14 Years After His MCU Debut, Marvel Still Can’t Decide What to Do With Thor

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Thor was introduced early in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, after characters like Iron Man and Hulk, but his story seems a bit directionless. He’s undergone more changes in appearance and personality than any other hero, and these shifts don’t feel consistent. As he returns for the upcoming Avengers movie, it appears Marvel is reinventing Thor yet again, with no clear plan for the character’s development.

Fourteen years after the first Thor film, a clear, consistent portrayal of the character still hasn’t emerged – a situation that mirrors the way Thor’s character has evolved over many years in the comic books.

Thor Went From a Shakespearian Tragedy to a Comedy Action Hero

Thor’s character has noticeably shifted since the second movie wasn’t well-received. The original Thor film was a strong adaptation, presenting a tragic story inspired by Shakespeare, focusing on a son striving to meet his father’s expectations and a brother feeling overlooked. Thor and Loki perfectly embodied Shakespearean characters, and the first film captured that dynamic beautifully. But after Loki became popular in The Avengers, Thor: The Dark World altered their relationship, teaming the brothers up instead of portraying their rivalry.

While things ultimately went well for Loki, the events of that movie marked a low point for Thor. It wasn’t well-received by audiences – it’s considered one of the weaker early films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe – and it unfortunately diminished a potentially great villain in Malekith. The only truly successful part of the story was Loki’s change of heart and eventual rise to power, taking the throne of Asgard. A significant shift in direction was clearly needed, and that came with Thor: Ragnarok.

Taika Waititi, known for his comedic talent and understanding of horror, revitalized the Thor franchise by turning it into a fun, buddy-comedy adventure. Ragnarok was a huge success, striking the right balance between humor and action, and it re-established Thor as a key player in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, while also introducing a compelling version of Hulk and further developing Loki’s character. While Thor: Love and Thunder was enjoyable, it leaned too heavily into comedy, making Thor seem overly silly and diminishing the heroic qualities he had previously gained.

Avengers: Endgame’s Thor Was Almost Immediately Discarded

Things got particularly rough for Thor between the events of Ragnarok and Love and Thunder. He suffered major losses – Loki died, Thanos eliminated half of all life, and Thor himself fell into a deep depression, losing his drive to fight. He even relied on Stormbreaker instead of actively engaging in battle. When the final fight with Thanos arrived, Thor wasn’t the powerful hero fans expected. Captain America even wielded Mjolnir, summoned from a different timeline, and played a more significant role. Thor mostly served as comic relief, even while struggling with his depression, and felt largely ineffective.

Okay, so Thor: Love and Thunder kicks off with Thor noticeably different. He’s back in fighting shape – he shed all the weight he put on hanging out with the Guardians – and, honestly, he’s almost too cheerful. The brooding, post-traumatic Thor from Endgame? Completely gone. He’s all arrogance and jokes again, and sometimes it feels a little over the top. It’s like Taika Waititi just decided to brush aside everything that happened during the Infinity Saga, which felt a bit jarring.

The release of trailers for Avengers: Doomsday has overshadowed Thor: Love and Thunder. While the film still focuses on love, Thor is back in his classic costume and appears to be seeking guidance from Odin. It’s likely Mjolnir is back home, and Stormbreaker remains connected to Jane Foster. However, this new trailer shows Thor feeling down and anxious – understandable, given his role as a father. This shift in tone is another sign that Marvel Studios is struggling to find a consistent direction for the character.

Many rumors suggest Thor will die in a future Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film, potentially during either the Avengers: Doomsday or Avengers: Secret Wars storylines, or shortly after in a solo movie. If this happens, it would highlight an ongoing issue with the character’s inconsistent portrayal, which could lessen the impact of his death. Chris Hemsworth is an excellent Thor, but the filmmakers haven’t consistently agreed on how to depict him.

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2026-01-06 21:13