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Thor: Ragnarok
Movie

Thor: Ragnarok

2017 • Action, Adventure, Comedy

Woke Score
6
out of 10

Plot

Imprisoned on the other side of the universe, the mighty Thor (Chris Hemsworth) finds himself in a deadly gladiatorial contest that puts him against The Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), his former ally and fellow Avenger. Thor's quest for survival leads him in a race against time to prevent the all-powerful Hela (Cate Blanchett) from destroying his home world and the Asgardian civilization.

Overall Series Review

Thor: Ragnarok is a superhero film that dramatically re-imagines the main character and his world, embracing a self-aware, comedic tone that simultaneously deconstructs the foundational mythology of Asgard. The central conflict focuses on the revelation that the 'glorious' Asgardian civilization, ruled by Odin, was built on a history of violent, imperial conquest and subsequent 'whitewashing.' This perspective is championed by the female villain, Hela, and is mirrored in the introduction of a prominent female anti-hero, Valkyrie, a character deliberately cast against her original comic book depiction to push for diversity. The male protagonist, Thor, undergoes an arc where he loses his most potent symbols of traditional power (his hammer and his eye) and is repeatedly portrayed as a bumbling figure who must rely on others, including the newly introduced powerful female leads. The destruction of the ancestral home is framed as a necessary, liberating act for the Asgardian people. While the film avoids explicit social lecturing on alternative sexualities, its wholesale condemnation of the home culture's heritage and its framing of traditional power as corrupt imperial violence mark it as highly aligned with current cultural themes.

Categorical Breakdown

Identity Politics7/10

The character Valkyrie, a white, blonde figure in the source material, is re-cast with an actress of color, a decision noted by some as a conscious choice for diversity rather than narrative need. The film's primary plot reveals that the history of the Asgardian kingdom is 'whitewashed' and founded upon 'bloody warfare and conquest,' essentially framing the white-coded mythological home culture as a deeply corrupt, colonial enterprise.

Oikophobia8/10

The entire narrative is built on the deconstruction of Asgard's heritage, revealing King Odin to be a genocidal conqueror who covered up his past atrocities with pretty murals. Hela's return literally rips apart the cultural narrative to reveal the hidden history of violent expansion. The climax requires the complete, fiery destruction of the ancestral home to save the people, with the central lesson being that 'Asgard is a people, not a place.'

Feminism7/10

Two powerful female characters, the villain Hela and the anti-hero Valkyrie, dominate the story, both of whom are superior warriors to the male lead for much of the film. Hela’s motivation is rooted in her initial role as an instrument of male conquest whose power was feared and discarded by her father, Odin. Thor's male power is repeatedly undermined and ridiculed as he loses his legendary hammer, is subjected to a painful haircut, and is constantly outwitted or outmaneuvered by the female characters and his brother.

LGBTQ+2/10

The character Valkyrie is canonically bisexual in the comics and was intended to be so in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but there is no explicit scene or dialogue in this movie that addresses or centers on her sexuality. A small scene hinting at her past loss was cut, leaving the final film with no overt representation of alternative sexualities or gender theory messaging.

Anti-Theism7/10

The Asgardian characters, often revered as Norse 'gods' in previous films, are consistently reduced to powerful, long-lived aliens. Hulk mocks Loki's claim to divinity by calling him a 'puny god.' The most divine figure, Odin, is exposed as a flawed, warmongering king whose reign ends in an ignoble death. The culture's divine home is ultimately sacrificed as a necessary evil, undermining any sense of transcendent or sacred power associated with their pantheon.