MCU Retrospective #5: Thor

This article contains spoilers for Thor and other MCU projects.

Thor weilding Mjolnir.

Thor opens in New Mexico, directly connecting to Iron Man 2 and Agent Coulson. We know Mjolnir, a hammer, is here. This makes us immediately invested, and this movie leans into that: building a mysterious, dark and moody tone. Our three scientists, Erik Selvig, Darcy Lewis and Jane Foster (Stellan Skarsgård, Kat Dennings and Natalie Portman) are intentionally under-developed. We’re getting more questions than answers.

A bright light appears; a dusty funnel lands on Earth’s surface. There’s suspense building as our scientists get closer, and it climaxes by them hitting Thor Odinson (Chris Hemsworth) with their car. It’s an effective jump scare and a subversive way to throw us off. Where is Mjolnir?

It’s a great cold open, before cutting away to Odin’s (Anthony Hopkins) exposition-driven monologue. This, too, is well-crafted: it lays the foundation for the movie and ambitiously expands the MCU. Frost Giants sought to rule the Nine Realms and almost put humanity in a new ice age with The Casket. Odin, King of Asgard in the Realm Eternal, protected humans and forged a truce.

Now, Asgard is a beautifully cinematic (a.k.a horrid CGI) kingdom in space. Odin has fathered two children: Thor, a natural-born warrior with Mjolnir, and Loki (Tom Hiddleston), an incredibly gifted magician. Thor’s coronation is happening, but is interrupted by Frost Giants bursting into Odin’s Vault and attempting to steal back The Casket. The Destroyer, a basic-named sentient metal weapon, is able to vaporize the thieves easily.

Thor, upset, unleashes his flaws: he’s arrogant, too accepting of violence, prone to anger and has an entitlement to the throne. This characterization is rudimentary, but that can’t be said about Loki. He’s smooth-talking, manipulative and scene-stealing. From his first moment, before the plan is revealed, we understand how he balances his gifts to earn his goals. He needs Thor’s flaws to be exacerbated, so he subtly convinces Thor to commit treason, go to Jotunheim and fight them.

Thor, against Loki’s “caution,” recruits Warrior’s Three: a band of Asgardian warriors, led by Sif (Jaimie Alexander). They are all painfully bland and one-dimensional, having no individual motivations. Thor sets a dangerous precedent of totally mistreating them. Heimdall (Idris Elba) is an all-seeing “obeyer” to the throne that controls the Bifrost. His obedience holds no weight: his confusion at how the Frost Giants slipped past him makes agree to disobey Odin and send everyone to Jotunheim.

King Laufey (Colm Feore) greets them, and insists he respects their truce. We learn (heavy-handedly) that Asgard has a traitor, but more interesting is Laufey echoing Odin by saying Thor is “a boy trying to prove [he’s] a man.” The two leaders are like-minded and right: Thor attacks, after starting to leave, because he was called a princess.

There are some cool comic-y shots, especially with the ice creature, in this sequence. It’s a fun moment, but too low-stakes. This threatens to be pointless, but we learn a shocking truth: Loki is a Frost Giant.

Odin arrives to offer peace, but Laufey rightfully disagrees. There are a few moments of meaningless suspense before the Bifrost takes the Asgardians away. Thor is supposed to be unlikable: we’re annoyed at his antics during a heated exchange with Odin. Does Thor possess no self-awareness? How is Odin the fool? This is superb framing, because it makes tracking his growth more satisfying.

Odin, who is a surprisingly anti-war figure in the MCU, strips Thor of his powers and sends him to Midgard (Earth) until he is worthy enough to pick Mjolnir back up. This brings us back to our cold-open.

We’re in Puente Antiguo. This town looks superficial and cheap. It’s hard to not be taken aback by this, but Thor masks this by becoming a comedic movie instead of a stoic one. Darcy is our only “funny” character, with several funny quips (“Myu-Meh”). Most of the humor exists without punchlines: Thor’s struggle with traditional human behaviors, Thor, who isn’t dumb, being framed as such or Jane hitting him again.

It was lackluster to show us the exact same scene from Iron Man 2’s post-credit scene, but it’s fun to see the evolution of Mjolnir in the crater. In an Arthurian manner, men try their hardest to pull Mjolnir out. Stan Lee, a truck-owner here, demolishes the entire bed of his truck. Thor gets word of this in a diner, and asks the three scientists for help. This proves Thor has no interest in establishing anyone that isn’t Thor or Loki; any ancillary character exists for plot convenience.

How did Agent Coulson stay in New Mexico? In Iron Man 2, his trip to New Mexico was seemingly quick. It would’ve been nice for a more specific timeline in either movie, because his frequent appearances are confusing. This isn’t the only jarring thing: Erik teases knowing a “pioneer of gamma radiation,” who hasn’t been seen since S.H.I.E.L.D. found him. Is this Samuel Sterns or Bruce Banner from The Incredible Hulk? This could be fascinating either way, which makes the vagueness disappointing. S.H.I.E.L.D.’s presence, too, is varied in every movie. Here, they are vilified as they build a camp around Mjolnir and steal all of Jane’s research.

Thor and Loki, in our world, are mythological Norse characters. It’s charming to see that be explained as them visiting millennia ago because it subtly opens the MCU timeline for thousands of years, making Eternals more believable. This is brought up by Erik to suggest Thor’s identity is stolen from fiction. Erik, our most plot-convenient character, is distrustful and forbids Jane to help Thor. This makes no sense given he helped take Thor (and returned) to the hospital.

Thor’s pitiful (and funny) demand for a horse in a pet store ignites Jane’s sympathy: she agrees to drive him to the S.H.I.E.L.D. camp. We meet the yet-to-be-named Jasper Sitwell (Maximiliano Hernández). This is interesting considering his MCU appearances, but it’s implied he is second-in-command to Coulson and has to stop Thor’s infiltration.

This break-in is both fun and disappointing. It’s satisfying to see Thor demolish men; it’s exciting to hear Mjolnir humming in his presence. It’s electrifying to see Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), an Avenger, but this cameo is shallow. There’s no narrative purpose, no arrow shot and he doesn’t get a direct interaction with Thor. It deflates an engaging moment, which also happens to deflate Thor, who is not worthy to possess Mjolnir again. Why was it humming then?

This is really effective because, despite signs of improvement, Thor has more to do. We feel sympathy for him and understand his rage. He, and our three scientists, are back at square one: How can you build from the ground-up? Thor is captured, and needlessly interrogated by Coulson.

Loki projects himself into Thor’s cell, making the movie infinitely more interesting. We see his first step into madness: Loki reveals Odin is dead, that he is burdened as Asgard’s new king, Jotunheim has agreed to a truce on condition of Thor’s permanent exile and Frigga, (Rene Russo) their mother, agrees to this. This is masterful because the delivery is candid and sorrowful, manipulating Thor into assuming responsibility. Thor’s catalyst for true growth stems from this, because he needs to be better for something bigger than him: Odin’s legacy. Loki, as we later learn, unintentionally gives the hero the tools they need to defeat him.

Loki leaves, attempts to take Mjolnir, which unsurprisingly doesn’t work. Loki is our antagonist, because his words deceive Thor. Throughout Thor’s time on Earth, scenes are weaved in-and-out proving Loki’s cunning: he snitched on “Thor’s plan” to conquer Jotunheim, causing Odin to arrive. We’re never certain how low Loki is willing to go, but diminishing your brother’s reputation in your father’s eyes for power is bad.

Odin’s “death” is actually him in Odinsleep; a long period of rest to recharge his powers. Odin was depleted from the stress of Thor’s action and a confrontation with Loki in his vault. This argument is Thor’s best scene. Loki transforms as a confused boy, feeling cursed at his identity, to a being of profound sadness at learning he’s truly Laufey’s son, then a man with unfulfilled anger towards Odin, feeling like a stolen relic and a monster used as a political tool.

Odin collapses, allowing Loki to assume the throne. Frigga doesn’t see the deception because she refuses to leave Odin’s side. Loki has won the long-game, and even when the Warrior’s Three ask for him to end Thor’s banishment, he declines on the basis that Asgard needs stability and the notion of honoring Odin’s wishes. Loki doesn’t project himself as a villain; instead, he’s a victim of circumstance.

Loki returns to Jotunheim to offer a gruesome truce: Laufey will sneak into Asgard, kill Odin and steal The Casket. Heimdall, who doesn’t see this interaction, realizes who let the Frost Giants in originally. This time, there is no struggle to commit treason: Heimdall summons the Warrior’s Three, who were already planning something, turns his back on the Bifrost and allows them to be sent to Earth. Unfortunately, Loki sees this and summons The Destroyer after them; freezing Heimdall in the process and owning his Frost Giant DNA.

On Earth, Thor is rescued by a now-friendly Erik, who lies to S.H.I.E.L.D. and tells them Thor is Donald Blake, or Jane’s ex-boyfriend. Coulson is aware of this lie, but inexplicably lets Thor go, further teasing Erik’s “dangerous coworkers.” What is being teased? Erik takes Thor to a bar and buys him two drinks on the condition he leaves. Moments later, Thor carries him to Jane’s trailer. Erik is completely wasted, but now the duo are best friends. Erik even calls Thor the “God of Thunder,” first. Why not show what changed?

Thor has an intimate moment with Jane, and we get more details on the MCU’s cosmos. We’re in The World’s Tree, attached to all Nine Realms. It’s smartly-written, making the complex seem simple, and doesn’t bore us with pointless information. Thor even cooks breakfast, a moment echoed in Thor: Love and Thunder, that proves Thor is growing.

Warrior’s Three find Thor, and the reunion is well-earned. It doesn’t quite make sense that townspeople and S.H.I.E.L.D. agents are gawking at them, because they appear to be from a medieval festival. Unfortunately, The Destroyer begins demolishing Puente Antiguo. Any MCU fight with a non-speaking character is always low-stakes. Warrior’s Three are easily punched around, and Sif’s stab was just a fake-out.

Sif wants to die a warrior’s death and go to Valhalla. She is a Warrior’s Three member who is respected in the MCU, and this motivation is echoed in Thor: Love and Thunder wonderfully, but it’s a shame she lives both times.

Thor is the only one who can beat The Destroyer, so he approaches it weaponless. He apologizes to Loki for his actions, and Loki briefly re-considers, which makes the decision to kill Thor more brutal. Thor has embraced a non-violent, domestic lifestyle; but he is still a warrior. He prepares to become a sacrifice to protect those he loves. This stirs Odin, who cries in Odinsleep. Thor has become worthy.

Thor’s “death” makes narrative sense, but with The Avengers coming, it’s ineffective. Why does Marvel Studios keep trying to trick audiences? His worthiness summons Mjolnir to leave the crater and save Thor. Once it’s grabbed, we see cool shots of Thor’s armor enveloping him. Thor, within seconds, is able to take down The Destroyer. Thor must return to Asgard; his final moments on Earth shows Coulson promising to return Jane’s research and teases to The Avengers, with Thor calling Coulson an ally.

Loki has limited time: he sneaks a horribly-CG’d Laufey and other Frost Giants into Asgard. Heimdall, conveniently, breaks free from his icy chamber and slaughters anyone near the Bifrost. Laufey storms in Odin’s lair, pushes Frigga over and is moments away from the kill when Loki, a “hero” kills Laufey. It was a masterclass in double-crossing and manipulation.

Thor returns and reveals everything, to Frigga’s disappointment. This disappointment means Loki has nothing left to lose, so there is no use to pretend he’s a hero. Loki stoops to his lowest: he flees to the Bifrost in hopes to commit genocide on Jotunheim. Until now, Loki was a phenomenal villain because violence wasn’t the sole answer. This newfound acclimation towards it stems from feeling second-best.

Thor and Loki’s argument is electric character work. Loki’s rage is grounded, but he still can manipulate Thor, the non-violent brother, into action: Loki threatens to visit Jane. Thor takes no pleasure in harming his brother, which is why he takes the bait when Loki hangs off the Bifrost. This results in Thor being literally stabbed in the back. Loki is no longer an Odinson; he’s his own entity.

Thor proves his worthiness by destroying the Bifrost; saving his enemies and stripping himself the chance to see Jane. It’s what is best for his people, making him a king. What happens to Jotunheim after the attack? Where is Heimdall? How is Thor “The Mighty Thor,” when that’s Jane’s nickname later on? These are all unanswered dangling questions.

Odin awakens and saves Thor and Loki from falling away with the Bifrost. Loki seeks acceptance from Odin, who denies him that, so he lets go. At this juncture, Loki’s fate is uncertain, which is incredibly impactful. Loki is the MCU’s best and most complex character to date. This fate feels both satisfying and depressing, making it a great set-up for The Avengers.

Jane realizes Thor is not coming back. This isn’t a fair expectation, so her sadness seems misplaced. Thor left behind dark clouds. Could she not assume there was trouble? The Bifrost has the most inconsistent rules of any MCU lore, and would benefit immensely from context. Why was it a cloudy funnel at first, but bright at other times? Why did it leave no trace after landing somewhere except in the finale?

Thor concludes with an Asgardian celebration. Is Loki’s loss not sad? We get our standard tease to the future without being overbearing. Heimdall reassures him that a return to Earth is not hopeless. Luckily, Jane uses all her newfound knowledge and returned research to find Thor once more.

***

Erik Selving, is inexplicably at a S.H.I.E.L.D. facility where he meets Nick Fury. He was brought here, presumably because of his connections, and Fury states that people are impressed by his work. Where is Jane’s credit, especially when they name-drop “The Foster Theory?” This is our most complicated post-credit scene yet, because Fury then unlocks the (unnamed) Space Stone.

This blue cube is the foundation of “The Infinity Saga”, and heavily influences Captain America: The First Avenger, The Avengers and multiple other MCU projects. It’s incredibly risky to drop insane exposition in a post-credit scene that not everyone watches or cares about. In another twist, we see Loki controlling Erik’s mind, telling him what to say and do. This gives us a concrete answer on his fate, but is an equally-scary set-up for his character arc.

Random Thoughts:

1. Jane’s cereal bowl didn’t spill when moved in her trailer. It’s a painfully obvious prop.
2. How is S.H.I.E.L.D. so mysterious? Their presence in Thor is very public.
3. Volstagg (Ray Stevenson) should’ve died in the diner. The Destroyer shot directly at him, but he was ejected in the opposite direction.
4. If Mjolnir gives people “the power of Thor,” shouldn’t Thor have a different name powerless?
5. Odin’s anti-war sentiment isn’t explained here, but given what we learn in Thor: Ragnarok, re-watching this makes it more poignant.
6. Odin references “The Great Beginning,” implying he was there. Does this make him a Celestial? We deserved more context.
7. Tony Stark being framed as unlikable, as Thor was, would’ve done wonders in Iron Man 2.
8. Odin whispers to Mjolnir to strip Thor of his power. Prior to this, could anyone wield Mjolnir? Doesn’t it know who is worthy? Captain America picks it up in Avengers: Endgame, so it doesn’t mean that there is only one singular worthy person. So, is there no one worthy on Earth when people vie for it?
9. “Magic is just science we don’t understand yet,” is the best quote.
10. Erik and Thor’s bar scene reflects a similar scene with Doctor Strange in Thor: Ragnarok.
11. Loki promised to visit Jane on Earth. Is this the original reason he visited in the post-credit scene?

Ranking:

1. Iron Man
2. Thor
3. The Incredible Hulk
4. Iron Man 2

WANT TO READ MORE?

#1: Introduction | #4: Iron Man 2 | #6: The Consultant