WARNING: The following contains SPOILERS for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Scarlet Witch/Wanda Maximoff is the hero and villain of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The movie proved that Wanda is both heroic and villainous, and while arguments have been made for each side of that coin, the most logical path is that she served as both. Multiple variants of Doctor Strange and Wanda Maximofff showed how each character confronted a whole new meaning of self-reflection. Wanda came face to face with her darker, more dangerous self, literally and figuratively. How she chose to respond could have far-reaching consequences for the future of the MCU.
During Scarlet Witch's death in Doctor Strange 2, she confronted her grief and trauma and righted her wrongs, with the “help” of the witch Agatha Harkness. However, the damage was done, and Wanda carries immense guilt for all the pain she caused. Wanda Maximoff has repeatedly walked the line between hero and villain, but her comion and empathy have always steered her back to the right course. She may be a flawed character, but she has a good heart at her core. Wanda Maximoff once again had to confront her inner demons and faced her biggest test yet in Doctor Strange 2 – her own actions.
This inner conflict was central to Doctor Strange 2. Throughout her MCU journey, Wanda is capable of acting both malevolently and benevolently. She simultaneously causes immense destruction and takes the fight to some of Marvel's most powerful villains — and heroes, as evidenced by her brutal killing of the Illuminati in Doctor Strange 2. However, the emergence of the Scarlet Witch persona raises the stakes to a whole new level. After the post-credit scene of WandaVision, it's clear that there are, in essence, two Wandas – one sitting on the porch drinking tea in sweats, the other serving as an astral projection of herself reading from the Darkhold in full Scarlet Witch attire. The ominous implication of this moment is that the events of WandaVision have unleashed a physical manifestation of Wanda's darkest impulses. Here's how Wanda Maximoff was both the hero and the villain in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
WandaVision Foreshadowed Wanda’s Villain Turn Beautifully
Viewing WandaVision as The Scarlet Witch’s villain origin story also showcases the pain of her hero arc: her relatable grief, anger, and loneliness were apparent and brought audiences into her story through strong conceptualization and structure. Before being Doctor Strange 2 towards the ending credits.
In a last-ditch effort to save herself from Agatha Harkness, Wanda "forges" the Scarlet Witch, and Agatha proclaims, “You have no idea what you’ve unleashed.” What she unleashed made its debut in Doctor Strange 2, and she didn't pull punches this time around. When Wanda Maximoff was transported to Earth-838, she saw her children cower in fear. In return, she used her powers to destroy Mount Wundagore and bring down the Darkhold, appearing to sacrifice herself in the process. The stakes were high in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, not only for the Multiverse but also for Wanda's soul.
Wanda Was An Unstoppable Villain And Doctor Strange 2’s Main Character
The most compelling piece of Wanda Maximoff's character is her duality. This was showcased during Doctor Strange 2's ending when she sees that she is hurting her children. Instead of continuing the Darkhold's reign, she destroys all copies of it out of comion for her kids and the madness the ordeal created. In the process, she seemingly sacrificed herself. However, throughout Doctor Strange 2, she also plays a cutthroat villain. Wanda Maximoff has a one-track mind when it comes to getting what she wants, even if that means stealing America Chavez's powers. She killed the Illuminati without a thought and pursued Doctor Strange's group relentlessly.
Not only that, but the reason she was technically beaten is that she gave up. Unbeatable villains don't come often in the MCU, but (presuming Wanda isn't dead) she has yet to be captured, defeated, or killed, even after facing off against America Chavez's powers. And even if she is dead, it's really because she planned it that way. For those unfamiliar with the comics, Scarlet Witch's character arc is one for the books — which is only exemplified by Elizabeth Olsen's astounding performance in the role. She was also handed some of the best kills in the MCU on a silver platter (served alongside Reed-Richards-flavored spaghetti). Hopefully, Wanda will return to the MCU after the events of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
