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PLEASE NOTE: This article contains MAJOR spoilers for God of War Ragnarok. Proceed at your own risk.God of War Ragnarok delivers a great sequel filled with memorable character interactions, amazing fights, and breathtaking scenery as players travel to all nine realms. Kratos and Atreus give the Norse saga a fitting ending. With everything that God of War Ragnarok has to offer, one of the most anticipated and exciting moments was finally seeing the character progression of one of the most dangerous Aesir in all nine realms, Thor.
Thor is a very different character in God of War Ragnarok compared to how he is portrayed in mythology. For starters, like Atreus, he is also half-giant, which is important to note since he was thought to have been responsible for killing all the Jotnar in the first place. However, seeing the God of Thunder develop from Odin’s henchman into a worthy father figure for his daughter, Thrud, was one of the most intriguing arcs in the entire God of War series.
Thor in Mythology
In Mythology, Thor was viewed as the ideal warrior by those who worshiped him and was considered one of the main gods of the Norse mythos. Along with his wives, Sif and Jarnsaxa, he is the parent to Thrud, Magni, Modi, and Ullr. Even in mythology, Thor has a deep rivalry with the giants and is feared by the race due to his monstrous strength, ability to wield lightning, and his famed hammer, Mjolnir.
Thor’s main enemy in mythology is the world serpent, Jormungand, who he is destined to fight during the events of Ragnarok where the two ultimately kill each other. Along with being the God of Thunder, he is also the God of trees, farmers, the protection of mankind, and fertility. He is Asgard’s greatest defender from outside threats and is considered to be its greatest warrior, using his power to ensure the safety of mankind and the Aesir.
Thor in God of War Ragnarok
Thor’s role in the God of War series actually starts in 2018’s God of War where it is revealed that he was the one who killed all the Jotnar on Odin’s command, in fear of Ragnarok. He continued to serve Odin, even when he first came across Kratos and Atreus, swearing to take revenge for the father and son killing his two sons, Magni and Modi. Thor eventually leaves Odin’s side and is killed by the All-Father when he stands up to him during the final battle of Ragnarok.
Thor is depicted as a struggling father and son, a powerful warrior, and someone whose true wish is to protect his family. In this latter regard, he is not that different from Kratos. During Atreus’ time in Asgard, he learns that Thor had given up drinking on the wishes of his wife and daughter; however, as Ragnarok approached and Odin grew more desperate, Thor fell back to his old ways. His relationship with his daughter and wife was finally saved, but at the cost of his own life.
From his benevolent version in mythology to the broken father in God of War Ragnarok, Thor’s character has always been an interesting one to observe. In God of War Ragnarok, he serves almost as an image of what Kratos could have become had he never defied Zeus in the original trilogy and his eventual betrayal of his father only shows how much he grew through the course of the game. As an enemy, Thor was a formidable god for Kratos to fight, and as a character, he had one of the most interesting stories and development in God of War Ragnarok.
God of War Ragnarok is available now for PS4 and PS5.