While Thor arguably has the weakest solo trilogy in the MCU, Taika Waititi managed to salvage it with the third chapter, 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok, one of the franchise’s most vibrant, fun-filled, action-packed cinematic adventures. Chris Hemsworth had begun to get bored of the role after the first two Thor movies but found his interest reinvigorated when Waititi came aboard.
It’s not that 2011’s Thor and 2013’s Thor: The Dark World are particularly bad. The first one is a perfectly serviceable origin story and the second one, though widely considered to be the MCU’s worst entry, still has its moments.
Most Disappointing: Malekith’s Introduction
Christopher Eccleston is one of the finest actors in the world, so fans got excited when he was cast to play the villain in the sequel to Thor.
But sadly, from the very beginning of Thor: The Dark World, it’s made clear that Malekith is yet another one-note baddie with a vaguely defined evil plan who speaks exclusively in trailer-friendly soundbites.
Most Satisfying: Thor Becomes Worthy
At the beginning of 2011’s Thor, the God of Thunder is introduced as a cocky royal who’s had everything handed to him. He considers his hammer and his powers to be his birthrights. So, he’s pretty stunned when Odin takes them both away and banishes him to Earth.
By the end of the movie, Thor has become truly worthy. The way he measures his worthiness in these movies is delightfully visual: he holds out his arm and if his hammer soars into his hand, he knows he’s worthy.
Most Disappointing: Jane Is Reduced To A Background Character In The Dark World
There was a lot of promise in Jane Foster’s journey to Asgard in Thor: The Dark World, as it presented an intriguing counterpoint to the first movie. In the first one, Thor was a fish out of water on Earth; in the second one, Jane could’ve been a fish out of water on Asgard.
However, after Loki became the breakout character of The Avengers, Marvel mandated much more of him in The Dark World’s script, which originally sidelined the trickster god. Jane was a casualty of this, as she was sidelined in his place. When she’s imbued with an Infinity Stone, Jane becomes the MacGuffin. When Loki s the adventure, Jane is pushed into the background — literally — as Thor and Loki’s sibling rivalry takes precedence.
Patty Jenkins was lucky enough to be able to jump ship before directing Marvel’s bad script for The Dark World, but Natalie Portman had to fulfill her contract before opting out of being a talking prop in a franchise that had no interest in her character.
Most Satisfying: The Dark Elves’ Invasion Of Asgard
While there’s not a lot of merit in Thor: The Dark World, the Dark Elves’ invasion of Asgard is a terrific set piece. When their ships arrive and Heimdall is too late to warn the Asgardians about it, he takes on the first ship singlehandedly.
Frigga’s death remains one of the heartbreaking in the entire MCU. Thor’s mother meant a lot to him, Rene Russo played her brilliantly, and her ing had a ton of emotional impact.
Most Disappointing: The Dark World’s Final Battle
The structure of Thor: The Dark World is a prime example of what the MCU’s detractors claim all its films to be. It introduces a one-note villain who wants a MacGuffin, then stumbles through three painfully predictable acts.
Eventually, it culminates in a big final battle that has no weight because it’s a confused mess of action and there’s no palpable dynamic between the hero and the villain.
Most Satisfying: Frigga’s Funeral
The most memorable funeral in the MCU will always be Tony Stark’s at the end of Endgame because it was the culmination of the entire Infinity Saga and almost everyone was in attendance. But Frigga’s funeral in The Dark World is a close second.
In addition to sending off a beloved character following their heartbreaking demise, this scene also introduced the magnificent Asgardian tradition of throwing lavish Viking-esque funerals.
Most Disappointing: The Death Of The Warriors Three
While the Warriors Three were set up as lovable ing characters in the first Thor movie, they got sidelined in the second movie and then pretty much forgotten about, which is a real shame, because they’re great characters.
In Thor: Ragnarok, when Hela arrives on Asgard, the Warriors Three are killed off in one fell swoop. This wasn’t ever to prove how powerful Hela is, because her singlehanded crushing of Mjolnir already proved that.
Most Satisfying: Thor Versus Hulk
We’ll probably never get to see a live-action “Planet Hulk” movie, or a Hulk solo movie in the MCU at all for that matter, so the Sakaar-bound subplot in Thor: Ragnarok in which the God of Thunder finds his big, green friend working as a gladiator for the Grandmaster is probably the closest we’ll get.
As a consolation prize in lieu of a “Planet Hulk” movie, Thor’s fight with the Hulk in the Grandmaster’s gladiatorial arena was pretty awesome.
Most Disappointing: Thor And Jane’s Off-Screen Breakup
It’s understandable why Natalie Portman wasn’t interested in returning for the third Thor movie after being given a one-dimensional love interest role in the first one and getting shoved into the background of the second one, but it was pretty disappointing when Thor and Jane’s off-screen breakup is brushed off during a chat with an in-universe fan.
Fortunately, Taika Waititi is giving Jane the powers of Thor in the Love and Thunder, so he might be able to rectify the mistakes made with Jane’s characterization earlier in the MCU.
Most Satisfying: Thor’s Triumphant Comeback In Ragnarok
When Thor finally confronts Hela on Asgard, he finds himself hopelessly outmatched. His long-lost sister effortlessly defeats him in hand-to-hand combat and rips out his eye, prompting a vision from Odin that inspires Thor to tap into his inner godliness.
Set to the Norse mythology-themed sounds of Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song,” Thor triumphantly returns to the bridge on a bolt of lightning and tears through Hela’s armies.
