Why Thor 4 Can't Make Thor Unworthy Again

Thor: Love and Thunder may be bringing Lady Thor into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but that doesn't mean including the "Unworthy Thor" storyline would be a wise move. Although Jane Foster's rise to power in the comics comes in the wake of Thor losing his sense of worth - and his beloved Mjolnir - that plot might be a bit too familiar and threaten Odinson's narrative momentum, especially after the track was laid for a fresh start at the conclusion of Avengers: Endgame.

In the aforementioned Unworthy Thor comic book arc, written by Jason Aaron, the titular hero comes to face Gorr the God Butcher, who claims that the existence of god-like beings is ultimately harmful to other forms of sentient life. Although Gorr slays a handful of the Marvel universe gods, Thor manages to kill him. However the event left him doubting his purpose and role in the cosmos, feelings only exacerbated when Odinson meets a Nick Fury from an alternate universe who confirms that Gorr was right: the existence of gods does not ultimately benefit the wider universe. Thor, confidence shaken, finds that he is unable to lift Mjolnir after his conversation with Fury and, in a shocking twist, it was revealed that Jane Foster (Thor's former lover) would assume the mantle and wield the hammer herself.

If Thor losing his confidence and being put through the mill is necessary for him to gain his "unworthy" status, it is unlikely that fans will see Jason Aaron's series brought to the screen, primarily because similar ground has been trodden before in the MCU. Retreading that ground in Phase 4 would be a mistake.

In the first Thor film, the title character was deemed unworthy by his father Odin, who banished his son to Earth until he proved otherwise. The story ultimately ended with the thunder god's self-sacrifice reconfirming his worth, allowing for Thor's first reclamation of Mjolnir. Thor's sense of purpose was tested again in Thor: Ragnorok after learning some unsavory truths about his father and Asgard's history. Although Thor initially struggles to define himself after Hela destroys Mjolnir, his father appears to him as an apparition to tell him his thunder-related powers come from within, ultimately leading to the hero's successful escape with his Asgardian subjects.

Set shortly after the character's Pyrrhic victory and the destruction of Asgard, Avengers: Infinity War opens with Thor having just witnessed the deaths of his people, best friend, and brother at the hands of Thanos. The character's losses continue in the film, as the Mad Titan is ultimately victorious, leading to Thor's prolonged depression and resultant obesity. However, after his conversation with Frigga during Avengers: Endgame's Time Heist, the God of Thunder, newly empowered by his mother's words, finds that despite his many losses and what they have done to him, he is still able to summon Mjolnir, inspiring his exclamation of, "I'm still worthy!"

Thor's most recent realization that his is still worthy finally closes that narrative arc by effectively separating his definition of "worth" from his father's. Before his death, Odin seems to have a strong idea of what a ruler should act and look like, but Thor, left with few ties to his old life and after a slew of personal crises, is forced to reinvent himself, thus giving him permission to finally, as Frigga phrases, "succeed at being who [he is]." This self-discovery has been particularly hard-won for Odinson, and revisiting his "unworthiness" would ultimately undercut his entire MCU arc up until this point.

While it is exciting that Thor: Love and Thunder will feature a female God of Thunder, the creators must not lose sight of the titular character's previous development, most of which follows Thor's long road toward agency and realizing his worth. Hopefully, the character will continue to grow and change in new and interesting directions even as Mjolnir finds its way into Jane Foster's capable hands.

Next: How WandaVision Could Set Up Jane Foster's Thor 4 Return