Where did it all go wrong for the MCU's Iron Man, the franchise has grown into a powerhouse of modern cinema, dominating the big screen with a run of interconnected superhero movies and high-profile crossovers. Given the enduring popularity of Marvel's character roster, the MCU's financial success perhaps isn't surprising, but where the series really hits unprecedented territory is in its critical reception.
In Hollywood, any sequel that lives up to the original can be considered a pleasant surprise. A trilogy without a weak link is an even rarer beast, with Superman effort - even Nolan's revered Dark Knight trilogy ended with the divisive The Dark Knight Rises. Arguably the MCU's greatest achievement is that the vast majority of the 20-plus movies released thus far have been rapturously received by fans and critics.
As the God of Thunder, The Avengers. Expectations were reasonably high for his next outing, Thor: The Dark World, but the 2013 release is generally thought of as one of the franchise's few disappointments. What, exactly, went wrong with Thor 2?
The Villain - Malekith
Superhero movies are so often defined by the strength, or otherwise, of their main villain, and Marvel especially have at times struggled to craft compelling antagonists for their solo movies. Malekith's flaws more than his MCU contemporaries.
The Dark Elves could've been an exciting addition to Marvel movie canon; instead they were a cookie-cutter force for Chris Hemsworth to fight against. As their leader, Malekith also should've been better, especially being played by the highly respected Christopher Eccleston. Instead, the actor has spoken unfavorably about his time with Marvel and views his stint in Thor: The Dark World as a paycheck. Certainly, there's very little for Eccleston to work with in the Thor sequel. Lacking either the intricacy of Loki or the sinister, personal darkness of Cate Blanchett's Hela, Malekith is a stereotypical invader who never feels like a serious threat to the God of Thunder, and is never given enough depth to make the audience invest in their fight.
Following The Avengers
It speaks to the overall strength of the MCU as a franchise that while most would consider Thor: The Dark World the low point of Kevin Feige's Hollywood takeover, the sequel still isn't an outright bad movie. There are some nice gags (Thor on the London tube springs to mind), typically impressive action sequences, and the roller coaster dynamic between Thor and Loki enjoys some of its finest moments. But Marvel Studios setting such a high bar for themselves with previous releases proves a poisoned chalice, from which Thor: The Dark World was unlucky enough to take the first sip.
2012's The Avengers was a cinematic game-changer, finally unleashing the potential of the MCU and exponentially increasing the franchise's audience. Releasing in the year between The Avengers and Iron Man 3. However, Stark had already endured his own sophomore slump in 2010, and had learned the lessons necessary to make the third film a success, even following the grandeur of The Avengers. Thor wasn't so lucky.
Thor & Jane Foster's Romance
Agents of SHIELD's Fitz & Simmons for a more successful example), but the duo instead behave like that one couple who just need to get it together or call it quits.
Thor and Jane do finally unite by the end of The Dark World, but so uninspired was their journey, few cared when the couple were broken-up off-screen, leaving Thor free to move on to bigger and better things. Like Christopher Eccleston's Malekith, Thor: The Dark World put the talented Portman in a distinctly one-dimensional role, and it's no surprise that the actress opted out of future MCU appearances for a long time. Having already reinvented the Thor series, Taika Waititi has tempted Thor: Love & Thunder, and it'll be fascinating to see what the film does differently compared to The Dark World in of romance for Thor.
The MCU Formula & Backstage Woes
The Marvel Studios operation is very much a machine of rapid turnover releases set within defined creative parameters, and these restrictions have cost the services of directors such as Edgar Wright and Wonder Woman's Patty Jenkins, who departed after disagreeing with Marvel Studios' vision for the story.
When Alan Taylor finally signed on to direct Thor: The Dark World, the deadly combination of strict time restrictions and heavy studio influence wasn't conducive to a creatively inspiring environment. Taylor has since recalled drafting in The Avengers director Joss Whedon to help save production. If Thor: The Dark World was afforded more time and the same creative freedom enjoyed by Waititi, the sequel might've fared better.
Thor's Lack Of Identity
One of the biggest problems endured by Chris Hemsworth's Thor in his second solo outing is the protagonist's lack of a defining identity, and the actor himself has picked up on this flaw, describing how he became bored playing the Marvel superhero around the time of Thor: The Dark World. In his original adventure, Thor embarked on a journey of self-discovery learning to be worthy of his hammer, coming of age, and acclimatizing to Earth's new surroundings. In The Avengers, Thor is learning to work as part of a team and struggling to stop Loki destroying his second-favorite planet, testing the God of Thunder's loyalties. In The Dark World, Thor is more a generic action hero. The Loki dynamic develops further, but Thor is essentially a stereotypical tough guy with long hair and a hammer.
Thor was reinvigorated by Waititi's Odin's successor, all while retaining the most successful element of Thor: The Dark World - Loki. These new strands to Thor's story proved essential in evolving the superhero following his recruitment into the Avengers, finally giving Hemsworth something to do other than flex his muscles and look intense.
