A few Thor: Ragnarak notes (Spoilers, obviously)
This is totally as a result of a conversation that I just had but I need to get this out of my head so that I can think about other stuff. So ... here are some things that would have made me like Thor: Ragnarak more:
- "Asgard isn't a place, it's a people" -- then show the Asgardian people doing something that *isn't* being herded around by Heimdall or cowering somewhere. Let them do something that makes me think they're a people worth saving. Spiderman 2 had that great scene where everyone in the train car stands in front of Doc Ock. Surely the Asgardians can do something. Maybe sneak out of their hidey cave and bury the war dead. Maybe Skurge actually kills an Asgardian and they forgive him anyways. Maybe when Thor is on the trash planet he mentions for him to go back to Asgard that is about the people and not just reclaiming the throne. Maybe have the Asgardians actively reject their ill-gotten wealth, or share it with the people from the trash planet.
- "Asgard is built on the blood of conquest" -- then show some of that conquest. Has all of the conquered people become integrated into Asgard? If Hela represents the forces of conquest and colonization, then why is it that the only people we see Hela killing are other Asgardians? What happened to the other conquered worlds? Is there some planet that serves to provide the raw materials for Asgardian luxury? Oh hey, how about a flashback to Hela and the Valkyries conquering other lands and ruthlessly killing civilians? It'd be a nice counter-part to the flashback where the Valkyries are sent against Hela, and it'd give another reason for The Valkyrie to drink. Or, when Hela is fighting Thor at the end, instead of comparing him to Odin and belittling his godliness, compare him to her previous conquests and mention how she's snuffed out hundreds of uppity kings in hundreds of worlds. Or: Draw a direct comparison between the way Hela conquers other worlds and the way Thor goes on otherworldly romps.
- "Asgard isn't a place, it's a people" -- then show the Asgardian people doing something that *isn't* being herded around by Heimdall or cowering somewhere. Let them do something that makes me think they're a people worth saving. Spiderman 2 had that great scene where everyone in the train car stands in front of Doc Ock. Surely the Asgardians can do something. Maybe sneak out of their hidey cave and bury the war dead. Maybe Skurge actually kills an Asgardian and they forgive him anyways. Maybe when Thor is on the trash planet he mentions for him to go back to Asgard that is about the people and not just reclaiming the throne. Maybe have the Asgardians actively reject their ill-gotten wealth, or share it with the people from the trash planet.
- "Asgard is built on the blood of conquest" -- then show some of that conquest. Has all of the conquered people become integrated into Asgard? If Hela represents the forces of conquest and colonization, then why is it that the only people we see Hela killing are other Asgardians? What happened to the other conquered worlds? Is there some planet that serves to provide the raw materials for Asgardian luxury? Oh hey, how about a flashback to Hela and the Valkyries conquering other lands and ruthlessly killing civilians? It'd be a nice counter-part to the flashback where the Valkyries are sent against Hela, and it'd give another reason for The Valkyrie to drink. Or, when Hela is fighting Thor at the end, instead of comparing him to Odin and belittling his godliness, compare him to her previous conquests and mention how she's snuffed out hundreds of uppity kings in hundreds of worlds. Or: Draw a direct comparison between the way Hela conquers other worlds and the way Thor goes on otherworldly romps.