Doctor Strange has been one of the best examples of the Marvel Cinematic Universe adapting a leading character from the comic books. However, while fans have gotten incredibly used to Benedict Cumberbatch's portrayal of the sorcerer, audiences have made a couple of wrong assumptions about the figure.
Whether it's a detail that's actually informed by the comics, or perhaps flies in the face of what's on the page, the MCU iteration of Doctor Strange boasts quite a few subtleties that can be completely misunderstood. Noticing and perhaps acknowledging these intricate details further might help to inform the character even more.
Consistent Greed
It's a common assumption that Stephen Strange is greedy. After all, he is always looking for more power and wealth. He's obsessed with being at the top and even in the superhero community he attempts to take on a leadership role, amassing respect.
Stephen isn't greedy though. He just expects the best from himself. He knows his potential, and won't stop until he achieves that. Before his accident, that concept got away from the surgeon. However, he was reminded of what he had lost; the traits never went away, as he still held himself to a higher standard than anyone else. The current Strange still isn't greedy. He's just determined to never stop.
Fearless
Looking at Strange and the things he says in the face of danger, it would be easy to assume that he is fearless. He jumps head first into the unknown and adapts to everything thrown at him, whether it's Clea emerging to warn of a Multiversal rift, or the Ancient One revealing magic for the first time.
Strange was a surgeon and was taught to keep his emotions calm and composed so that he can make life-or-death decisions. That's a subtle skill that he's carried over to his superhero career. He is far from fearless and usually faces what scares him head-on. But it's that elite training that made him such a skilled medical practitioner and has transferred over to his new role.
A Love For Teaching
Fans look at Strange and assume that he has accidentally entered into several mentor relationships that he didn't want any part of. For instance, he almost seems reluctant to deal with Spider-Man and Miss America, and is very hands-off with the students at Kamar-Taj, allowing others to do the work for him.
But there's a subtle difference in the truth. Strange has a love for teaching and takes great pride in the progress of Peter Parker and America Chavez. He's slow to trust, but more importantly, he's never positioned himself as a confident teacher. Strange has had to learn that he has something valuable to pass on; despite his ego, it's as if he doesn't feel worthy of becoming a mentor because of his mistakes.
A Man Of Few Memories
Looking at Stephen's life, his home, his previous apartment, and even his costume, it's almost as if he has very few memories of his past. It's as if he isn't at all nostalgic about his upbringing and only looks at the successes of his career, rather than anything personal.
The truth of the matter is that Stephen doesn't want to remember. He's felt useful and accomplished in those areas he has control over. Outside of that, his childhood is heavily linked to the memory of his Sister's death, and his personal life is full of heartbreak. The only item he ever kept was his watch from Christine Palmer (a singularly happy memory), which he eventually repairs and moves on from.
Introverted
Audiences would guess that Stephen Strange was an extrovert. He's loud, obnoxious, full of jokes, and is ready to lead from the front at all times, taking glee in controlling the situation. That's wrong; Strange is a complete introvert, relying on his humor to get through a situation.
His career and the way he chooses to work, usually solo, are significant demonstrations of his introverted personality. He'd rather get on with learning new spells at night by himself and lives largely alone in a giant mansion. Being a surgeon isn't a people-focused job either, but relies on concentration and quiet. He takes on leadership roles to feel a little more secure in a situation; not because he is a charismatic boss.
A Personal Code
Some of Stephen Strange's choices have been incredibly controversial. He briefly thought about sacrificing America Chavez, wiped the memory of Peter Parker from everyone in the world, and of course partially led to the destruction of half the universe for the greater good.
The assumption and understanding from fans is that he will always make the tough choices to benefit the masses, however, he works on a slightly more nuanced code than that. Indeed, that's why he went a different path with Chavez and only gave the Infinity Stone to Thanos to guarantee a future victory where everything would be reversed. His calculations are logical but still emotionally influenced by this code and not objective and cruel.
Desire For Family
Strange has built a reputation for being alone. He usually works alone and has that introverted personality type that was previously touched upon. But what is overlooked is that Strange actually has the desire to build a family, but constantly lets the importance of his work overtake him.
His flawed romance with Christine Palmer, which was explored in great detail, is one such way in which that has been demonstrated to audiences. But, his relationship with the likes of Peter Parker and America Chavez is almost fatherly, while his bond with Wong is brotherly. Strange is always looking to build that family, but based on his code, believes he cannot balance the two worlds. Clea might change that.
Science First
Just because Doctor Strange was once the Sorcerer Supreme, that doesn't mean that he has stepped away from the world of science. It's the common assumption that he has a complete belief in the explanations of the supernatural. But just like everything else in his life, Strange treats it like a science.
He researches magic and demons the same way he would study for a medical exam. He is always looking for an answer that makes logical sense and so although he has seen the unbelievable, he still has a respect for the sciences and sees his role as a sorcerer through that lens.
Hands Never Healed
Most audiences have come to the assumption that Strange's hands healed after learning magic, but that Stephen never wanted to go back to practicing surgery. But, that's not true. Strange still struggles with his hands, the sorcery that he picked up never doing what it was intended to.
There has been an improvement, allowing him to cast his spells with great strength. But he could never go back to the intricate work he once did; the wraps around his hands usually acted as a reminder. It's important that this has been largely forgotten about for Strange, who has found a new purpose.
Won't Question Wong's Authority
It's been well-detailed that Strange loves to be in charge. He took great insult at the fact that he wasn't chosen as the Sorcerer Supreme again, once he had returned from the Snap. He also mocks Wong slightly, refusing to bow to him. But he does genuinely have respect for the latest leader.
Many might guess that Strange will continue to act to the beat of his drum, but it's Wong who he trusts the most. There will not be a time when Strange questions Wong's authority, and he will continue to operate at the behest of the Sorcerer Supreme because of how he views his friend.