“What If…?” Thor Never Learned How To Be a Hero?

SPOILERS ahead for Episode 7 of What If…?

The latest episode of What If…? has a very interesting and entertaining concept that it bases its hypothetical question around. As it is well known in Thor (2011), the titular Norse god was kicked out of Asgard by his father and stripped of his abilities because his brother manipulated him into going to Jotunheim because King Laufey ruined his coronation. This pissed off Thor because he was self-centered and egotistical, and during his exile on Earth, he met Jane Foster and company, learned to fight for things bigger than himself, and became truly almighty.

Within episode seven, however, Loki was not there to manipulate Thor or even grow up with. Instead, Odin returned the infant front giant to his people and focused on being a king and raising his heir. This led to Thor becoming even more egocentric since he did not have any siblings to challenge him or take away attention from his parents. So when Odin fell into his titular sleep, Thor followed the same path as the 2011 movie and went to Earth. The reason Thor went to Earth in this universe was not to be taught a lesson but rather to have a planet-wide party. His arrival naturally catches the eye of genius and multi-hyphenate Dr. Jane Foster.

More than battles won or lost, it’s relationships that truly define a hero. The people who shape them, their stories.

— The Watcher

Jane and her friend, the adorable and hilarious Darcy Lewis, track down the hunky extraterrestrial to the Las Vegas Strip and witness his welcome party is an actual party, with techno music and everything. Jane makes the first contact with the god of thunder, and this is where I am feeling a bit let down and disappointed. Jane Foster, who in the films is a brilliant astrophysicist who does not let anyone talk down to her, is written as a doughy-eyed lovesick puppy who melts in front of Thor. In actuality, all of the female characters are written like that in this episode.

Lady Sif immediately goes along with Thor’s plans to disobey the king and queen’s wishes, which goes against Jamie Alexander’s moral and just character from the films. Frigga is so poorly written compared to her live-action counterpart because since her husband is entering a coma, she leaves him to have a girl’s trip with her friends the second Odin’s eyes close. Darcy and Maria Hill are the only exceptions to my grievance since their characters are a lot like the movies, and these two do not have stereotypical traits that are one broken nail away from wearing a bright pink shirt that says, “Girlz B Shopping” written in sequins.

I have no problem changing character traits to fit a narrative; that is why this show stands out and is so unique within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, I do have a problem with strong characters written worse and downright problematic in this show. Jane Foster, basically the only person out of her, Darcy, and Dr. Erik Selvig to not be intimidated by him in the initial film, was intimidated by his physical appearance. Sif, who always did what was right or at least voiced her opinion on Thor’s moronic plans, just goes ahead with Thor going to Earth to party. Frigga, who had her character brought back to life and redeemed in Avengers: Endgame went right back down. If Marvel is going to make What If…? for a younger audience, with lowbrow jokes and gags (which I am fine with), then at least keep your strong female characters strong and not stereotypically bad.

Other than my major hang-up with those three women and how they were written, I did not have any other problems. The interactions between boastful Thor and proper Frost Giant Loki (didn’t Odin give him that name?) were very funny. Those two were destined to get along, but the would-be mischief god always felt like he did not being so he took it out on Thor. The cameos in the foreground and background always made me smile like Howard the Duck, Nebula (still having Mad Titan daddy issues), Yondu, Drax, Rocket, Mantis, Skurge, Surtur, and Korg all helped elevate this episode for me. But, of course, the story and plot around Captain Marvel are hard to ignore or be disappointed by.

Since they do not know how much chaos Thor will bring to their planet, the agents of SHIELD do their best to minimize the damage and prevent any over-partying to commence. Fury is the first line of offense (or maybe defense) but he is injured by a rambunctious Korg trying to cannonball into the Bellagio fountain. Maria Hill overcorrects and calls on to their last resort in Carol Danvers. After the two fight, and Captain Marvel pulls her punches, the Danvers and Maria Hill agree to bring Thor to Siberia so the Kree-powered hero does not have to worry about casualties or damaging the surroundings.

Before Danvers can unleash her true power, and Maria Hil can unleash actual nuclear weapons, Jane gets Frigga to intervene and smarten Thor up. This ending did feel a bit half-assed and makes me wonder how Thor learned a lesson if his mom just scolded him because you would assume this has happened before looking at how terrified Thor looks once he realizes his mom is coming. At the end of the episode, it looks as though Thor is a changed man, but the journey does not equal this result. Audiences get a tease about a future story to be told with an army of Ultron’s appearing through some sort of portal, and that is when the episode is finished.

I am hoping this episode, along with the last one, is placed in the middle because they do not match up to the more enjoyable stories told in the first couple of episodes. Only time will tell how the rest of the series (or maybe the first season…?) will go and I for one am looking forward to it

Watch Marvel’s WHAT IF…? streaming now on Disney+