Loki: You Will Never Be a God

We’ve seen Loki be menacing, meddling, pestlike, annoying, argumentative, sassy, and sometimes even snarky. But, we’ve also seen him be effective, accomplished, and reliable. On Sakaar, for instance, he allied with Thor and the Valkyrie to save their people from Hela’s tyrannical rule. And despite his tendency to sabotage, the fact that he was willing to make these sacrifices for his loved ones offered signs of authentic fulfillment.

During his banishment to the realm of Midgard, Odin revealed that he had secretly adopted Laufey’s son as his own in order to strengthen ties between Asgard and the Jotunn (Laufey was a Frost Giant, an enemy of Asgard). This truth fueled Loki’s resentment against his adoptive father and the Asgardian monarchy. He believed that the Allfather saw him as a monster and not a true prince worthy of the Asgardian throne.

When he returned to Asgard with the Casket of Ancient Winters, Loki was able to withstand a Frost Giant’s touch without suffering pain. This ability, combined with his knowledge of the Frost Giant’s homeland, allowed him to thwart Laufey’s attempt to steal Mjolnir in a raid on Asgard. It also enabled him to convince the Asgardians that he had saved them from Hela’s tyranny. In that moment, Loki was finally able to embrace his own capacity for heroism. But, when he told Thanos “you will never be a god,” it was more than just a line from an MCU movie. It was a reflection of the way that the character had evolved from villain to hero.