Doctor Strange 2 ending and post-credit scene, explained

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Marvel’s latest adventure, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has finally arrived to unleash magic and madness (duh!) in equal measures. After the multiversal chaos of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Doctor Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) is back at it playing mentor to another talented young superhero. To deal with the fallout from his miscast spell, he enlists the help of Wanda Maxmioff (Elizabeth Olsen). It’s a magic user's spotlight with two powerful MCU characters’ journeys colliding. If you're here, it means you have already watched the film and are likely reeling from the exhilarating ride it is (and from that bonkers music battle you witnessed). The Sam Raimi directorial is a lot trippier than the posters and promos teased. It forays into some wild directions and to say that the ending is a bit of a head scratcher would be an understatement. Luckily, we've gone over the plot details, ending and post-credit scenes of Doctor Strange 2 to fully understand what went down in the movie so that you don't have to. You’re welcome.

For Starters, Here's What Happened In Doctor Strange 2

Can we skip to the good part? Nope. Before we dive into the deep end, a brief run-through of the film's main events is always a good idea. The mind-bending Marvel film picks up a little after the events of No Way Home. Doctor Strange who presumably returns to normal life (whatever that means) is tasked with fixing a multiverse problem, the problem being that it is broken thanks to his spell. Joining him is MCU newcomer America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) who has the power to create star-shaped portals and traverse the multiverse through them. Young Chavez is in some kind of danger as monsters chase her across the streets of New York where Strange first meets her. Strange goes to Wanda for help, assuming a powerful witch is his best shot, but guess who wants America's powers for herself and sends those nasty monsters after the girl in the first place? No points for guessing, it's Wanda. The character, now fully transformed into the Scarlet Witch, seeks America's multiverse-hopping abilities to get her heart's greatest desire - her twin sons Tommy and Billy. After the events of WandaVision, she possesses the Darkhold or maybe it possesses her as the ancient book of spells begins to corrupt her. Wanda dreamwalks, breaks rules, breaks people, shreds some of the most beloved Marvel characters apart and she won't stop till she gets what she wants. Yeah, she really wants America's powers even if it kills her. Of course, Strange (our Strange who is from Earth 616 and not to be mistaken for all the alternate ‘Stranges’ in the movie) is not on board with sacrificing a child.

What Went Down In The Ending Of Doctor Strange 2?

All the twisty events infused with jumpscares and Sam Raimi's signature freakiness culminate into a finale battle. Wanda kills a bunch of sorcerers at Kamar-Taj and the Illuminati members. After her bloody exploits, she gets America to the throne of Scarlet Witch at Wundagore Mountain to sacrifice the kid and harness her powers. While this is happening, Wong (Benedict Wong) who is the Sorcerer Supreme is unconscious on the mountainside. Elsewhere, Strange and Christine (Rachel McAdams) find themselves in another universe where an alternate Doctor Strange is living the life of a recluse. Strange hopes he knows where the Book of Vishanti is. But alternate Strange has other plans. You see, he has been killing Strange versions, even creeping into their nightmares. This Strange also possesses the Darkhold and has a third eye on his forehead. The two get into an all-out battle. Fortunately, it ends with our Strange emerging as the winner. Christine joins Strange just when he's about to use the Darkhold to help America. He then dreamwalks and tasks Christine with protecting his body. His dream walking adventure takes him to the corpse of Defender Strange who we meet earlier in the film. He then turns into Zombie Strange who gets to Wundagore just in time to face off with Scarlet Witch.

Zombie Strange and Scarlet Witch have an epic clash till the latter comes close to killing America. Before you know it, America finds her inner strengths landing a few punches before opening a multiverse portal and making her opponent confront an alternate Wanda in another universe. Upon seeing the Scarlet Witch, Tommy and Billy are terrified and begin to scream. Watching their reaction makes Wanda think of what she has turned into. Just then the other Wanda tells her that the twins will be loved. And so our Wanda returns to Wundagore with America. In a shocking move, she then destroys the Darkhold not just in this universe but in every universe. She also destroys the throne and herself in the process. America and Wong (who regains consciousness in time for the final battle) reunite with Strange and Christine. After a brief moment in which Strange says that he loves Christine in every universe, they part ways. By the end of the film, things are seemingly back to normal. America goes to Kamar-Taj to train under the guidance of Wong, Strange is in a reflective mood as he fixes the watch Christine had given him as a present.

So Is Wanda Really Dead?

Several characters die in the film thanks to Wanda's rampage. She goes on to kill Illuminati including Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart), Reed Richards aka Mr. Fantastic (John Krasinski), Captain Marvel/Maria Rambeau (Lashana Lynch), Captain Carter (Hayley Atwell) and Black Bolt (Anson Mount). But Karl Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor) didn't die. And from the looks of it, Wanda is dead too. From everything that went down in the movie her death only confirms the death of Wanda from Earth 616. The ending will probably come as a rude shock to WandaVision fans as it undermines the show in a big way. The series saw Wanda deal with her grief through a tragic arc filled with personal losses. Her leaving Westview and choosing a secluded lifestyle was presumed to be a closure of sorts, redemption even. The film has her dying at the peak of her villain era. Yet her death is a sacrifice that comes after the realisation that she has turned into a threat to the people she loves. That being said this might not be the end for Wanda as other versions of her live on.

What happened in the post-credit scene?

There are two credits scenes after the film's finale. One is a tease that mocks eager fans and the other sees a new character introduced into the MCU. In the mid-credits of Doctor Strange 2, Strange’s third eye is revealed indicating that he too has been affected by the Darkhold. That's not the only shocker. We also see Clea (played by Charlize Theron who is making her MCU debut) arrive in New York. Clea is the sister of Dormammu and the Sorcerer Supreme in the Dark Dimension in the comics. Dressed in a purple costume, the character tells Strange that he’s needed again, likely to deal with all the multiversal damage from his adventure. Doctor Strange opens his creepy third eye and the two open up a portal to embark on another adventure, no doubt. This might take them into the Dark Dimension. So he isn't quite done with the multiverse.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is in cinemas now.

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