ANOTHER!

 

I’ve always liked Thor in the comics. He had a big hammer only he could wield and spoke in a fancy Norse Gods kinda way. I was introduced to him via the weird “Thor as a Frog” storyline. That and Beta Ray Bill. Then they made the Thor movie. Up to this point, the MCU was based on science like gamma radiation, iron battle suits and super-soldiers. I wasn’t sure if I was ready for the “Cosmic” portion of this universe. But you can’t have an Avengers lineup without Thor. Turns out, it was a good movie, giving both Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston their starts to huge careers. Let’s face it: they freakin play Thor and Loki, Viking brothers of thunder and mischief. To me, this movie was always more mythological than the rest, a hero's journey in every sense: an arrogant god, sent to earth to repent for his sins, falling in love, seeing humanity and having your past mistakes come back to haunt you. Then redemption via a weapon only the TRULY WORTHY can lift. Not to mention it’s being directed by a Shakespearean legend in Kenneth Branagh. I also put in some super spoilers for other MCU movies that makes the plot make more sense.

 

• Puente Antiguo, NM. This town doesn’t actually exist. In Spanish, it means Ancient Bridge. As in the Bifrost! Skye references the town in New Mexico in Agents of SHIELD
  
  
•  Jane Foster is an Astrophysicist. It’s a scientist that studies astral bodies. Her mentor, Eric Selvig is there (he apparently was just called in to witness a celestial event. He worked with her father, a fact that is never mentioned again. Her intern is Darcy Lewis (who’s getting a measly 6 college credits). Here, she’s a political science major
  
  
  
  
  
  
•  Tonsberg, Norway in 65 AD. Frost Giants invade. Tonsberg is really notable in the MCU: It’s where Odin hides the Tesseract, where HYDRA invaded, where Odin will eventually die and where the surviving Asgardians settle and thrive. Odin lost his eye here in the MCU but the Norse mythology says he willingly gave it to the World Tree and it’s buried there in order to gain wisdom. Odin also takes the Frost Giant weapon, the Casket (which apparently can freeze anything?)
  
  
•  Both his sons were born to be kings because Loki is the biological son to Laufey, king of the Frost Giants. Laufey, not to be confused with the singer from Iceland. Oh, and Chris Hemsworth's real brother?
  
  
  
  
  
  
•  You think Odin and Frigga are like: nope, we got a daughter we didn’t tell you about. First born my ass! Perhaps that’s the real reason Odin got all choked up about Thor during his Ascension Ceremony
  
  
  
  
  
  
•  Frost Giants are sneaking into Odin’s trophy room to steal their weapon, the Casket back. But how did they get it? How did Heimdall (more on him in a second) not see them? We’re also briefly introduced to The Destroyer, a guard automaton. We don’t get a good look at it until later, only that it totally decimated the Frost Giants who dared enter Asgard
  
  
•  The Warriors Three and Sif! Why not make it Warriors 4? My favorite is Sif, who is played by Jamie Alexander. She reprised her role as Sif in Agents of SHIELD a couple of times and did a great job. She was also excellent in Blindspot
  
  
  
  
  
  
•  The Warriors Three, by the way are Fandral (played by Prince Charming, later to be played by Zachary Levi), he laughs a lot in a swashbuckling kind of way; Hogun and Volstagg (known for his appetite, even Burger King). Loki eggs on his brother, knowing he would go into Joutenheim without permission
  
  
  
  
  
  
•  The Bifrost, or Rainbow Bridge. Heimdall, the guardian, lets them use the Bifrost to surreptiously go into Joutenheim. However, the damn thing makes a huge spectacle of opening a bridge and produces a lot of light and fury. Heimdall, by the way, is played by SIR Idris Elba.  We find out later he has a son named Axl who has the same powers. They also leave a huge Chekov’s Gun moment: If Heimdall were to leave open the bridge to Joutenheim, it would rip apart that realm. This Joutenheim is not to be confused by the science base in The Suicide Squad. Heimdall uses a big ass sword to operate the Bifrost mechanically, but I think it’s actually him that uses the “dark magic” to magically open it
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
•  We see Thor wield Mjolnir, his hammer, for the first time. His big sister once wielded it too, but without the worthiness spell. It recognized her as its previous owner, just as it will to Jane Foster
  
  
  
  
  
  
•  Mysteriously, Loki is unaffected by the frostbite in Joutenheim. He learn he has a silver tongue and can create illusions. But he’s a decent warrior too
  
  
• Laufey says there’s traitors in the house of Odin. I think it’s just Loki
  
  
• Following Thor royally screwing the pooch by provoking war with the Frost Giants, gets into a fight with his father and is banished to Midgard, or Earth. Thor is a “vain, greedy, cruel boy!” Everybody who deals with Thor from authority refers to him as a boy. A spell is cast on his hammer so that only someone who is worthy can lift it and gain the power of Thor
  
  
• “Journey Into Mystery” sign. The first comic Thor was ever in. The nickname of the state is “Land of Enchantment,” something Tony Stark brought up. Its catchphrase isn’t “Journey into Mystery,” but is “New Mexico True.” During the time of the movie (the other one was adapted a year later) was “Everybody is somebody in New Mexico”
  
  
•  What a great hospital scene. For a god of thunder and lightning, Thor is unusually affected by tasers and electricity. Thor is mortal now and powerless
  
  
  
  
  
  
•  Einstein-Rosen Bridge! Party at the hammer site! Stan Lee appearance where he gets his truck bed ripped off! Donald Blake! And, hey, it’s Agent Coulson again! So many Easter Eggs!
  
  
  
  
  
  
•  Loki finds out the truth about his birth, that he was taken from Joutenheim. Laufey probably thought his son was dead millennia ago, and Loki or Odin never told him the truth either
  
  
•  Odin collapses. He goes into what Frigga calls “The Odinsleep.” The only thing I could think of at the time was putting “Odin” in front of everything – The Odinfood, the Odinfart, the Odinburp…
  
  
•  Thor smashes the cup! “ANOTHER!” In the background outside the window, you can see Stan’s truck with no bed. Thor finds out about a satellite that crashed into the ground 50 miles from town, nobody can lift it out. He knows it’s his hammer but I’m not sure how
  
  
• First time noticing that the football team of Puente Antiguo is the Vikings
  
  
  
  
  
  
•  Darcy calls Mjolnir “Mew Mew” or something like that, I can’t really spell it. But it’s damn funny! Eric says the stories are like the ones from his youth. Stellan Skarsgard is Swedish, but his character must be from Norway. Probably Tunsberg
  
  
• Was it really necessary for SHIELD and Coulson to confiscate everything? Darcy lost her IPod (with like 30 songs) and Eric his laptop. He also mentions a scientist he used to know, an expert in Gamma Radiation. Bruce Banner? Unfortunately, the two characters are never together for us to see any familiarity
  
  
  
  
  
• I think Jane works out of a closed radio station electronics store called “Smith Radio.” There’s a Smith Radio in PA, a Spotify channel and there’s a radio station operated by Smith College in MA
  
  
• We see Loki on the throne with his giant horns; he’s the new King of Asgard. He didn’t want the throne (at least not until he went a little crazy) and he didn’t want Thor to have it either. He refuses to help his “friends.” Sif is pissed, but that may be because: she’s in love with Thor and that a long time ago, Loki cut Sif’s hair as a joke (this occurred in a reoccurring time loop in the Loki series – Loki feels bad)
  
  
• Eric’s in the local library to email his colleague about SHIELD (we see him get up from a computer) and finds a book on Norse Mythology. Darcy recognizes Mew Mew in the book somehow
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Thor is unable to ride a horse or giant dog to the hammer crash site. The clerk (this is in real life) later became a MAGA and Qanon hero by espousing conspiracy theories. He also played a Trekkie fan in Fanboys. He unfortunately committed suicide a few years ago
  
  
• SHIELD has set up a massive base around the hammer. Now it’s Thor vs many burly Agents of SHIELD. Hawkeye is there along with Sitwell (HYDRA traitor) and Coulson. When Hawkeye goes to the weapon locker, it looks like he wanted to grab a sniper rifle but changed his mind and grabbed the bow instead. Almost like he was grabbing the weapon for the first time, but we know that’s not right
  
  
  
  
  
  
• The hammer is giving off an electromagnetic surge and atmospheric conditions are making SHIELD’s instruments malfunction. It’s almost as if the hammer was waiting for Thor to pick it up but knows he can’t at this time. Thor’s not quite worthy yet. It’s a heartbreaking scene and is witnessed by Heimdall
  
  
• I love Coulson’s one-sided interrogation of Thor, asking him if he trained with traditional military or is a mercenary. He says Thor treated the agents like “minimum wage mall cops” and calls it not nice
  
  
• He’s visited by Loki at this low point and believes Loki when he says that Odin is dead and their mom doesn’t want to see him again. Luckily, Loki can’t lift the hammer either
  
  
• SHIELD equipment knows the Donald Blake ID is a fake, thrown together (probably by Darcy) using the real Donald Blake’s old driver’s license and the Facebook picture she took earlier of Thor. The only Donald Blake I recognize is the one from that Incredible Hulk TV movie with Thor in it
  
  
  
  
  
  
• SHIELD lets him go into the custody of Eric Selvig, who takes him to a bar. I think at this point, Thor really was willing to walk away from the town and hammer and wander Midgard. However, Eric buys him beers and boilermakers
  
  
•  Loki uses the Bifrost to visit Laufey. He admits it was him who let the other Frost Giants into Asgard for a bit of mischief. Loki never tells Laufey he’s his son but offers the Frost Giants a chance to kill the sleeping Odin
  
  
• Thor brings Eric back to Jane’s trailer drunk. Jane looks like she’s wearing a Miss Minutes shirt from the TVA but it’s a sun with rainbow (!) legs
  
  
  
  
  
  
•  Thor explains the secrets of the 9 Realms to Jane and that magic and science are the same thing. She begins to constitute a theory about the universe as it relates to Earth science and astrophysics. Thor mentions the Hubbell Telescope. I remember it being repaired years back. Its Wikipedia page states it’s led to breakthroughs in astrophysics and will last for a few more decades, taking clear pictures of space
  
  
•   Loki sends The Destroyer to Earth to kill Thor and everybody around him. At the same time, Heimdall sends the Warriors Three and Sif to Earth to retrieve Thor. Loki says that Heimdall is fired and banished and then freezes him using the Casket
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
•   Best line of the whole movie: A SHIELD agent (eating Burger King) describes the Asgardians as “Xena, Jackie Chan and Robin Hood.” So: Xena's a TV warrior princess from the 90's, Jackie Chan was an martial arts movie action star and Robin Hood is the archer that steals from the rich and gives to the poor. He also asks if there’s a Renaissance Fair in town. There is one in Santa Fe and Ruidoso in September and May. In case you’re wondering
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
•   Coulson and his agents investigate a disturbance in the desert (the marking caused by the Warriors coming from Asgard). They’re also ambushed by The Destroyer coming in the same place. One agent asks Coulson if it’s one of Starks, meaning is it Iron Man armor? Coulson replies that Stark never tells him anything and tells The Destroyer to open up because he’s using “unregistered weapons technology.” The Destroyer fires on the agents. His face plate opens up and energy pours out of it, making his whole body glow
  
  
  
  
  
  
• The Warriors fight it, using their own X-Men-style Fastball special while Sif stabs it. Nothing works. Thor is just a mortal now and cannot fight. He helps evacuate the townspeople. Odin sees all
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Thor finally puts other people before himself and sacrifices himself so his friends will live. Odin brings him back to life and restores his power and is able to summon and lift Mjolnir. He is worthy of his power now. Jane says “Oh. My. God.” And is instantly attracted to Thor, even kissing him. Thor destroys The Destroyer. SHIELD evidently picked up the pieces and made it into a gun
  
  
  
  
  
  
•   Thor calls Coulson “Son of Coul” and says they are now allies in defending Earth. Coulson will give back Jane her equipment so she can continue her research. Heimdall frees himself from ice just as Thor needs him to open the Bifrost. He promises to come back for Jane
  
  
•   Meanwhile, the Frost Giants are on the way to kill Odin. Frigga tries to defend her husband but is knocked aside. Loki then kills Laufey, his biological father and states that he is the son of Odin. In all the movies he’s in, Loki always flip-flops on his heritage—sometimes he’s angry at Thor and proclaims himself son of Laufey, but other times he’s the Odinson when they’re getting along (or about to be killed by Thanos)
  
  
•   When Loki opens up the Bifrost to destroy Joutenheim, he freezes it with the Casket, and the World Tree design comes out
  
  
•   Loki fights Thor and is a good warrior but also uses his illusions. He’s always been jealous and envious of Thor. In order to save Joutenheim, Thor must destroy the Bifrost. This is a move he would have never have done a few days before. Joutenheim would have been destroyed (but then again, Loki would have never been King, but I’m sure the arrogant Thor would have found a way to destroy all the Frost Giants).
  
  
•   Thor destroys the Bifrost, but plunges both himself and Loki into space. Odin, magically awake now, grabs Thor’s leg and Thor grabs Loki’s scepter. Loki then lets go of Thor, dropping into space unknown. We know by the post-credit scene (more in just a second) that Loki survived and was taken in by Thanos
  
  
•   Jane now works with SHIELD (they have a satellite phone) and is trying to locate Thor and Asgard with science. We find out in subsequent movies that Jane is not only up for the Nobel Prize in Science for her new theory but also a best-selling author. It’s called The Foster Theory. Perhaps this is something Reed Richards might want to read. She also gets cancer, becomes the Mighty Thor and is killed in battle, earning her way into Valhalla.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Eric Selvig continues to be an ally to Thor, even going crazy after being in thrall to Loki in Avengers. He continues to be a university professor and has worked for the Avengers organization
   
• Darcy’s the best one of them all. She sticks by Jane’s side in London after Thor doesn’t come back. We learn in Wandavision that during the Blip (when both Eric and Jane disappeared) she obtained a doctorate in astrophysics. She was smart enough to figure out Wanda’s Westview Anomaly. Between having adventures with SHIELD and Thor, she became a world authority on astrophysics, just like Jane
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Thor is melancholy, missing Jane much to the chagrin of his mother and Sif. He also mourns his brother, despite Loki trying to kill him on several occasions. He wants to learn from his father to be a better king and make him proud. Odin says he’s always been proud
  
  
• Post Credit Scene: Eric Selvig is wandering through a labyrinth of messy hallways to meet up with Nick Fury. I don’t think this was the facility that Project Pegasus is based out of, maybe it could be the bowels of Camp LeHigh, where Captain America was born and where they kept the Tesseract for decades. Fury wants Eric to study the Tesseract and give Earth power and clean energy. Loki appears in Eric’s reflection – “That’s worth a look.” I was under the impression that Loki possessed Eric, but I think he was just influencing him from a distance – he looked tired and weak in the reflection. He doesn’t physically meet Eric until Avengers and then takes over his mind using the Mind Stone. More on that another time
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Extra Thor Note: The fact that Thor sees himself as a hero and protector of Earth will definitely haunt him not only in movies to come, but in Doomsday. In Endgame, his inability to save the day (by killing Thanos the first time around) cost him his mental health and he ate and drank away his feelings. By Doomsday, he’s grown up quite a bit by having a daughter figure to look after and him wanting to get back to her once the fighting is all done. SPOILERS: By this point, Asgard is gone, Loki (at least a version of him), Jane Foster, Odin, Freya, Heimdall, all of them, are gone (I believe only Sif and Valkyrie are left). He really only has the Avengers and Love, his daughter. In the trailer described online, he implores his new allies to put aside their differences and work together to fight a huge evil like they have never faced
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Extra Loki Note: I’m going to admit that most of the Loki series went over my head. In the movies, Loki died and came back so many times I stopped caring. Now Loki has a new role: The God of Stories. What this will mean in Doomsday is anybody’s guess. The rumors are that he placed Steve Rogers and his family in the Fantastic Four universe so that nobody could find them. That’s pretty much all I’ve heard about Loki. He’s lived centuries more than the Thor he once knew and is responsible for much more than Asgard –the entire multiverse