Thor: Love and Thunder Fails to Live Up to Gorr the God Butcher's Impact

Previously known for indie hits such as the quirky and endearing What We Do in the Shadows (2014), Taika Waititi showcased his exceptional skills as a writer-director in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) with 2017's Thor: Ragnarök. This film, which was widely praised, not only revived the Thor movies but also revitalized the character of the God of Thunder himself, played by Chris Hemsworth.

It is no surprise that Marvel Studios decided to retain Waititi, who won an Oscar for Jojo Rabbit, for the fourth installment of the Norse mythology-inspired series, Thor: Love and Thunder. The studio announced early on that Natalie Portman, who previously played astrophysicist Jane Foster in the first two Thor films, would return to portray the hammer-wielding Mighty Thor. Meanwhile, Hemsworth's Thor, struggling with his identity, would strive to find meaning while battling Christian Bale's Gorr the God Butcher.

Set in Phase 4 of the MCU, which marks the beginning of the franchise's Multiverse Saga, Love and Thunder takes place after Avengers: Endgame (2019) but doesn't have a clearly defined role in the next chapter of the MCU. As a kind of standalone celebration for Hemsworth and Waititi, Thor: Love and Thunder disappoints by failing to meet the high standards set by Ragnarök and wasting the potential of Jason Aaron's acclaimed comic book runs, Thor: God of Thunder and The Mighty Thor.

First introduced in the Silver Age of Comic Books in 1962, Thor Odinson is a founding member of the Avengers and takes inspiration from the Norse god he is named after. With the power to fly and manipulate weather using his trusty hammer, Mjolnir, Thor is one of Marvel Comics' top heroes. Writer Jason Aaron reinvented Thor for the 2010s, making the character more human and grounded, solidifying his place among the pantheon of Marvel's greatest heroes.

Jason Aaron’s take on Thor in his Silver Age runs from Stan Lee and Jack Kirby is a departure from the norm. Rather than being an unrelatable character, Aaron portrays the hammer-wielding god as a flawed person first, and a nearly unstoppable force second. This unique perspective has made Aaron’s Thor run incredibly impactful.

While Taika Waititi’s upcoming film Thor: Love and Thunder draws inspiration from various parts of Thor’s decades-spanning history, it also incorporates two of Aaron's most iconic contributions to the Thor canon: Gorr the God Butcher and The Mighty Thor, which features Jane Foster as the new Thor.

In 2012, Thor: God of Thunder #1 introduced readers to Gorr, a character who poses a profound question: do gods truly deserve to exist? Gorr's challenge to Thor's identity serves as the driving force of Jason Aaron's run, with the villain proving to be Thor's most formidable foe yet. Even when Thor believes he has vanquished Gorr, the God Butcher persists, driven by his desire to eradicate all of the universe's gods.

Thor first confronts Gorr as a youth, and the Necrosword-wielding villain continues to reappear throughout Thor's life. As a manifestation of Thor's self-doubt, Gorr is tenacious. Prior to their initial encounter, Thor had never questioned his worthiness or godly abilities, but Gorr's seeds of doubt take root and haunt the Asgardian for the remainder of his days.

But Gorr is just one of Aaron's many influential creations. Along with artist Russell Dauterman, Aaron introduced The Mighty Thor, a mystery woman who assumes the god's mantle during Thor Odinson's absence. Jane Foster, Thor's ex and a cancer patient, discovers that she is capable of wielding Mjolnir and transforming into the God of Thunder. However, the transformation process stunts her chemotherapy treatment, causing her human form to weaken as she grows stronger as The Mighty Thor.

Unlike Odinson, who has decided he is unworthy, Jane challenges the idea of worthiness from a different perspective than Gorr. While Gorr believes gods should not exist, Jane Foster's time as The Mighty Thor proves that humans are also capable of greatness. Her godly gifts are not the result of inherent superpowers or Asgardian status. By wielding Mjolnir and taking on the title of Thor, Jane Foster shows that there is more to the mantle and to Odinson as an individual than readers may be familiar with.

While Love and Thunder attempts to build on the success of Thor: Ragnarok, it falls short of maintaining its high-energy blend of humor, action, and heart. The film introduces a compelling backstory for Bale's character, Gorr, but the inclusion of Thor's stint with the Guardians of the Galaxy feels jarringly out of place and eats away at the runtime. The MCU's interconnectedness doesn't always benefit the story, especially in a film that feels disconnected from Phase 4. Love and Thunder struggles to wrap up Thor's story and Hemsworth's contract in a satisfying way within the confines of the larger MCU.

Underneath all the flashy action and comedy, Thor: Love and Thunder aimed to explore themes of loss and love. However, it fell short in comparison to the comics. Mighty Thor and Thor have become different entities in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and it's a shame that Jane Foster's story was not given the attention it deserved. Thor has lost everything - from his mother and brother to his ancestral home of Asgard. The Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy, while his found families, aren't quite the right fit for him. To make matters worse, he is still grieving the loss of Mjolnir, the source of his worthiness and power.

Jane Foster's appearance as the God of Thunder in Love and Thunder is a poignant moment for Thor, as she is not only the love of his life, but also battling Gorr's minions with ease. Despite Jane's terminal diagnosis, Mjolnir rebinds itself to her due to Thor's protective enchantment, but unfortunately, it doesn't cure her illness. The film approaches Thor's loss of Mjolnir and its decision to choose Jane over him with a humorous rom-com twist. However, it's important to note that Mjolnir represents Thor's very essence, including his love for Jane.

Although the question of worthiness remains a central theme, Love and Thunder disappointingly sidelines Jane Foster from the narrative. Instead of exploring the character's rich history from Jason Aaron's The Mighty Thor, the film reduces Jane to a mere plot device. She serves as an inspiration for Thor to reevaluate his life, while her own story tragically ends in death.

In Love and Thunder, Gorr, who has always been faithful to his gods, feels betrayed and devastated when he loses his daughter due to the gods' careless actions. Humans are insignificant to the immortal gods, who treat them as mere entertainment. Given his experience, Gorr believes that people would be better off without these selfish and careless gods.

The God Butcher's love for his daughter drives him to take destructive and violent measures to prevent future loss. In contrast, Thor accepts loss as an inevitable part of life, relying on both new and old loves to sustain him. The high stakes and compelling dynamic of the film are heightened by Bale's visceral and unsettling performance. However, Love and Thunder falls short of the Gorr vs. Thor arcs depicted in Aaron's comics by attempting to replace loss with new love, both figuratively and literally.

With Love and Thunder's jam-packed storyline, Gorr's profound challenge to Thor's very existence is given little time to fully resonate with viewers. What makes Gorr such a chilling villain is his unwavering drive to eradicate the gods, which ultimately keeps him alive until the end of the universe. His opposition to the nature of Thor's being and the right of gods to exist is a formidable obstacle that cannot be forgotten.

Although the film adaptation introduces Gorr as a notable figure, it also presents him as a new threat. Rather than exploring the profound impact of Gorr's challenge on Thor's identity, the film dilutes Jason Aaron's examination of worthiness and muddles its message by including both Gorr and The Mighty Thor in a single runtime. Despite Thor's cosmic journeys in Love and Thunder, the film fails to fully explore the nuanced complexities of Aaron's Thor comic book runs.