At the wedding, Dr. Stephen Strange sits next to Nic West.
A Familiar Face from Dr. Stephen Strange's Past
Nic West, portrayed by Michael Stuhlbarg, is a significant figure from Dr. Strange's past. Their shared history is rooted in a pivotal moment following Strange's devastating car accident. West was the surgeon who performed an extensive 11-hour operation on Strange's hands in 2016's Doctor Strange. This crucial surgery was an attempt to save Strange's hands, which were severely injured, thus jeopardizing his career as a neurosurgeon.
Details of Their Complex Relationship
The connection between Strange and West is not merely professional; it carries a layer of personal tension. While West's efforts were aimed at preserving Strange's ability to use his hands, the outcome involved the insertion of 11 stainless steel pins into Strange's finger bones. This particular detail greatly upset Strange, highlighting the irreversible and unsatisfying nature of his recovery despite West's best efforts. Their encounter at the wedding, presumably that of Christine Palmer, serves as a reunion with a tangible reminder of Strange's life-altering trauma and the difficult path he has walked since.
The table below summarizes key aspects of Nic West's relationship with Dr. Strange:
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Identity | Nic West, surgeon |
| Actor | Michael Stuhlbarg |
| Key Role | Performed an 11-hour surgery on Stephen Strange's hands after his accident in the events depicted in 2016's Doctor Strange. |
| Outcome of Surgery | To save Strange's hands, West resorted to putting 11 stainless steel pins in Strange's finger bones, a result that significantly displeased Strange. |
| Relationship | Professional (surgeon-patient) with underlying tension due to the outcome of Strange's hand injury and recovery process. |
| Context at Wedding | Their seating arrangement next to each other at the wedding of Christine Palmer underscores their deep, if complicated, history and the persistent presence of Strange's past challenges in his life. |
