As its title would suggest, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is a Doctor Strange movie. But, as with most of the sprawling, action-packed epics in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s also a bunch of other things. It’s an America Chavez origin movie, a follow-up to WandaVision, and a deep dive into the newly fractured multiverse.

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Strange is the undeniable star of the movie (along with his alternate selves), but supporting players like America, Wanda, Wong, and Pizza Poppa borrow the spotlight along the way.

When America Chavez Showed Up On Earth-616, Pursued By An Octopus Demon

Gargantos in Doctor Strange 2 Bus Scene

Multiverse of Madness hits the ground running in its opening scene, with America Chavez and a variant of Strange being chased through the space between worlds by a demon. Then, the movie briefly slows down as the familiar Earth-616 Strange goes to Christine Palmer’s wedding.

His heart-to-heart with the bride at the reception is interrupted by an invisible octopus monster chasing America through a portal into his branch of the multiverse.

When Wanda Revealed Herself To Be The Villain

Wanda confronts Doctor Strange in Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness.

In its opening act, the Doctor Strange sequel sets up a typical Avengers team-up with Strange arriving at Wanda Maximoff’s apple orchard to enlist her help tracking down the witch chasing America. As it turns out, she is the witch chasing America.

When she’s rumbled, Wanda tells Strange, “You know, the hex was the easy part; the lying, not so much.” She reveals what the orchard really looks like: a barren hellscape controlled by the Darkhold.

When The Earth-838 Illuminati Showed Up

Strange handcuffed at a secret society in the Doctor Strange 2 trailer

The multiversal madness of Multiverse of Madness gets kicked up a gear when Mordo takes Strange to stand trial before the other members of the Earth-838 Illuminati. This scene gives fans all the cameo appearances they could’ve asked for.

The return of Patrick Stewart’s Professor X and Hayley Atwell’s live-action debut as Captain Carter had already been spoiled by the trailers, but the rest were well-kept secrets: John Krasinski as Reed Richards, Lashana Lynch as a version of Maria Rambeau who became Captain Marvel, and Anson Mount reprising his role as Black Bolt.

When Wanda Possessed Her Earth-838 Self

Wanda Maximoff speaks with her sons in Multiverse of Madness.

Sam Raimi had some splatstick fun with an octopus’ eye in the first major action sequence in Multiverse of Madness, but the first full-blown horror set-piece is when Wanda first dabbles in the art of dream-walking and possesses her Earth-838 self.

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The safe, familiar, suburban sitcom setting is unnervingly juxtaposed with creepy, skewwhiff camera angles and supernatural voyeuristic P.O.V. shots.

When Black Bolt Killed An Evil Strange Variant In A Flashback

Black Bolt sits in the Illuminati HQ in Multiverse of Madness

Since Black Bolt was introduced in a TV show that only lasted for one season, Multiverse of Madness mercifully re-explains his powers to catch up viewers who are unfamiliar with him. His superhuman whisper is introduced in a flashback in which a Strange variant who’s been corrupted by the Darkhold allows himself to be killed.

When he tells the other members of the Illuminati, “I’m ready,” Black Bolt steps forward and eviscerates Strange with two haunting, heartbreaking words: “I’m sorry.”

When Pizza Poppa Confronted Strange Over Stolen Pizza-Balls

Bruce Campbell Cameo in Spider-Man 2

With Multiverse of Madness being a Raimi movie, Bruce Campbell was naturally expected to make a cameo appearance. And his turn as “Pizza Poppa,” the multiversal pizza-ball vendor, didn’t disappoint.

After America steals some of Pizza Poppa’s pizza-balls, he confronts Strange: “Pizza Poppa always gets paid!” Strange ends up cursing the guy to punch himself over and over again for about three weeks.

When The Scarlet Witch Massacred The Illuminati

Wanda attacks in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Raimi subverted expectations in a darkly hilarious way with the Illuminati cameos in Multiverse of Madness. Much like the star-studded X-Force ensemble in Deadpool 2, the Doctor Strange sequel’s Illuminati is killed in quick succession. Right after being introduced, these five awesome multiversal heroes are wiped out by the Scarlet Witch.

Not only does Wanda kill them; she kills them as brutally as possible. She seals Black Bolt’s mouth shut to turn his own power against him, she turns Mr. Fantastic into linguini before exploding his head, she cuts Captain Carter in half with her own shield, she crushes Captain Marvel under a statue, and she breaks Professor X’s neck from within her own invaded mindscape.

When Christine Palmer Fought Off The Souls Of The Damned

Earth-838 Christine Palmer in Doctor Strange 2.

After being relegated to a one-note love interest role in the first Doctor Strange movie, Rachel McAdams got to play Christine Palmer as everything from a universe-naming Illuminati scientist to a demon killer in the sequel.

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Raimi employed his classic demonic P.O.V. shots when the souls of the damned showed up in Multiverse of Madness. Christine arms herself with a magical lamp and tells the damned souls to “go back to Hell!”

When America Defeated The Scarlet Witch (With Love, Not Hate)

America throws an interdimensional punch in Doctor Strange 2

There’s a heartstring-tugging moment in the gonzo final battle of Multiverse of Madness in which Strange goes over to talk to America. She thinks he’s going to drain her powers and kill her to save the universe from the Scarlet Witch’s wrath, but he actually just wants to give her a pep talk. He believes she’s been able to control her powers all along and encourages her to “kick that witch’s ass!”

America harnesses her interdimensional superpower and uses it to send Wanda to Earth-838 so she can see the monster she’s become through her sons’ terrified eyes. America doesn’t just defeat the Scarlet Witch; she defeats her with compassion.

When Wong Explained The Key To Happiness

Doctor Strange and Wong looking up

At the end of Multiverse of Madness, before Strange grows a third eye, he asks Wong, “Are you happy?” Wong calls it an “interesting question” in light of their multiversal misadventures. Strange admits that he’s still unhappy, even after saving the world, and wonders how to get to the other side.

He asks Wong if he wonders about his other multiversal selves and whether or not they have better lives, but Wong simply tells Strange that he remains grateful for the life he has.

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