Infinity War’s Mystery: Marvel’s Infinity War Revealed Doctor Strange‘s Potential to Defeat Thanos, So Why Did He Refrain? As the climactic conclusion of the Marvel Cinematic Universe‘s Infinity Saga, “Avengers: Infinity War” has lately drawn the attention of fans who’ve scrutinized the intricacies of the two-part cinematic masterpiece.
While “Avengers: Endgame” had its share of unnoticed gaps in logic, it’s the events of “Infinity War” that have led fans to question a central inquiry: Why didn’t Doctor Strange (portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch) use his formidable powers to create a portal and incapacitate Thanos (played by Josh Brolin) by removing his hand or head? This strategic maneuver could have promptly eliminated the Mad Titan, saving the Avengers and the entire MCU a significant ordeal. Adding to the puzzle, the movie even provides a scenario akin to this possibility when Wong (played by Benedict Wong) employs a portal to detach Cull Obsidian’s (portrayed by Terry Notary) hand from his arm.
The debate recently resurfaced on Twitter, triggered by a defense of “Infinity War” from user @Spider_Devil7. They highlighted that right before Thanos‘ arrival on Titan, Doctor Strange explicitly mentioned evaluating 14,000,605 alternate outcomes, with only one resulting in victory. According to this viewpoint, Strange intentionally chose the path to triumph. While this interpretation aligns with the film’s narrative, another user remained unconvinced. They argued that the 14 million scenarios were not an exhaustive list of all conceivable futures, but rather those Strange had the opportunity to observe. This skeptic pointed out that Strange had a prime chance to disable Thanos during the encounter on Titan.
The discourse around Doctor Strange’s actions against Thanos in “Avengers: Infinity War” is intriguing, with both sides presenting valid viewpoints. On one hand, the film appears to hint at the potential tactic through the Wong-Cull Obsidian scene. However, swift elimination of the Mad Titan by Doctor Strange could have negated the need for a continuation of the story, including the events of “Avengers: Endgame.”
Despite the plot hole never truly fading away on Twitter, its significance was enough to capture the attention of directors Joe and Anthony Russo. The Russo Brothers addressed this concern in an interview with Chinese media outlet QQ, later translated and shared by fans on Reddit. In their statement, the directors resolved the plot hole by explaining, “Thanos’ nearly impenetrable skin presented a challenge. We cannot be certain if Doctor Strange possessed the means to breach it. Failing to sever Thanos’ arm in time would have still allowed the snap. Doctor Strange recognized this complexity during his numerous attempts.”
Given that the Russo Brothers were the creative forces behind both films, their perspective carries considerable weight in resolving this matter. While questioning their reasoning might be a challenging endeavor, it’s worth noting that when Thanos arrived on Titan, he held only four of the six Infinity Stones. The absence of the time and mind stones prevented him from executing the snap at the moment when Doctor Strange could have intervened.
In contrast to the ongoing Twitter discourse, we can find comfort in acknowledging the strengths of both “Infinity War” and “Endgame,” recognizing that this debate, much like the story itself, may never truly reach a conclusion.