The Ultimate Guide: Thor's Path to Immortality in His Next Movie

Thor: Love and Thunder, the latest addition to Marvel's lineup, follows the trend of superheroes facing heart-wrenching loss. However, the lingering pain and unaddressed mental health struggles experienced by these heroes poses a potential danger of them transforming into something akin to Wanda. Thor, burdened by countless bereavements, conceals his inner sadness behind a facade of cheerfulness. The lack of acknowledgement surrounding Thor's mental well-being may be purposeful for various undisclosed reasons. Yet, if the upcoming film fails to confront this ongoing decline, Marvel risks downplaying the significance of mental health concerns or even worse, perpetuating harmful stereotypes. What may mistakenly be perceived as Thor's upbeat demeanor and humor is possibly indicative of a condition called high-functioning smiling depression. Thor's response to his grief deviates sharply from the character beloved by fans in his initial portrayal. He has grown increasingly reckless, indifferent, cynical, and unusually prone to outbursts. These changes likely serve as coping mechanisms to avoid appearing vulnerable, unworthy, or too human. Despite his godlike status, Thor is not immune to mental health issues. However, it is vital for the next Thor film to address these symptoms in order to prevent him from following the path of Wanda.

How Thor's Unresolved Smiling Depression Affects The Tone Of His Movies

Thor: Love and Thunder portrays the struggle between mortal love and immortality, drawing inspiration from classical Greek plays that explore the conflict between humans and gods. While it received criticism for its absurdist comedy, this comedic element was crucial in depicting Thor's internal battles and deteriorating mental health. Beneath his smiling exterior lies hidden grief and pain that he refuses to confront. The comedy undermines the severity of the film's more significant issues, trivializing mortal concerns in the eyes of the gods. However, it is a mortal, Dr. Jane Foster, who sparks Thor's determination to fight for humanity.

The comedy serves as a defense mechanism for Thor, diminishing the impact of one of Marvel's most powerful narratives in an attempt to shield himself from the pain of losing Asgardian lives, his brother Loki, and the love of his life, Jane. Thor exhibits signs of high-functioning smiling depression, including drastic physical changes, feelings of guilt and hopelessness, and a loss of interest in his role as a hero. The comedic tone allows Thor to deny his pain and avoid true healing. These emotions could escalate to the point where another formidable Avenger abandons heroism in pursuit of self-serving justice, seeking liberation from her own suffering. To prevent repeating the mistakes of Thor: Love and Thunder, Marvel must address Thor's smiling depression in his next film, or else he may become an adversary to the Avengers as the God of Thunder.

Why Resolving His Mental Health Can Prevent Him From Becoming Like Wanda

After Thanos snapped his fingers, Wanda created a new reality where she and Vision could experience a blissful life with their family. However, when this was cruelly taken away from her, Wanda embarked on a journey to become the Scarlet Witch, seeking the power to bring back her loved ones. Wanda's painful path had begun long before Thanos posed a threat to the Avengers, but her inability to heal from this anguish drove her to pursue even more power, desperate to prevent further loss. Nonetheless, the events of WandaVision shed light on Wanda's character development, as she wielded her powers recklessly, putting the stability of the multiverse at risk in her quest for personal happiness. Similar to Thor, Wanda's suffering went unnoticed, with no heroes coming to her aid.

Thor has endured similar losses within the MCU. Both he and Wanda have been stripped of their homes, their siblings, and their significant others. However, what keeps Thor going is his facade of cheerful depression, masking his pain, and his duty to care for Love, the daughter of Gorr the God Butcher. This key difference prevents Thor from spiraling deeper into despair and ultimately losing hope as a hero. Heroes require something or someone beyond themselves to fight for, a purpose. With Asgard protected by Valkyrie, friends abandoning him, and no love interest on the horizon, it is Love who motivates Thor to continue as a heroic figure.

That being said, Love can also lead Thor down the same path of darkness that transformed Wanda into a villain. The irony lies in the name of Gorr's daughter and Thor's predicament, which perfectly aligns with the theme of "love conquers all" or "love is healing". The upcoming Thor film needs to address Thor's mental well-being, not only to address these concerns but also to break the pattern of Marvel stories perpetuating the idea that mental illnesses are linked to antagonistic or criminal behavior. Regardless of the direction the next film takes, whether it be after Thor: Love and Thunder, it should prioritize resolving Thor's mental health in a positive manner, allowing the God of Thunder to find happiness for reasons other than sadness.