment of man. She is unwilling (maybe unable thanks to the Darkhold) to let go of her loss. This leads to her downfall. Sometimes, the best way to prove a point is to give the stubborn opponent what she wants. Brought her knees by two children and the mirror they hold up to her face. For the first time, she is able to see herself as the villain she becomes.

Her original plan is to find her boys in another universe, kill their mother, and lie to them about who and what she is. She tells herself if they never discover the truth that she can relive her idyllic fantasy with an obedient family. However, parenthood is not that simple. Children know their mothers. They would be able to tell which Wanda is which, and they do immediately.

Deep down, she knows this is not true. She's already hurt so many people: Westview, Kamar Taj, the Illuminati, Doctor Strange, her alternate self, and so many others. The lie she plans to perpetuate with "her boys" is undone before the plan is complete. The boys' favor is lost is a heartbeat. Terror replaces the love she craves, and the truth of her failed plan pulls her back to reality. 

In the process, Stephen learns to accept love from others. Afraid of connection, the woman he loves reminds him to face his fears and seek love. Even if he is rejected, at least he can try. If not, he knows the consequences that awaits should he continue down his path alone. The darkness will consume him, as it does with the Scarlett Witch and two other version of himself. Such a lesson puts his first one to shame.

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