The film picks up with Thor Odinson (Chris Hemsworth) after the events of Avengers: Endgame, in which he has decided to join the space Guardians of the Galaxy. He also reunites with former flame Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), who has been empowered by his old hammer Mjolnir and has become the Mighty Thor, as they face the chilling threat of Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale). Once you’ve wrapped your head around the end of the film and its other great looks, it’s time to swing your enchanted hammer and jump into the SPOILERS for the middle and post-scenes.
A vengeful god
In the mid-credits scene, it is revealed that Zeus (Russell Crowe) survived after Thor fired the Greek god’s own thunderbolt into his chest. Leaning on his throne, Zeus expresses his anger that humans now worship superheroes over gods. “They’ll fear us again when they see Thor Odinson fall from the sky,” he says bitterly. “Do you understand me Hercules? Do you understand me my son?” Brett Goldstein, who appears as Hercules in the Thor: Love and Thunder scene, shows off his almost godlike strength by holding up the Emmy he won for Ted Lasso in 2021. Rich Fury/Getty Images We’re introduced to the MCU’s Hercules (Brett Goldstein, Ted Lasso’s lovably grumpy Roy Kent). “Yes father,” he growls.
What it means?
Marvel’s Hercules was introduced in the comics as Thor’s rival in the 60s, but later became his ally and joined the Avengers. He has appeared regularly in the decades since his debut, occasionally starring in his own series. Herc is a bit of a braggart, but a reliable friend to his fellow heroes. Hercules has starred in many sitcoms since the 60s, but usually appears as a supporting character. Marvel Studios The character was first thought to be a rogue of the time-traveling villain Immortus, but was later revealed to be a rogue — mostly because he didn’t really fit his later characterization and because “rogue” is a comic book classic. explanation for such discrepancies. Immortus partially inspired the Loki villain He Who Remains, who was an alternate reality version of the future MCU villain Kang. Since the movies and shows regularly delve into classic comic book stories, it’s possible that Hercules will team up with Kang in his quest to destroy Thor. Regardless, it’s possible that Hercules and Thor will become allies at some point in the future — Goldstein is simply too popular and lovable to remain a villain. He is also Ted Lasso’s supporting actor who has made a recent scene after the MCU shows. Cristo Fernández, known for his portrayal of Dani “Football is life” Rojas in the Apple TV Plus series, appeared in one of the extra scenes of Spider-Man: No Way Home last December.
Life after death
As Thor struggled to stop Gor from reaching almighty Eternity and wishing all the gods away, Jane gave up her cancer treatment to take on Mjolnir one last time and rode to his aid. The heroic duo managed to convince Gore to abandon his genocidal campaign, but lost his battle with the disease shortly afterwards. Heimdall returns in love and Thunder transfers a glimpse into the Asgardian afterlife. Marvel Studios The post-credits scene reunites us with Jane after her death as she passes through a portal and finds herself in a beautiful mountain location. She is greeted by Heimdall (Idris Elba), the all-knowing guardian of Asgard’s Bifrost Bridge who was killed by Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War. “You are most welcome here in the land of the gods,” he says warmly. “Welcome to Valhalla.”
What it means?
Valhalla, the Asgardian paradise inspired by Norse mythology, was mentioned earlier in the film. When Thor meets a wounded Lady Sif (Jaimie Alexander) after her encounter with Gorr, she urges him to let her die so he can go to Valhalla. Thor reminds her that she would only go there if she died in battle, so she agrees to go to New Asgard and patch up. When Jane dies at Thor’s hands after the final fight with Gorr, she disintegrates into stardust like Odin (Anthony Hopkins) did in Thor: Ragnarok, implying that she had been accepted as an Asgardian despite being born human. This could mean that Jane will be laid to rest among the other fallen gods in the afterlife, never to be seen again (especially since the return of Portman, Elba, and Hopkins would be expensive). However, MCU post-concert scenes usually serve to set up future plot lines, and Jane’s comic counterpart became Valkyrie after the conclusion of Mighty Thor. Jane’s comic superhero career led to her becoming a Valkyrie. Marvel Comics In the MCU, this group of elite female warriors was slaughtered in battle with the goddess of death Hela. King Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) was the only survivor. In the comics and Norse mythology, the Valkyries guide those who fall in battle in Valhalla, so their MCU counterparts may have served a similar purpose—Jane could eventually join their ranks. Valhalla is also likely just a dimension in the MCU, and it might be possible to travel to and from it since the multiverse was opened up in the Loki season finale. So Jane and Thor could be reunited.
Could Loki be in Valhalla?
The original MCU Loki is dead, having been killed by Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War (the one we followed in the Disney Plus series was an alternate timeline). Since OG Loki was killed in battle, he should have been rewarded with a blissful eternity in Valhalla. It’s also possible that the original version of the character isn’t dead, since the older Classic Loki — a variant from another timeline — seen in the Disney Plus series was revealed to have tricked Thanos with a hyperrealistic projection. After that, he lived in solitude on a remote planet “for a long, long time.” The timeline of classic Loki differed from the main one when he left the remote world to see Thor. This suggests that the normal version of the character remained in seclusion, so he may not have made it to Valhalla after all.
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