The Most Disappointing Moment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has gained its popularity mainly due to specific scenes that deeply resonate with the general public. Moments like Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) overpowering Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and the humorous shawarma scene in The Avengers, Captain America (Chris Evans) and the other Earth's Mightiest Heroes attempting to lift Thor's (Chris Hemsworth) hammer in Avengers: Age of Ultron, and the poignant funeral scene in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 have become so memorable that they have taken on lives of their own separate from the movies they originated from. However, the franchise has also produced some awkward and ineffective sequences that have become infamous for all the wrong reasons.

The lowest point in terms of such sequences encompasses the absolute worst scenes in the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. Examples include Thor's encounter with a magical cave in Avengers: Age of Ultron or the unsatisfying cliffhanger ending of Eternals, both of which left both comic book enthusiasts and non-geeks alike bewildered. Yet, when it comes to singling out the worst scene in the Marvel Studios films, there is really no competition. Thor: The Dark World is widely considered the biggest failure for a reason, and scenes like the introduction of Erik Selvig (Stellan Skarsgård) running naked at Stonehenge contribute to this reputation.

What Is This 'Thor: The Dark World' Scene Exactly?

Image via Marvel Studios 

In Thor: The Dark World, the people of London are being perplexed by strange happenings. Jane Foster and Darcy, in particular, are in need of a knowledgeable scientist to assist them. Unfortunately, Selvig, their trusted colleague from the first Thor, has been affected by his encounter with Loki in The Avengers, leaving him under the God of Mischief's control. While Selvig was eventually freed from this influence, his mind has not fully recovered.

To demonstrate Selvig's altered state, Thor: The Dark World presents a news report featuring Selvig at Stonehenge, completely nude and holding a large scientific device. Although Selvig's actions make perfect sense to him, they appear nonsensical to the onlookers. As depicted in the news footage, authorities are attempting to apprehend and confine Selvig. Subsequently, Selvig is shown being held in a mental institution, where he can no longer engage in naked escapades at famous landmarks.

Why This 'Thor: The Dark World' Scene Is So Bad

In concept, Selvig's deteriorating mental state after being brainwashed in The Avengers is depicted in this sequence. It also serves as a stark contrast to his earlier authoritative role in the original Thor. Additionally, this scene in Thor: The Dark World aims to bring some comedic relief, providing the kind of laughter that Marvel Studios became known for after Joss Whedon's witty writing in The Avengers and Shane Black's humor in Iron Man 3. However, despite the initial promise, the execution of this scene is a complete mess.

Image via Marvel Studios

This scene in Thor: The Dark World is plagued with numerous issues, primarily its lack of humor. Despite attempting to be a comedic moment, this sequence falls flat in terms of comedy. Relying solely on the idea of "naked older man equals funny" without incorporating any other comedic elements reflects lazy writing. In contrast, films like The Avengers and Iron Man 3 successfully extracted laughter from audiences through cleverly written one-liners and subtle physical nuances displayed by talented actors like Robert Downey Jr. and Ben Kingsley. However, this particular scene lacks the intricate comic details found in those films, ultimately leaving viewers with a scene that strives to be as amusing as "that man was playing Galaga!" but fails to come close. The stark contrast between this scene's aspirations and its actual execution makes it incredibly awkward to watch.

However, exploiting Selvig's post-The Avengers struggles for broad comedy is highly inappropriate. By showing his experiences through distant shots in a news broadcast, viewers are unable to fully comprehend his fractured mental state and empathize with him as a character. Instead of using intimate shots that would allow for a deeper understanding, the film chooses to cheaply exploit his serious mental issues for tasteless jokes. Moreover, the narrative execution of Selvig's naked escapade is also flawed. The news broadcast is initially only shown to the audience and not the characters within the Thor: The Dark World universe. This causes a disconnect, as much later in the film, Darcy and her intern stumble upon a similar broadcast and realize Selvig's whereabouts. This sequence places the audience too far ahead of the main characters, resulting in a sense of impatience while waiting for Jane and Darcy to catch up. On top of all these shortcomings, the initial display of nudity from Selvig is not confined to a single scene. Not only does Darcy witness portions of this footage in another news report, but there are also two additional instances where Selvig either forgets his pants or neglects to wear essential clothing items. The filmmakers' decision to turn this initial nudity joke into a recurring gag is remarkably misguided and only serves to accentuate the lack of humor in the original joke. It is akin to the rake gag on The Simpsons, where repeatedly mocking Selvig's naked body only serves to highlight the unfunniness of the original joke.

The MCU Has a Lot of Bad Scenes, Just Ask Black Widow and Iron Man

Image via Marvel Entertainment

Across 32 films and a few TV shows, there are undeniably some strong contenders for the most poorly executed scene in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The ill-conceived "monster" monologue from Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) in Avengers: Age of Ultron is certainly one of them, as well as the scene in the original Iron Man where Tony Stark engages in a derogatory joke. With such a vast amount of content produced, there have been both glorious highs and cringe-worthy lows. However, without a doubt, the reintroduction scene of Erik Selvig in Thor: The Dark World takes the title for the worst scene in the entire multimedia saga. Within the context of the already disappointing film, this sequence is an absolute disaster, particularly in regards to its failed attempt at delivering broad comedy. Both Stellan Skarsgård and the audience deserved much better than this abysmal scene.

The Big Picture

The scene in Thor: The Dark World featuring Erik Selvig running naked around Stonehenge is widely considered as the Marvel Cinematic Universe's most poorly received moment. Its humorless approach and simplistic reliance on the notion that an older man being nude is automatically funny contribute to its perception as a lazy and ineptly crafted scene.

Selvig's post-Avengers mental issues are exploited for cheap humor, which is in poor taste. Additionally, the placement of the scene within the narrative feels disconnected and out of sync with the overall film.