The following contains spoilers for Thor: Love and Thunder, in theaters now.
Thor: Love and Thunder expands the pantheons in the Marvel Cinematic Universe beyond just the Norse Asgardians, with Thor encountering none other than the Greek God Zeus. Unfortunately, this visit with the Olympian is ultimately disappointing, as it's heavily underdeveloped as a plotline. Like much of the rest of the film, its implications are glossed over in favor of more comedy.
It is made even worse by an after-credits scene that brings up some interesting ideas concerning the place of Gods in the MCU. And given that a literal God Butcher was present in the movie, it only makes these elements feel even more wasted. They may have been introduced for a tentative sequel, but Thor: Love and Thunder should've been the movie to focus on the Gods in the modern MCU.
The Gods Are a Joke in Thor: Love and Thunder
In an after-credits scene, a beaten Zeus talks about the plight of the Gods throughout the MCU. He bemoans that the world has moved past the Gods of old, instead looking up into the sky at superheroes for their inspiration and assurance. Zeus then states that the Gods have become a joke, with Thor Odinson, in particular, igniting his rage. Intent on revenge, he sends his son Hercules to take on the Asgardian.
The worst part about this good scene is that it's the last one in the movie, as well as the fact that Zeus is correct. The Gods have become a joke, especially since 90 percent of the film is nothing but annoying comedy. For instance, Thor's goats are the source of a joke that's somewhat eyeroll-inducing the first time, and yet it's constantly made again throughout the movie. Even Zeus is anything but the shimmering king of the Greek pantheon that he acts like. Instead, Russell Crowe appears like a boastful version of the Cowardly Lion.
The cherry on top of the disappointment sundae is that Love and Thunder has what amounts to a minor plot in its villain, Gorr the God Butcher, killing the various Gods. Gorr's butchery is borderline non-existent in the movie, and he's ultimately far more of a glorified cameo next to the movie's ever-present jokes. Wasting Gorr and the Gods themselves is an absolute headscratcher of a narrative decision that seems to stem from Marvel movies only existing to be commercials for the next Marvel movie.
The Gods Are Only in Thor 4 to Set Up the Next Movie
A battle between the various MCU pantheons will likely be the plot for the next Thor movie. Given the reception to this one, however, plus its faltering box office presence, said sequel might not see the light of Olympus. If so, the coolest element of the Thor: Love and Thunder got wasted. The idea of exploring the role of Gods in modern times, especially as they get killed off by Gorr, arguably writes itself. It also could have acted as a "real" Ragnarok, given how similarly jokey the events of Thor: Ragnarok were.
Remember that the first Thor began by establishing that the MCU Asgardians were not true Gods but simply interdimensional beings worshipped by the Nordics of old. That's getting retconned now, but it would have been a nice full-circle element to question the idea of godhood, especially in the presence of similarly powerful being such as Thanos or the Hulk. Unfortunately, such a film would be too heady for the MCU content mill, especially in a movie helmed by Taika Waititi. It may get explored in a potential Thor sequel, but that movie would only be doing what the current one should have.
To see the MCU fail its Gods, Thor: Love and Thunder is in theaters now.