Loki learned a lesson in his Disney+ series that Doctor Stephen Strange could not in Marvel’s What If…? Season 1 of Loki explored the Time Variance’s Authority control over all of time, which allowed the organization to place Loki in an endless time loop of a painful memory. This memory was the consequence of a prank in which Loki cut off some of Lady Sif’s hair while she slept. Sif then tracked him down, beat him in retaliation, and declared that he would always be alone.

Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange was also subjected to a time loop in episode 4 of What If…? in rather more tragic circumstances. Strange attempted to turn back time to prevent Dr. Christine Palmer’s death, but everything he tried failed, thanks to the MCU's introduction of "fixed points" in time to further complicate the rules of the multiverse and time travel. He turned back the clock over and over again just to watch Christine repeatedly, and yet, unlike Loki, Strange never learned from these mistakes.

Related: Why The Universe Just Ended: What If...? Episode 4 Ending Explained

While both Loki and Doctor Strange found themselves stuck in time loops that tortured them with a sad memory, the experience made Loki a better version of himself whereas the sorcerer became worse. Loki began his time loop arrogantly proclaiming that this event meant nothing to him and he was glad he did it, but after repeated encounters with an angry Sif, he changed his mind. Loki eventually fell to his knees and begged for Sif’s forgiveness, admitting that he did not deserve it. In What If…? Strange refused to learn the lesson from his repeated failures and doubled down on trying to fix something that could not be changed. His stubbornness resulted in the end of the world.

Both Loki and Doctor Strange may act incredibly arrogant, but only one of them really is. Loki’s character arc in the MCU—and its shortened version in his Disney+ series—proved that deep down, he is actually just insecure. Many of his actions had been fueled by a desire to appear in control and receive recognition for his accomplishments. Loki even admitted to Mobius that much of his personality is only an act designed to hide his fear. While Strange’s single-minded behavior has sometimes resulted in treating those around him poorly, he does not need to prove himself the way Loki does. He knows he is the best and is so confident in that knowledge that he cannot accept his inability to save Christine.

Another difference between the two is their agency within the time loops. Loki’s time loop was also a prison cell within the TVA. Since magic does not work there, Loki could not break free of the loop and had no choice but to endure it endlessly. Doctor Strange, however, was in charge of his. Given his control of the Time Stone, Strange could have ended the loop whenever he wanted and chose not to. Forcing himself to relive this moment over and over could have helped fuel his desperation that led to the world’s destruction. Being so close to his goal, and yet so far, drove him to extremes.

With the fourth What If…? episode, the MCU showed that Loki learned a lesson Doctor Strange could not. Both of them were subjected to a time loop reliving a terrible memory, but only one grew from the experience. Hopefully Doctor Strange never again feels the need to resort to such measures in his future appearances in the MCU.

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