As Marvel Studios revealed their lineup for comic-book movies until 2019, now is the time for fans to rejoice in speculation as we transition to Phase 3. One of my most anticipated movies –
Thor: Ragnarok – has been slated for July 28, 2017. Unfortunately, the
Thor franchise has received much flack over the past year because of the increasing expectations from comic-book fans – especially after the most recent MCU entries in
Captain America: The Winter Soldier and
The Guardians of the Galaxy. While
Iron Man 3 has also endured disdain from hardcore comic-book fans, the
Iron Man franchise can always fallback to its critically and fan-acclaimed first film. On the other hand, most comic-book fans can agree that the
Thor franchise has yet to have one truly amazing movie.
I want to mention that I am not well-versed in comic book lore, nor Norse mythology. I will gather my inspiration from the past
Thor movies as well as the animated series,
The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes (More specifically, Season 2 Episode 8 “The Ballad of Beta-Ray Bill”).
This is purely based on a fantasy in my mind, but I tried to make this consistent with the MCU as much as possible. This plot will depend on some assumptions that must happen prior to
Thor: Ragnarok:
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Thor dies at the end of The Avengers: Age of Ultron (a really big reach… but he is the easiest hero to revive if Joss Whedon really wanted the team to experience a loss in the fight against Ultron).
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Thor and Jane break up (as rumored in the beginning sequence of The Avengers: Age of Ultron).
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Odin is not really dead (as we were led to believe in Thor: The Dark World).
Introduction:
The movie starts in the realm of Muspelheim, within the quarters of Surtur’s lair. Odin and his two brothers, Vili and Ve, confront Surtur to talk about the prophecy known as Ragnarok. The prophecy foretells the death of Odin and Thor (as well as many others) with Surtur being an integral part of the destruction of the nine realms. (This will pretty much introduce the concept of Ragnarok and explain what it is).
It turns out Surtur would prefer for the nine realms to be destroyed, much to Odin’s dismay. The three brothers decide to fight Surtur and get pulverized. Vili and Ve are near certain death and summon a portal for Odin to escape. As Odin reluctantly travels through it, he notices his brothers’ powers transferred to him before they die. This marks the birth of the Odinforce.
ACT I: Escape from Hel
Thor wakes up to find himself in Hel – a land of darkness. He sees visions of the Avengers failing to protect the world. He is haunted by images of his loved ones dying – Jane, Odin, and a repeat of Loki dying. Thor is going mad until the images cease. Hela reveals herself and Thor is horrified.
Meanwhile, Sif and the Warrior’s Three are seen exploring a big, snowy mountainous landscape. They are on a rescue mission to free Thor from the underworld. However, they must first ask someone for advice – Balder.
Balder is revealed to have experienced Hel before. (Though we won’t into much detail about that for the sake of simplicity). Balder’s appearance is that of a gentle giant. He sits very still in one spot and befriends a bird that flies into his lap. You can tell he is very powerful but restrained. It is revealed that Odin has enchanted a prison for Balder because prophecy states that Balder’s death will trigger the events of Ragnarok. Sif asks Balder how they can find Thor, but he refuses to give any input. He merely tells them to prepare for the visions that they may experience.
Back on Hel, Thor is fighting a bunch of fire demons. During the fight, he saves a fragile woman with tattered clothing and dirt on her face. She shows her appreciation and quickly falls in love with Thor. When Thor asks for her name, she says, Amora.
Just as Thor is about to accept his fate, Sif and the Warrior’s Three make a ruckus and attempt to break Thor out of there. Hela first appears to be angry towards the unwelcomed visitors. But she begins to have a vision of the future – which includes many souls entering Hel (foreshadowing that Ragnarok is coming and a lot of people will die). Hela realizes this and decides to let Thor, Sif, the Warrior’s Three, AND AMORA go back to Asgard.
Amora (The Enchantress) is first shown to be fragile and somewhat innocent. She has the potential to be a very dynamic, complex character. She can be the female equivalent of Loki. However, when she sees Thor and Sif comfortable together (Insert Thor/Sif romantic scene here), she takes an interesting turn. She is bent on having Thor all for herself, no matter what.
Thor returns to Asgard and Odin (Loki in disguise) is not too pleased. Heimdall seems to already know Loki’s secret but is waiting for an opportunity to expose him. Loki notices Amora’s rage and recruits her into his evil plan. He promises her the love of Thor, and she quickly says yes. Loki gives Amora her first task – to kill Balder. Also, he introduces her to another strong and powerful ally named Skurge (The Executioner) to accompany her.
Balder is shown in the same spot he was last shown. Skurge tries to attack Balder head-on and this starts our second epic fight. Balder seems to easily overpower Skurge until Amora sneak-attacks him from behind. Amora is revealed to possess formidable magical powers. With Amora and Skurge’s abilities combined, they manage to successfully kill Balder.
They deliver Loki the news, and Loki has this “it’s all going according to plan” face. It shows him talking to a mysterious being (they are communicating via magical telepathy). I will spoil it and say he is allying himself with SURTUR.
ACT II: The Ballad of Beta-Ray Bill
An unknown spacecraft is seen flying near Asgard. Thor, Sif, and the Warrior’s Three decide to investigate. Inside the spacecraft (named Skuttlebutt), Thor encounters an unfamiliar alien race called the Korbinites, mostly all asleep inside numerous pods. The protector of the Korbinites – Beta-Ray Bill – appears and attacks Thor and the other Asgardians. This is our third epic battle. During the fight, Beta-Ray Bill is able to lift Thor’s hammer.
Meanwhile, Heimdall is exploring the kingdom and manages to find Odin (The Real Odin!) inside a glass case asleep. Assuming Loki has tricked Odin into performing Odinsleep, Heimdall confronts Loki and the secret is out. Amora appears and defends Loki from Heimdall’s attacks. Loki and Amora escape, as if they don’t feel it’s the right time to fight yet. Heimdall manages to wake Odin and the true king of Asgard has returned.
Odin calls for Thor to come back. So Thor, Sif, and the Warrior’s Three are transported back into Asgard. Surprisingly, Beta-Ray Bill is also transported to Asgard. When Thor reveals to Odin that Beta-Ray Bill is able to lift Mjolnir, Odin sees Bill as a potential ally. As a result, Odin constructs a second hammer for Beta-Ray Bill to use, called Stormbreaker. Everyone is surprised for why Odin would do such a thing, but no one questions it.
The prophecy also states that Thor will die at the hands of the Midgard Serpent. Since Balder is dead, Odin is preparing for Ragnarok to come. The REAL reason Odin created another hammer for Beta-Ray Bill was to find a loophole in the prophecy. Beta-Ray Bill (with all the same powers of Thor) will be the one to die, and not Thor.
ACT III: Ragnarok
Loki, Amora, and Skurge arrive on Earth. Loki unleashes the Midgard Serpent, a creature that lives under the deep depths of the ocean. All of the main Asgardians (except for Odin and Heimdall) follow Loki to Earth and try to stop him. While Sif, Bill, and the Warrior’s Three try to contain the serpent, Thor tries to talk to Loki. Loki reveals to Thor that he is IN LEAGUE with Surtur. While all of the Asgardians are on Earth, Surtur appears in Asgard and wreaks havoc. In an amazing twist, Surtur successfully kills Odin.
Thor goes crazy on Loki. But as Thor has Loki in a chokehold, he just doesn’t have the heart to kill his brother. Loki sees this opportunity and gains an upper hand on Thor. Just as Loki is about to kill Thor (without any hesitation), Amora stops Loki and saves Thor. Amora shouts out, “You cannot kill Thor, he is mine! I shall have him!” Loki shifts his focus and tries to kill Amora but Skurge jumps in the way and saves her.
Looking in horror, Thor brings shame to Loki. Thor says to Loki, “Look at what you’ve become!”
Consumed with evil, Loki calmly replies, “I am the god of mischief.” Loki is brought down to his knees in defeat.
Meanwhile, Beta-Ray Bill has an epic battle with the serpent and nearly kills it. But in the end, he is unable to slay the beast and dies. In a revelation, Sif realizes why Odin gave Beta-Ray Bill the power of Thor. She says in disbelief, “This must have been what Odin had planned.”
Thor feels a power surge through him. At that moment, Thor has inherited the power of the Odinforce! He conjures a huge lightning cloud and finally kills the serpent. Immediately, Thor, Sif, the Warrior’s Three, and a reluctant Loki all return to Asgard to battle Surtur. Amora is stranded on Earth with a wounded Skurge (The Enchantress becomes an Earth villain! Possibly setting up a Masters of Evil movie in the future?)
The battle with Surtur is the ultimate climactic fight. Asgard is in shambles. One of the Warrior’s Three should probably die (either one will work just fine). Everyone lends a hand to help Thor defeat Surtur and save Asgard. Even Loki will help Thor (though, probably just to save himself). During the fight, Loki escapes in the Bifrost. This will ensure that he will appear in Avengers 3. Loki might be escaping to report back to Thanos.
Thor is finally victorious and manages to kill Surtur and avenge his father. Thor mourns the death of Odin, Balder, and One of the Warrior’s Three. As the movie ends, he has Sif, Heimdall, and an incomplete Warrior’s Three by his side. Thor finally accepts his fate as the new King of Asgard.
Why It Happens:
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Epic! Includes many characters and fan service.
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Amora becomes “Earth Villain” to be used for future films.
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Thor is “forced” to be king of Asgard (Sif “forced” to be Queen?) and can still return for Avengers 3.
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Loki survives for Avengers 3
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Loki succeeds in his task given by Thanos – to get rid of two big powers in Odin and Surtur
Why It Doesn’t Happen:
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Thor might not die in Avengers: AOU
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Too dark? Too much death?
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Too much of a convoluted plot?
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Anthony Hopkins said he was done with making Thor movies
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Beta-Ray Bill dying would be a total waste
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In Avengers: AOU, Scarlet Witch supposedly told Thor something. Thor might already know Loki’s secret.
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Loki and Heimdall are reported to cameo in a scene together in Avengers: AOU, making their first encounter in this story seem unlikely.
Thank you so much for reading! Please let me know what you think below. Whether you want to say you enjoyed it, or you want to blast me for my blasphemous creative decisions, then by all means let me know! Is Amora and Skurge even a match for Balder?
- good day!