How Thor’s Immortality Adds Depth to the Entire MCU Story and His PTSD at the End of ‘Avengers: Endgame’
From Thor through Avengers: Endgame, Chris Hemsworth’s immortal character brought something unique to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The MCU is full of vital, interesting characters, from the sardonic, brilliant Iron Man/Tony Stark to the naive charm of Peter Parker/Spider-Man. But few characters have earned more fan acclaim than the character of Thor.
The legendary comic book character was brought to life in the MCU by Hemsworth has appeared in some of the most influential movies in the franchise. With another Thor-centric film on the horizon, some fans discussed how he’s contributed in unique ways.
Thor is one of the most important characters in the MCU
Thor, the mythical son of Odin, debuted in the 2011 film of the same name. Impulsive and a bit reckless, Thor follows his heart. He makes several rash decisions in the film that lead to his exile to earth by his father. It is on earth that Thor meets scientist Jane Foster, and experiences his first encounter with SHIELD. Over the films that follow, Thor joins up with the Avengers Initiative. He becomes one of the most vital and powerful members of the elite group.
By Avengers: Endgame, Thor has matured a great deal. His gravity and sense of purpose add much to the Avengers. Thor never loses his compassion and big heart. However, the deaths of some of his friends and close family do a great deal of emotional damage to the Asgardian. Most notably, the loss of his brother Loki, the unpredictable and tenacious god of mischief, causes him great sadness.
How did Thor’s immortality add depth to his role in ‘Avengers: Endgame’?
In Avengers: Endgame, viewers see that Thor’s experiences in Infinity War have changed him. Those experiences lead to his struggles with PTSD in the film.
Interestingly, Thor wasn’t always presented as an immortal being in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In fact, in the movie Thor, he is introduced as the god of thunder. But he’s never actually described as being immortal. However, in recent years, Marvel has changed up Thor’s status a bit, describing Thor’s relationship with the concept of time as being closer to what an immortal deity would experience.
According to Screen Rant, making Thor immortal doesn’t take away any of the trauma that the character experienced, however. Rather, those experiences became heightened. Thor defines himself by the tragic deaths of his father, mother, and brother, as well as the loss of his homeworld and comrades. It is no wonder, therefore, that the formerly powerful god would be such a tragic figure when audiences see him in Avengers: Endgame: depressed, overweight, and reclusive.
What’s next for the character of Thor?
Viewers can see the next phase of Thor’s arc when Thor: Love and Thunder, debuts in May 2022. While few details about the storyline have been revealed, many fans believe that the film will be Chris Hemsworth’s swan song in the MCU. The movie could set up a story arc that would involve Jane Foster wielding Thor’s mighty hammer.
For now, Marvel executives and those involved continue to keep specifics under wraps. So it could be several months before fans get any real answers about what the MCU holds for Thor.
