Warning: This article contains spoilers for What If...? episode 4.

Marvel is already improving Doctor Strange's critical failure in Spider-Man: No Way Home, and it's all because of Marvel's What If...?. In the first trailer for No Way Home, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) turns to Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) after his identity as Spider-Man is revealed to the world. To help Parker out, Strange performs a dangerous spell, attempting to make everyone forget about Spider-Man's secret identity. But Parker doesn't want his family and friends to forget he's Spider-Man, so he interferes. Unfortunately, the memory wipe spell then goes horribly wrong, unleashing various Spider-Man villains onto the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

What If...? episode 4 reveals what would happen if Doctor Strange went bad. According to the episode, there's a timeline where Strange doesn't lose his hands in his tragic car crash. Instead, he loses Dr. Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams). He eventually learns the mystic arts and attempts to reverse Palmer's death. However, the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton) informs him that Palmer's death is an absolute point in their universe, and changing it could destroy reality. To stop Strange, the Ancient One splits him into two, allowing an evil version and a good version of the character to inhabit the same timeline. The evil Strange eventually defeats the good, and his victory destroys their universe.

Related: The MCU Explains Why Tony Stark Can Never Be Revived

Doctor Strange's No Way Home mistake gets improved in What If...?. The release of the No Way Home trailer immediately had fans speculating that there was something off with Doctor Strange, and Marvel could've replaced him with an impostor. After all, why would the Sorcerer Supreme perform such dangerous magic if the whole universe was on the line? However, What If...? episode 4 seemingly changes the perception. In the episode, Strange repeatedly travels through time to reverse Palmer's death. Sadly, not only does he fail, but the entire universe collapses because of his misadventures. The repeated failures show just how dangerous messing with time can be and that Strange thinks the rules don't apply to him.

Spiderman No Way Home box peter steals from Doctor Strange

Because of What If...?, Doctor Strange's No Way Home error is more believable. The series shows how one small change can alter everything, which is evident in Doctor Strange's episode when the loss of Palmer leads to the destruction of the entire universe. Furthermore, the episode shows how Strange and his arrogance are just a few bad decisions away from being a world-ending threat. In the episode, Strange doesn't see the consequences of his decision until it's too late. The same seems true for Strange's odd behavior in No Way Home.

The episode also shows that Strange is likely the one causing the problems in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Strange doesn't need a doppelganger to cause mayhem for him. He can do it all by himself. Though the introduction of an evil Doctor Strange feeds into theories that Marvel replaced him, it's clear the Sorcerer Supreme doesn't let potentially tragic consequences deter him from what he wants. In fact, the biggest threat to the MCU moving forward may not be an actual villain. Instead, it's Strange's ego.

More: No Way Home Easter Egg Spoils Tobey Maguire’s Return - Theory Explained

Marvel's What If...? releases new episodes Wednesdays on Disney+.

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