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When Marvel Studios first announced a solo film for Thor, the Norse God of Thunder, many critics were skeptical. How could a Shakespearean, mythical figure with a weirdly accented brother and a magical hammer fit into the grounded universe established by Iron Man ? The answer came in three distinct phases.

The plot is forgettable—a vague MacGuffin called the Aether, some dark elves led by a completely unmemorable Christopher Eccleston, and a convergence of worlds. It felt like a standard fantasy B-movie with a massive budget. thor 1 2 3

Directed by Kenneth Branagh, the first installment introduced audiences to Asgard and a brash, arrogant warrior prince. When Marvel Studios first announced a solo film

While The Dark World is a slog to get through, it makes the payoff of Ragnarok so much sweeter. You cannot appreciate the joyful, charming, self-aware hero of 2017 without suffering through the brooding, helmet-heavy prince of 2011. The plot is forgettable—a vague MacGuffin called the