What have you noticed in Marvel movies that most people have not?
The Ancient one beat Thanos.
Strange, Stark, and all the others were just chess pieces she positioned on the board.
When the Ancient one dies, she tells Dr. Strange “I never saw your future, only the possibilities.”
And what does Dr. Strange see when he uses the Time Stone?
Over 14 million possible futures, with only one where they are victorious over Thanos.
The entire plot of Dr. Strange was the result of The Ancient One moving the proverbial chess pieces on the board to beat Thanos.
As she used the Time Stone, she would have known that Kaecullis was going to steal the ancient texts.
She didn’t prevent it, even though doing so would have stopped Darmammu in his tracks.
Instead, she let the events transpire knowing that doing so was the only way to ensure Dr. Strange was in the right place, at the right time, for that 1 in 14 million chance at beating Thanos.
But the real lynch pin in the theory?
This guy:
There are just too many coincident to not think this guy was, essentially, a “plant” from the Ancient one to direct Strange to where he needed to be.
Why?
The Ancient one beat Thanos.
Strange, Stark, and all the others were just chess pieces she positioned on the board.
When the Ancient one dies, she tells Dr. Strange “I never saw your future, only the possibilities.”
And what does Dr. Strange see when he uses the Time Stone?
Over 14 million possible futures, with only one where they are victorious over Thanos.
The entire plot of Dr. Strange was the result of The Ancient One moving the proverbial chess pieces on the board to beat Thanos.
As she used the Time Stone, she would have known that Kaecullis was going to steal the ancient texts.
She didn’t prevent it, even though doing so would have stopped Darmammu in his tracks.
Instead, she let the events transpire knowing that doing so was the only way to ensure Dr. Strange was in the right place, at the right time, for that 1 in 14 million chance at beating Thanos.
But the real lynch pin in the theory?
This guy:
There are just too many coincident to not think this guy was, essentially, a “plant” from the Ancient one to direct Strange to where he needed to be.
Why?
- He sought treatment from Strange himself, but was rejected as it was “impossible”. This is important because of Strange’s ego. If Pangborn hadn’t sought Strange for treatment, Strange may have just thought the doctor’s who diagnosed him were subpar. At best, this would have delayed Strange’s search for Kamar-Taj because he likely would have taken the time to find and review the appropriate medical records (some of which he already had access to via his physical therapist and was in doubt). At worst, he just would have rejected Pangborn’s “miracle” as some form of delusion or parlor trick; kind of like he did upon first meeting The Ancient One.
- Both Strange and Pangborn have the same physical therapist which is the sole event which leads Strange to Pangborn.
- Although Pangborn left Kamar-Taj claiming he wanted to return to his normal life, it seems he doesn’t do that until after his meeting with Strange. I base this on the fact that Strange seeks him out while he is playing basket ball. Panghorn owns his own machine shop, as seen in the post-credit scene. It would have be infinitely easier and more expedient for Strange to simply approach him where he worked as opposed to seek him out while he’s playing basketball.
- Pangborn describes a widespread search for anything that could help him. This is likely how every other acolyte finds their way to Kamar-Taj. Strange, however, gets this beautiful little road map that leads him right there starting from within his home city.