WARNING: This article contains major spoilers for Marvel's Thor: Ragnarok, in theaters now.


Fans have seen the trailers for Thor Ragnarok in which a fiery wave rips through Asgard, seemingly signaling the destruction of the mythical home of the gods as the hands of Hela. After all, she’s the powerful goddess of death, strong enough to not only catch Mjolnir in mid-air but also destroy it. Clearly she's more than a match for Thor and Loki; otherwise, Chris Hemsworth's god of thunder wouldn't have to assemble his own team of "Revengers."

But does Asgard actually fall in Marvel's Thor: Ragnarok?

What Is Ragnarok?

thor: ragnarok

When Marvel Studios announced the title of its third Thor film, plenty of people undoubtedly turned to the internet to learn what in the world "Ragnarok" is. For those familiar with Norse mythology, or Marvel comics, Ragnarok has an incredibly destructive meaning: It signals the end of all things, including several major gods. The apocalyptic event, "the doom of the gods," involves a terrible battle that ends with the world destroyed, only to be reborn for the survivor. So when Thor: Ragnarok was announced, fans were quickly clued in to the potential destruction of Asgard and, quite possibly, the deaths of major characters.

Fire Demon Surtur

Surtur in Thor: Ragnarok - MCU Movie

The film actually opens with the fire demon Surtur explaining to Thor how he’s going to burn down Asgard using his helmet once he gets his hands on the "Eternal Flame." Thor stops him, of course, and returns to Asgard relatively unscathed, and places the helmet -- first see in July with a Hot Toys figure -- in Odin's Vault for safe keeping. Considering that chamber also houses the Eternal Flame, it seems more than a little risky to store those two objects in such proximity, as they can lead to the end of the world. (But who are we to judge?) So the means for Asgard's destruction are established from the very beginning of Thor: Ragnarok.

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But Surtur and the specter of Ragnarok soon slip into the background as Hela (Cate Blanchett) makes her way onto the stage following the death of Odin (Anthony Hopkins). Through some convenient exposition from supporting characters like Heimdall (Idris Elba), it’s revealed Hela draws her power from Asgard itself, becoming stronger when she’s near it. The goddess mounts her assault of the realm and swiftly takes control. That means once Thor returns from exile on the far-flung planet Sakaar, he and his allies must fight to free Asgard. However, Hela and her undead army prove too strong.

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Asgard Falls?

asgard in thor: ragnarok

Thor and the other heroes are faced with the very real possibility they might not be able to defeat Hela. With no way of saving his home, Thor realizes he must allow Ragnarok to occur in order to prevent Hela’s power from growing. That’s when Surtur comes back into play. Thor and the Revengers plunge Surtur’s helmet into the Eternal Flame, allowing the fire demon to transform into a towering monster as he begins Asgard’s destruction.

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He uses his enormous flaming sword to wipe out various parts of the golden city, and Asgard slowly begins to fall. Realizing her powers will diminish if Asgard is destroyed, Hela attempts to stop Surtur, only to seemingly by killed by the fiery blade. But we’ll get back to that. Using the sword for a final time, Surtur unleashes a devastating wave of fire that causes the entire planet to explode.

So, to answer our own headline: Yes, Thor: Ragnarok really does bring about the end of Asgard.

Asgard Is the People

Or does it? Physically, yes; the rainbow bridge and golden city are no more. But while Hela fought Surtur, Thor gathered the Asgardian refugees aboard a spaceship stolen from Sakaar and escaped. In a vision of Odin, Thor’s father explained the true spirit of Asgard isn't the city, but rather the people who live there.

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Marvel Studios picks and choose what elements elements from the comic books to weave into its cinematic universe, so perhaps Asgard will relocate to Oklahoma. That follows a 2007 storyline in which Loki and his soldiers, armed with Uru hammers, destroyed the city during Ragnarok. However, we shouldn't get too ahead of ourselves, because, without Asgard, the Nine Realms are now defenseless.

What's Next?

Thanos and the Infinity Gauntlet

The cosmic side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has the potential to get a lot crazier without Asgard's protection. If only there were a popular group of space heroes with experience in guarding the galaxy. Wait a minute, didn’t Marvel just give James Gunn some responsibility in planning the next wave of cosmic films? In that case, it as if the Guardians of the Galaxy could have much more on their plates.

And are there any huge threats that could benefit from having Asgard and Odin out of the way? Well, there’s a certain Mad Titan who will make his presence known very soon.

Infinity War and Beyond

chris hemsworth in thor: ragnarok

Thor: Ragnarok's first post-credits scene depicts a terrifyingly huge ship looming over the Asgardians’ new vessel. Could this be Thor’s first encounter with Thanos? If we match the post-credits scene with the description of the Infinity War trailer screened at Disney's D23 Expo, Thanos might blast Thor across the galaxy, placing him on a collision course with Star-Lord's ship the Milano. That would introduce Thor to the Guardians, and give him a way back to Earth to warn the Avengers about the Mad Titan -- all because of the destruction of Asgard. Maybe we’re reaching, but surely Marvel wouldn’t move these cosmic pieces off the table for nothing.

RELATED: Thor: Ragnarok Has Multiple Connections to the Guardians of the Galaxy

With Asgard and Odin gone, Thor must find his own place in the universe. That’s what makes the destruction of his home such an incredible moment. The god of thunder is free, no longer tied to Asgard. If you thought that Thor: Ragnarok was a different -- and weird -- film, just imagine where Marvel will take the hero next, especially if director Taika Waititi returns for another solo outing.

This monumental decision enables the writers to explore a new dynamic. Whether that sees Thor spending more time with the Avengers or staying with the surviving Asgardians remains to be seen. However, it could allow Chris Hemsworth to make an easy exit from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. All Marvel would have to do is say that Thor has departed to serve as ruler of what remains of Asgard, explaining away his absence. But rest assured, the end of Asgard is for the good of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.


In theaters nationwide, director Taika Waititi's Thor: Ragnarok stars Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Mark Ruffalo as Hulk, Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie, Tom Hiddleston as Loki, Cate Blanchett as Hela, Jeff Goldblum as The Grandmaster, Idris Elba as Heimdall, Anthony Hopkins as Odin, and Karl Urban as Skurge.