Beware, the following blog has OPINIONS!!!
...and also spoilers.
"Big Lebowski" Thor
(11:29)
Okay, Red. Ignoring the fact that you had to go on a separate tangent and vent about your feelings about Thor that were forced and not at all the point of the rest of the video, I respect you and your work (if you have the time I totally recommend checking out the rest of the video and Overly Sarcastic Productions) and I understand how a fan of Thor or just about anyone may interpret his portrayal in the movie as disrespectful, but the amount of people saying the same thing about "Fat Thor" and similar plot points rub me the wrong way and-at the risk of sounding like a raging apologist- are totally missing the point.
Yes, they did spend roughly a collective five to ten minutes focusing on how Thor has become overweight and an alcoholic as a result of his unimaginable inner turmoil brought about from the last few MCU films, but to say they spent the entire movie deriding him as a comedic stereotype comic relief character is a gross exaggeration, misinterprets these scenes, and completely glosses over a number of key factors.
A) In the first 20 minutes of the film before the 5-year time skip, Thor is portrayed the same as he is in Infinity War. He is regal, stoic, badass, and has a demanding presence that steals the show. Not to mention, he redeems his character flaw moment in IW and doesn't waste any time "going for the head", as Thanos gloated to him previously. He doesn't care for Thanos' spiel or his new lifestyle he's taken up, and doesn't wait around to hear what he has to say. He immediately cuts off his dominant hand, eliminating the opportunity of him catching Thor off guard again, and soon after decapitates him, alluding to his vengeance as "fate willed it so" in IW. This can also be interpreted as a callback to Avengers 1, when Tony says "If we can't save the world, you can be damn sure we'll avenge it", which solidifies Thor's place in their team rather than being the arrogant loan wolf he was early on.
B) He has a 100% serious character moment with his mother where he breaks down to her and admits his feelings of being a failure. This tells us a number of things; that this is what he is like behind closed doors, that the moments of levity (which are much-needed given the heavy tone by the way) are a front to cheer up his friends and put on a brave face for everyone else despite his unbearable burden, and his self-isolation and alcoholism are his way of coping with said burden, not to mention are an incredibly human and realistic response to such tragic loss.
"But he shouldn't be realistic and human! He is a GOD and he needs to act like one!"
Wrong. Ever since his first movie his father wanted him to be down-to-Earth and more human. It's why Odin stripped him of his power until he was worthy: he wanted him to learn humility. And his entire character arc in the MCU has been nothing but humbling. And I fail to see how being immortal or hailing from a different land makes you exempt from human emotion, as it is displayed that celestial beings and aliens can experience it as well in this universe.
C) He gets Mjolnir back, and for the first time in a while, he gives a genuine smile from the joy to learn that he is still worthy despite his condition and mental state.
D) When Captain America wields Mjolnir, he exclaims "I knew it!" in excitement and pride in a friend. If this was Thor 1 Thor, he would have been angry and his pride would be wounded that someone other than him is worthy. He even happily swaps weapons with him and acknowledges him as Mjolnir's new wielder, being satisfied enough with his own power and Stormbreaker. This is a genuine character moment and shows his growth throughout these events.
Professor Hulk
This is honestly the best thing you can do with the character, don't @ me.
Just in case the image at the top didn't speak volumes enough, this character arc centers around the duality of Bruce Banner and his internal struggle with the Hulk. Throughout his movies we've seen him struggle with his dual identity as man and monster. In Incredible Hulk, he tries to prevent himself from turning, taking preventative measures such as wearing a pulse-monitoring watch to mind his blood pressure and taking up martial arts and meditation, living in constant fear of himself, that the animal inside will break free if he's not careful. In the end of the movie, he transforms at will.
This carries over to Avengers 1, (where Banner apparently gets a facelift and new body structure...? Ignore that.) where Banner has learned to access the transformation at will as he reveals in the final act of the film: he is always angry.
And in Age of Ultron, we get the strange and unexpected yet understandable pairing of him with Natasha, using her as an anchor to revert back to human form. Their relationship shows him that it is possible for someone to love all sides of him, and he slowly begins to see that in himself.
In Ragnarok, he has more of a human-like speech pattern, able to carry on conversation but speaking in broken English and referring to himself in third person like in the comics. He also remains the Hulk for extended periods of time, an entire two years. He describes it as the Hulk locking him in the trunk whereas he could slightly control the ride with his hand on the wheel before. And we see that when Thor meets him: "No Banner, only HULK!" In the Contest of Champions, Hulk finds a crowd who loves him and he gets to do what he does best, but it comes at the expense of Bruce Banner's happiness and autonomy.
In Infinity War, it's the polar opposite. Banner is permanently stuck as Banner and cannot become the Hulk despite him willfully trying to. The movie doesn't touch on this much as it isn't the central focus, but supposedly this is an extension of how the Hulk felt in Ragnarok, a refusal to be appear on Earth because he causes nothing but destruction. Rather, Banner dons the Hulkbuster armor, still being a useful team member without the need of Hulking out.
And finally, we have Endgame, fitting as this is the end of his character arc and his struggles. Both Banner and Hulk have finally accepted one another as two sides of the same coin. He is one of the "others" Cap referred to when he says "Others move on, but not us." He is no longer seen as a monster, living in peace among humans. I'm about to say something very controversial here and I'm even wincing as I say it but bear with me and keep an open mind: This is honestly better than what you can do with the character in the comics.
I CAN HEAR YOU ANGRILY TYPING, YOU PUT THOSE TORCHES AND PITCHFORKS DOWN AND HERE ME OUT!
Now, what I mean by this is that a legitimate wrap-up for a character is out of the question in comics. Peter Parker is finally settled down and happily married and doesn't have to be Spiderman anymore as Ben Riley has it covered? Nope! Can't have that, we need conflict in his relationship and he needs to put on the suit again!
Wolverine finally achieves peace and a proper sendoff with X23 taking up the mantle? Nope! Guess what, he's alive again, no one ever dies in comics!
Status quo bitches, we need to sell comics!
Basically what I'm getting at here is the Infinity saga would wrap up and then we'd have Worldbreaker Hulk as another event to keep things trucking. But here's the thing: Worldbreaker Hulk, while it would have been cool to see on the big screen, is just more unnecessary trauma for Hulk and Banner. In order for his arc to continue, he MUST have conflict, and sometimes that means sacrificing characters for the sake of the status quo.
Keep in mind, I am by no means deriding the comics. They have legitamately good moments that the movies could never replicate, and yes, these character conflicts make more excellent storytelling. All I'm pointing out is that this movie gave its characters and by extension the Hulk the one thing that comic books are most afraid of giving their characters: closure.
And what they did with the Hulk in this movie is the best form of closure you could give a character, aside from Cap's sendoff, but that's a topic for another blog.
What Endgame does is better than any "Hulk Smash" moment they could have done, and have already done to death in several of the movies.
Rather than being a destroyer, Hulk gets to play the role of a creator, bringing life to everyone Thanos had erased. He gets the honor of wearing the Infinity Gauntlet and undoing the snap with a snap of his own, saving the world and establishing himself as a hero rather than a monster.
Well... that's all I have to say for now. Thanks for sticking around. And if you disagree... I'm sorry I guess?
If nothing else I hope I offered a different perspective.
I am Hero's Shade, and I'll see you all next time.
